[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53312-53314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25449]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-NM-238-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream ATP Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Jetstream ATP airplanes.
This proposal would require inspections to detect fatigue cracking and
corrosion in the gussets of the rear passenger door and rear baggage
door apertures, and replacement of the gussets, if necessary. This
proposal is prompted by fatigue tests which indicated that fatigue
cracking and corrosion can occur in these gussets. The actions
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent degradation of the
structural integrity of the fuselage pressure vessel due to the
problems associated with cracking and corrosion in the gussets of the
rear passenger door and rear baggage door apertures.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 14, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-238-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Jetstream Aircraft, Inc., P.O. Box 16029, Dulles
International Airport, Washington, DC 20041-6029. This information may
be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206)
227-2747; fax (206) 227-1149.
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 shall 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 summarizing each FAA-public contact
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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 Number 94-NM-238-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, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 94-NM-238-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
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 certain Jetstream Model ATP airplanes.
The CAA advises that results of fatigue testing of Model ATP airplanes,
which was conducted by the manufacturer, indicate that fatigue cracking
and corrosion is likely to occur in the gussets of the rear passenger
door and rear baggage door apertures. Such fatigue cracking and
corrosion, if not detected and corrected in a timely manner, could
degrade the structural integrity of the fuselage pressure vessel.
Jetstream Aircraft, Ltd., has issued Service Bulletin ATP-53-29,
dated October 31, 1994, which describes procedures for performing
detailed visual inspections to detect fatigue cracking and corrosion in
the gussets of the rear baggage door and rear passenger door apertures.
It also describes procedures for replacing cracked and corroded
gussets. The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory in order
to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United
Kingdom.
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, 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 on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require a one-time detailed
visual inspection for fatigue cracking and corrosion in the gussets of
the rear passenger door and the rear baggage door apertures. It also
would require replacement of cracked gussets, and either replacement or
repair of corroded gussets. The inspection and replacement actions
would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service
bulletin described previously. The repair of corroded gussets would be
required to be accomplished in accordance with the Structural Repair
Manual (SRM).
The Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual for these airplanes
has recently been revised to include a repetitive inspection (at
regular intervals) for the subject gussets. The FAA has determined that
the one-time inspection of the gussets that would be required by this
AD, coupled with the mandatory repetitive inspections that are now a
part of the maintenance program, is adequate to provide a level of
safety equivalent to that required by the Federal Aviation Regulations
(FAR). This combination of inspections will ensure that any cracked or
corroded gusset is detected and replaced/repaired before it could fail
and consequently affect the operational safety of the airplane.
The FAA estimates that 10 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 8 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection actions, and
that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $4,800, or $480 per airplane.
The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
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 proposed
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 is contained 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 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Jetstream Aircraft Limited (Formerly British Aerospace Commercial
Aircraft, Ltd.): Docket 94-NM-238-AD.
Applicability: Model ATP airplanes; having serial numbers 2002
through 2012 inclusive, and 2019 through 2022 inclusive;
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 use the authority
provided in paragraph (c) to request approval from the FAA. This
approval may address either no action, if the current configuration
eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions necessary to
address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such a request
should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no
case does the presence of any modification,
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alteration, or repair remove any airplane from the applicability of
this AD.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously. To prevent degradation of the structural integrity of
the fuselage pressure vessel due to the problems associated with
cracking and corrosion in the gussets of the rear passenger door and
rear baggage door apertures, accomplish the following:
(a) Prior to the accumulation of 12,000 total landings or within
1,500 landings after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
later, perform a detailed visual inspection to detect cracks and
corrosion of the gussets of the rear passenger door aperture, in
accordance with Jetstream Service Bulletin ATP-53-29, dated October
31, 1994.
(1) If any crack is found, prior to further flight, replace the
gusset in accordance with the service bulletin.
(2) If any corrosion is found, prior to further flight, either
replace the gusset in accordance with the service bulletin, or
repair the gusset in accordance with the Structural Repair Manual,
chapter 53-10-12.
(b) Prior to the accumulation of 15,000 total landings or within
1,500 landings after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
later, perform a detailed visual inspection to detect cracks and
corrosion of the gussets of the rear baggage door aperture, in
accordance with Jetstream Service Bulletin ATP-53-29, dated October
31, 1994.
(1) If any crack is found, prior to further flight, replace the
gusset in accordance with the service bulletin.
(2) If any corrosion is found, prior to further flight, either
replace the gusset in accordance with the service bulletin, or
repair the gusset in accordance with the Structural Repair Manual,
chapter 53-10-12.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113,
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(d) 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 6, 1995.
Gary L. Killion,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-25449 Filed 10-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
