[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 729-730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-241]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 4 / Thursday, January 6, 2000 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 729]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 99-CE-72-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Jetstream Model 3201
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to all British Aerospace Jetstream Model 3201
airplanes. The proposed AD would require inspecting the fuel quantity
indication system for damage to the insulation of the wiring within the
fuel tanks. Damage is defined as corrosion (indicated by a dark stain),
cuts, or nicks. The proposed AD would also require replacing or
repairing any damaged wiring. The proposed AD is the result of
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the
airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. The actions specified
by the proposed AD are intended to detect damage to the insulation of
the wiring within the fuel tanks of the fuel quantity indication
system, which could result in a malfunction in the cockpit indicators
and/or electrical sparking inside the fuel tank with consequent fire or
explosion.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 9, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-72-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 672345;
facsimile: (01292) 671625. This information also may be examined at the
Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. S.M. Nagarajan, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; facsimile: (816) 329-
3091.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 99-CE-72-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 99-CE-72-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Civil Airworthiness Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on all British Aerospace Jetstream Model
3201 airplanes. The CAA reports that, during a routine inspection,
damage to the insulation of the wiring within the wing fuel tanks of
the fuel quantity indication system on two of the affected airplanes
was revealed. Further investigation shows that the damage to the
insulation occurred during factory installation.
This condition, if not detected and corrected in a timely manner,
could result in a malfunction in the cockpit indicators and/or
electrical sparking inside the fuel tank with consequent fire or
explosion.
Relevant Service Information
British Aerospace has issued Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 28-A-
JA990841, Original Issue: September 8, 1999; and Jetstream Alert
Service Bulletin 28-A-JA990841 Revision No. 1: November 12, 1999. These
documents include procedures for inspecting the fuel quantity
indication system for damage to the insulation of the wiring within the
fuel tanks, and replacing or repairing any damaged wiring.
The CAA classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued
British AD 003-09-99, dated September 13, 1999, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
The FAA's Determination
This airplane model is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is
type certificated for operation in the United States under the
provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant
to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAA has kept the FAA
informed of the situation described above.
The FAA has examined the findings of the CAA; reviewed all
available information, including the service information referenced
above; and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this
type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.
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Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other British Aerospace Jetstream Model 3201
airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the
FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require inspecting
the fuel quantity indication system for damage to the insulation of the
wiring within the fuel tanks. Damage is defined as corrosion (indicated
by a dark stain), cuts, or nicks. The proposed AD would also require
replacing or repairing any damaged wiring. Accomplishment of the
proposed actions would be required in accordance with the service
information previously discussed.
Compliance Time Criteria of the Proposed AD
The compliance time of this AD is presented in both calendar time
and hours time-in-service (TIS). Damage to the insulation of the wires
in the fuel quantity indicator system could result in corrosion in the
core conductor. Corrosion damage can then develop regardless of whether
the airplane is in flight, and may not develop until a later time.
Therefore, in order to assure that any damage does not go undetected, a
compliance time of both hours TIS and calendar time (the prevalent one
being that which occurs first) is proposed.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 115 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 60
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $414,000, or $3,600 per airplane.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposed rule would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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) if promulgated,
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
British Aerospace: Docket No. 99-CE-72-AD.
Applicability: Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes, all serial
numbers, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless
already accomplished.
To detect damage to the insulation of the wiring within the fuel
tanks of the fuel quantity indication system, which could result in
a malfunction in the cockpit indicators and/or electrical sparking
inside the fuel tank with consequent fire or explosion, accomplish
the following:
(a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD or within the next 60 calendar days after
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect the
fuel quantity indication system for damage to the insulation of the
wiring within the fuel tanks. Damage is defined as corrosion
(indicated by a dark stain), cuts, or nicks. Prior to further
flight, replace or repair any damaged wiring. Accomplish these
actions in accordance with one of the following:
(1) British Aerospace Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 28-A-
JA990841, Original Issue: September 8, 1999; or
(2) British Aerospace Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 28-A-
JA990841, Original Issue: September 8, 1999; Revision No. 1:
November 12, 1999.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(d) Questions or technical information related to the service
information referenced in this document should be directed to
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 672345;
facsimile: (01292) 671625. This service information may be examined
at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in British AD 003-
09-99, dated September 13, 1999.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 29, 1999.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-241 Filed 1-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
