[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 223 (Monday, November 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27966]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: November 21, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-NM-125-AD; Amendment 39-9071; AD 94-23-08]
Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Model HS 748 Series 2A and 2B
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD),
applicable to all Jetstream Model HS 748 Series 2A and 2B airplanes.
This action requires repetitive replacement of the structurally
significant items (SSI) on the nose landing gear (NLG) and main landing
gear (MLG) with serviceable SSI's. This amendment is prompted by
fatigue testing which revealed that the SSI's on the NLG and the MLG
have a limited service life. The actions specified in this AD are
intended to ensure the replacement of the SSI's that have reached the
maximum life limit; SSI's that are not replaced could fail and lead to
the failure of the NLG and MLG during taxi, take-off, or landing.
DATES Effective: December 6, 1994.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of December 6, 1994.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before January 20, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-125-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from
Dowty Aerospace, Customer Support Center, P.O. Box 49, Sterling,
Virginia 20166. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,
suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Schroeder, Aerospace Engineer, Standardization Branch, ANM-113,
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2141; fax (206) 227-1100.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 all Jetstream Model HS
748 series 2A and 2B airplanes. The CAA advises that results of fatigue
testing, conducting by Dowty [the manufacturer of the nose landing gear
(NLG) and main landing gear (MLG) components], revealed that certain
components in the NLG and MLG specified as structurally significant
items (SSI) have a limited service life. Investigation revealed that
these SSI's, upon attaining or exceeding a certain number of landings,
can fail due to fatigue-related stress. If not replaced in a timely
manner, the SSI's could fail and lead to the failure of the NLG and MLG
during taxi, take-off, or landing.
Dowty has issued Service Bulletin 32-104E, dated January 20, 1993,
which describes procedures for determining the number of landings
accumulated on the SSI's on the NLG and MLG, and repetitively replacing
these SSI's with serviceable SSI's at regulator intervals. The CAA
classified this service bulletin as mandatory.
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, this AD is being issued to ensure the replacement
of the SSI's that have reached the maximum life limit. This AD requires
initially determining the number of landings accumulated on the SSI's
currently installed in the NLG and MLG, and repetitively replacing the
SSI's with serviceable SSI's, upon the accumulation of a certain number
of landings. The actions would be required to be accomplished in
accordance with the service bulletin described previously.
There currently are no Jetstream Model HS 748 series 2A and 2B
airplanes on the U.S. Register. All airplanes included in the
applicability of this rule currently are operated by non-U.S. operators
under foreign registry; therefore, they are not directly affected by
this AD action. However, the FAA considers that this rule is necessary
to ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed in the event that any
of these subject airplanes are imported and placed on the U.S. Register
in the future.
Should an affected airplane be imported and placed on the U.S.
Register in the future, it would require approximately 40 work hours to
accomplish the required actions, at an average labor charge of $60 per
work hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD
would be $2,400 per airplane, per replacement cycle.
Since this AD action does not affect any airplane that is currently
on the U.S. register, it has no adverse economic impact and imposes no
additional burden on any person. Therefore, notice and public
procedures hereon are unnecessary and the amendment may be made
effective in less than 30 days after publication in the Federal
Register.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not
preceded by notice and opportunity for public comment, comments are
invited on this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this
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 under the caption
ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing date
for comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light
of the comments received. Factual information that supports the
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating
the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional
rulemaking action would be needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might
suggest a need to modify the 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
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 94-NM-125-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
The regulations adopted herein will 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 final
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption
ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 the following new
airworthiness directive:
94-23-08 Jetstream Aircraft Limited (Formerly British Aerospace
Commercial Aircraft, Limited): Amendment 39-9071. Docket 94-NM-125-
AD.
Applicability: All Model Jetstream Model HS 748 series 2A and 2B
airplanes, certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To ensure replacement of the SSI's that have reached the maximum
life limit, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD,
determine the number of landings accumulated on each structurally
significant item (SSI) currently installed in the nose landing gear
(NLG) and main landing gear (MLG), in accordance with Dowty
Aerospace Landing Gear Service Bulletin 32-104E, dated January 20,
1993.
(1) If the number of landings accumulated on an SSI is equal to
or greater than the number of landings specified in the ``Life
Limitations'' column of the applicable table in the service
bulletin, prior to further flight, replace the SSI with a
serviceable SSI, in accordance with the service bulletin.
Thereafter, replace the SSI at intervals not to exceed the
accumulation of the number of landings specified in the ``Life
Limitations'' column of the applicable table in the service
bulletin.
(2) If the number of landings accumulated on the SSI is less
than the number of landings specified in the ``Life Limitations''
column of the applicable table in the service bulletin, replace the
SSI with a serviceable SSI prior to or upon the accumulation of the
number of landings specified in the ``Life Limitations'' column of
the applicable table in the service bulletin. Thereafter, replace
the SSI at intervals not to exceed the accumulation of the number of
landings specified in the ``Life Limitations'' column of the
applicable table in the service bulletin.
(b) 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: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections Secs. 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) The replacement shall be done in accordance with Dowty
Aerospace Landing Gear Service Bulletin 32-104E, dated January 20,
1993. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director
of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51. Copies may be obtained from Dowty Aerospace, Customer
Support Center, P.O. Box 49, Sterling, Virginia 20166. Copies may be
inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
(e) This amendment becomes effective on December 6, 1994.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 7, 1994.
S.R. Miller,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-27966 Filed 11-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
