
[Federal Register: May 22, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 98)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 23938-23941]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22my09-2]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0473; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-027-AD; 
Amendment 39-15915; AD 2009-11-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

 
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-400, AT-
400A, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-
602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to 
supersede AD 2008-10-12, which applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. AT-
400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800 series airplanes. AD 2008-10-12 
currently requires repetitively inspecting the engine mounts for 
cracks, repairing any crack damage found, and installing gussets as a 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from 
a report of a Model AT-602 airplane with a crack completely through the 
gusset that was installed as required in AD 2008-10-12. Consequently, 
this AD would require you to continue repetitively inspecting the 
engine mounts for cracks for all previously affected Air Tractor, Inc. 
AT-400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800 series airplanes with or without 
gussets installed, and repairing any crack damage found. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct cracks in the

[[Page 23939]]

engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. This 
failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on June 1, 2009.
    As of June 12, 2008 (73 FR 25967, May 8, 2008), the Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Snow 
Engineering Co. Service Letter 253, Rev. C, dated April 17, 
2008, listed in this AD.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by July 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    To get the service information identified in this AD, contact Air 
Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-
5616; fax: (940) 564-5612; Internet: http://www.airtractor.com.
    To view the comments to this AD, go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
The docket number is FAA-2009-0473; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-027-
AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
San Antonio MIDO-43, 10100 Reunion Pl., Ste. 650, San Antonio, Texas 
78216, telephone: (210) 308-3365, fax: (210) 308-3370; e-mail: 
andrew.mcanaul@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On April 30, 2008, we issued AD 2008-10-12, Amendment 39-15518 (73 
FR 25967) on certain Air Tractor, Inc. AT-400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-
800 series airplanes to supersede AD 2007-13-17.
    AD 2007-13-17 required you to repetitively inspect the engine mount 
for any cracks, repair or replace any cracked engine mount, and report 
any cracks found to the FAA.
    AD 2008-10-12 currently:
     Retains the inspection actions of AD 2007-13-17 for Models 
AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes, including the compliance times 
and effective dates;
     Establishes new inspection actions for the AT-400 and AT-
500 series airplanes;
     Incorporates a mandatory terminating action for all 
affected airplanes by installing gussets; and
     Terminates the reporting requirement of AD 2007-13-17.
    Since issuing AD 2008-10-12, we received a report of a Model AT-602 
airplane with a crack in the engine mount and completely through the 
gusset that was installed as a terminating action as required in AD 
2008-10-12. This engine mount was reported as having a crack that was 
repaired as part of the gusset installation. The mount reportedly 
accumulated approximately 1,100 hours time-in-service since being 
modified with the gusset.
    Air Tractor, Inc. believes that the crack may have been improperly 
repaired during installation of the gusset. Additional procedures may 
be necessary to adequately address inspection and repair of cracked 
engine mounts and assure proper installation of the gussets.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
engine mount. This failure could lead to separation of the engine from 
the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter 253, Rev. C, dated 
April 17, 2008, specified in AD 2008-10-12 is still valid for this AD.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This AD requires 
repetitively inspecting the engine mounts for cracks and repairing any 
crack damage found.
    Air Tractor is reviewing the information related to the occurrences 
referenced in this AD and may develop additional procedures to 
adequately address inspection and repair of cracked engine mounts and 
assure proper installation of the gussets that, when incorporated, 
would eliminate the need for the repetitive inspections required by 
this AD. The FAA will review any modification that is developed, 
determine whether it would eliminate the need for the requirements of 
this action, and then determine whether additional AD action is 
necessary.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because 
cracks in the engine mounts could result in failure of the engine 
mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the 
airplane. Therefore, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, 
or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2009-0473; 
Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-027-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider 
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light 
of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive concerning this AD.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

[[Page 23940]]

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]


0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2008-10-12; Amendment 39-15518 (73 FR 25967, May 8, 2008), and by 
adding a new AD to read as follows:

2009-11-05 Air Tractor, Inc.: Amendment 39-15915; Docket No. FAA-
2009-0473; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-027-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on June 1, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-10-12; Amendment 39-15518.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Models                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A,   -0001 through -1175.
 and AT-402B.
AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-   -0001 through -2597.
 503A.
AT-602............................  -0001 through -1141.
AT-802 and AT-802A................  -0001 through -0227.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD is the result of a report of a Model AT-602 airplane 
with a crack completely through the gusset that was installed as 
required in AD 2008-10-12. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct cracks in the engine mount, which could result in failure of 
the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the 
engine from the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) Inspect the engine mount as follows using the service 
information in paragraph (i) of this AD:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Compliance time
           Models                without Gussets    Compliance time with
                                    installed         Gussets installed
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) For all Models AT-400,    Initially and         Initially and
 AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A,     repetitively as       repetitively as
 AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502B,     follows:              follows:
 and AT-503A airplanes        (i) With less than    (A) With less than
                               5,000 hours time-in-  5,000 hours TIS on
                               service (TIS) on      the airplane:
                               the airplane:         Initially within
                               Initially within      the next 12 months
                               the next 12 months    after June 1, 2009
                               after June 12, 2008   (the effective date
                               (the effective date   of this AD).
                               of AD 2008-10-12).    Repetitively
                               Repetitively          thereafter at
                               thereafter at         intervals not to
                               intervals not to      exceed every 12
                               exceed every 12       months until
                               months until          accumulating 5,000
                               accumulating 5,000    hours TIS;
                               hours TIS;.
                                 (ii) With 5,000    (B) With 5,000 hours
                                  hours TIS or       TIS or more on the
                                  more on the        airplane: Initially
                                  airplane:          upon accumulating
                                  Initially upon     5,000 hours TIS on
                                  accumulating       the airplane or
                                  5,000 hours TIS    within the next 10
                                  on the airplane    hours TIS after
                                  or within the      June 1, 2009 (the
                                  next 10 hours      effective date of
                                  TIS after June     this AD), or within
                                  1, 2009 (the       the next 100 hours
                                  effective date     TIS from the last
                                  of this AD), or    inspection
                                  within the next    performed,
                                  100 hours TIS      whichever occurs
                                  from the last      later. Repetitively
                                  inspection         thereafter at
                                  performed,         intervals not to
                                  whichever occurs   exceed every 100
                                  later.             hours TIS.
                                  Repetitively
                                  thereafter at
                                  intervals not to
                                  exceed every 100
                                  hours TIS..
(2) AT-502A.................  (i) With less than    (i) With less than
                               5,000 hours TIS on    5,000 hours TIS on
                               the airplane:         the airplane:
                               Initially upon        Initially upon
                               accumulating 1,300    accumulating 1,300
                               hours TIS on the      hours TIS on the
                               airplane or within    airplane or within
                               the next 100 hours    the next 100 hours
                               TIS after June 12,    TIS after June 1,
                               2008 (the effective   2009 (the effective
                               date of AD 2008-10-   date of this AD),
                               12), whichever        whichever occurs
                               occurs later.         later. Repetitively
                               Repetitively          thereafter at
                               thereafter at         intervals not to
                               intervals not to      exceed every 300
                               exceed every 300      hours TIS.
                               hours TIS.

[[Page 23941]]


                              (ii) With 5,000       (ii) With 5,000
                               hours TIS or more     hours TIS or more
                               on the airplane:      on the airplane:
                               Initially upon        Initially upon
                               accumulating 5,000    accumulating 5,000
                               hours TIS on the      hours TIS on the
                               airplane or within    airplane or within
                               the next 10 hours     the next 10 hours
                               TIS after June 1,     TIS after June 1,
                               2009 (the effective   2009 (the effective
                               date of this AD),     date of this AD),
                               or within the next    or within the next
                               100 hours TIS from    100 hours TIS from
                               the last inspection   the last inspection
                               performed,            performed,
                               whichever occurs      whichever occurs
                               later. Repetitively   later. Repetitively
                               thereafter at         thereafter at
                               intervals not to      intervals not to
                               exceed every 100      exceed every 100
                               hours TIS.            hours TIS.
(3) AT-602, AT-802, and AT-   (i) With less than    (i) With less than
 802A.                         5,000 hours TIS on    5,000 hours TIS on
                               the airplane:         the airplane:
                               Initially upon        Initially upon
                               accumulating 1,300    accumulating 1,300
                               hours TIS on the      hours TIS on the
                               airplane or within    airplane or within
                               the next 100 hours    the next 100 hours
                               TIS after August      TIS after June 1,
                               10, 2007 (the         2009 (the effective
                               effective date of     date of this AD),
                               AD 2007-13-17),       whichever occurs
                               whichever occurs      later. Repetitively
                               later. Repetitively   thereafter at
                               thereafter at         intervals not to
                               intervals not to      exceed every 300
                               exceed every 300      hours TIS.
                               hours TIS.
                              (ii) With 5,000       (ii) With 5,000
                               hours TIS or more     hours TIS or more
                               on the airplane:      on the airplane:
                               Initially upon        Initially upon
                               accumulating 5,000    accumulating 5,000
                               hours TIS on the      hours TIS on the
                               airplane or within    airplane or within
                               the next 10 hours     the next 10 hours
                               TIS after June 1,     TIS after June 1,
                               2009 (the effective   2009 (the effective
                               date of this AD),     date of this AD),
                               or within the next    or within the next
                               100 hours TIS from    100 hours TIS from
                               the last inspection   the last inspection
                               performed,            performed,
                               whichever occurs      whichever occurs
                               later. Repetitively   later. Repetitively
                               thereafter at         thereafter at
                               intervals not to      intervals not to
                               exceed every 100      exceed every 100
                               hours TIS.            hours TIS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) For all airplanes: Before further flight after any 
inspection required by paragraph (e)(1), (e)(2), and (e)(3) of this 
AD where crack damage is found, replace with a new engine mount or 
repair the engine mount.
    (1) If choosing repair, return cracked mounts to Air Tractor, 
Inc. for repair or obtain FAA-approved written repair instructions 
coordinated with Air Tractor, Inc. before starting the repair.
    (2) Contact Air Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; 
telephone: (940) 564-5616; fax: (940) 564-5612; Internet: http://
www.airtractor.com, for specific FAA-approved repair/replacement 
instructions.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Andy 
McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150, FAA San Antonio MIDO-43, 10100 
Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone: (210) 
308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370. Before using any approved AMOC on any 
airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office 
(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
    (h) AMOCs approved for AD 2008-10-12 are not approved for this 
AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter 
253, Rev. C, dated April 17, 2008, to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) As of June 12, 2008 (73 FR 25967), the Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Snow 
Engineering Co. Service Letter 253, Rev. C, dated April 17, 
2008, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Air 
Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 
564-5616; fax: (940) 564-5612.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at 
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_
of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 15, 2009.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-11902 Filed 5-21-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
