94-25293. Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Aircraft Limited (formerly British Aerospace, Regional Airlines Limited) HP137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 197 (Thursday, October 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25293]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 13, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-16-AD]

 

Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Aircraft Limited (formerly 
British Aerospace, Regional Airlines Limited) HP137 Mk1, Jetstream 
Series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
that would apply to Jetstream Aircraft Limited (JAL) HP137 Mk1, 
Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The 
proposed action would require repetitively inspecting the passenger/
crew cabin door handle mounting platform structure for cracks, and, if 
found cracked, replacing with a structure of improved design as 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections. Cracks found on this 
structure on two of the affected airplanes prompted the proposed 
action. The proposed actions are intended to prevent the inability to 
open the passenger/crew door because of a cracked internal handle 
mounting platform structure, which could result in passenger injury if 
emergency evacuation was needed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-16-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, 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 Jetstream Aircraft Limited, Manager Product Support, Prestwick 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW Scotland; telephone [phone]; 
facsimile (44-292) 79703; or Jetstream Aircraft Inc., Librarian, P.O. 
Box 16029, Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC, 20041-6029; 
telephone [phone]; facsimile [phone]. This information 
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Raymond A. Stoer, Program Officer, 
Brussels Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle 
East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; telephone 
[phone]; facsimile [phone]; or Mr. John P. Dow, Sr., 
Project Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification 
Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 
telephone [phone]; facsimile [phone].

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. 94-CE-16-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 Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-16-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on JAL HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and 
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The CAA reports two incidents 
of passenger/crew cabin door handle mounting platform structure 
cracking.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in the 
inability to open the passenger/crew door and possible passenger injury 
if emergency evacuation was needed.
    Jetstream Aircraft Limited has issued Service Bulletin 52-A-JA 
930901, Revision 1, dated February 11, 1994, which specifies procedures 
for inspecting and replacing the passenger/crew internal door handle 
mounting platform structure on JAL HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and 
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The CAA classified this 
service bulletin as mandatory in order to assure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom. The CAA 
classifying a service bulletin as mandatory in the United Kingdom is 
equivalent to the FAA issuing an airworthiness directive in the United 
States.
    This airplane model is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is 
type certificated for operation in the United States under the 
provisions of Sec. 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, and determined 
that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other JAL HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and 
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes of the same type design, the 
proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the passenger/crew 
cabin door handle mounting platform structure for cracks, and, if found 
cracked, replacing with a structure of improved design as terminating 
action for the repetitive inspections. The proposed actions would be 
accomplished in accordance with the service information described 
above.
    The FAA estimates that 165 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 
workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed modification, and that 
the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $8,800. This figure does not take into account any 
possible passenger/crew door internal handle mounting platform 
structure replacements nor repetitive inspections. The FAA has no way 
of determining how many of these structures may have cracks or the 
number of repetitive inspections each owner/operator may incur.
    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects 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, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:

Jetstream Aircraft Limited: Docket No. 94-CE-16-AD. Applicability: 
HP137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 
airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category. 
Compliance: Required upon the accumulation of 1,800 hours TIS or 
within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs later, unless already 
accomplished, and thereafter as indicated.

    To prevent the inability to open the passenger/crew door because 
of cracked internal handle mounting platform structure, which could 
result in passenger injury if emergency evacuation was needed, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect the passenger/crew door internal handle mounting 
platform structure for cracks in accordance with Part 1 of the 
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Jetstream Service Bulletin 
(SB) 52-A-JA 930901, Revision 1, dated February 11, 1994 .
    (1) If any cracked structure is found, prior to further flight, 
replace the mounting platform structure with a new structure, part 
number 137450C23, in accordance with Part 2 of the ACCOMPLISHMENT 
INSTRUCTIONS section of Jetstream SB 52-A-JA 930901, Revision 1, 
dated February 11, 1994.
    (2) If no cracks are found, reinspect the mounting platform 
structure at intervals not to exceed 1,800 hours TIS until a part 
number 137450C23 mounting platform structure is installed.
    (b) The repetitive inspections required by this AD may be 
terminated upon installing a part number 137450C23 passenger/crew 
door internal handle mounting platform structure. This installation 
may be accomplished regardless of whether the existing structure is 
cracked.
    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Sec. Sec. 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.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), Europe, Africa, Middle East office, FAA, c/o American 
Embassy, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. The request should be forwarded 
through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add 
comments and then send it to the Manager, Brussels ACO.

    Note: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Brussels ACO.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the documents referred to herein upon request to Jetstream Aircraft 
Limited, Manager Product Support, Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 
2RW Scotland; telephone [phone]; or Jetstream Aircraft Inc., 
Librarian, P.O. Box 16029, Dulles International Airport, Washington, 
DC, 20041-6029; or may examine these documents at the FAA, Central 
Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 5, 1994.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-25293 Filed 10-12-94; 8:45 am]
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