[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69999-70001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33244]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-122-AD; Amendment 39-10946; AD 98-26-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace (Operations) Limited
Model B.121 Series 1, 2, and 3 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to all British Aerospace (Operations) Limited (British
Aerospace) Model B.121 Series 1, 2, and 3 airplanes. This AD requires
repetitively inspecting (using visual methods) the internal and
external surfaces of the brake torque tube assemblies in the cockpit
area for cracks. This AD also requires obtaining and incorporating
repair procedures for any brake torque tube assembly found cracked.
This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct
cracks in the brake torque tube assemblies, which could result in
reduced brake efficiency with possible reduced and/or loss of airplane
control.
DATES: Effective January 29, 1999.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of January 29, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained
from British Aerospace (Operations) Limited, British Aerospace Regional
Aircraft, Prestwick International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland;
telephone: (01292) 479888; facsimile: (01292) 479703. This information
may also be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket
No. 97-CE-122-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol
Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger Chudy, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-6932; facsimile: (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to all British Aerospace
Model B.121 Series 1, 2, and 3 airplanes was published in the Federal
Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on September 14,
1998 (63 FR 49050). The NPRM proposed to require repetitively
inspecting (using visual methods) the internal and external surfaces of
the brake torque tube assemblies in the cockpit area for cracks. The
NPRM also proposed to require obtaining and incorporating repair
procedures for any brake torque tube assembly found cracked.
Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the NPRM would be
required in accordance with Jetstream Aircraft Ltd. PUP Service
Bulletin No. B121/103, ORIGINAL ISSUE: October 26, 1995. Accomplishment
of the proposed repair, if necessary, would be required in accordance
with procedures
[[Page 70000]]
obtained from the manufacturer through the FAA, Small Airplane
Directorate.
The NPRM was the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the United
Kingdom.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.
The FAA's Determination
After careful review of all available information related to the
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 2 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be
affected by the initial inspection required by this AD, that it will
take approximately 5 workhours per airplane to accomplish this initial
inspection, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an
hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the initial
inspection on U.S. operators is estimated to be $600, or $300 per
airplane. These figures only take into account the costs of the initial
inspection and do not take into account the costs for any repetitive
inspections or the costs associated with repairing or replacing any
cracked torque tube assemblies found during any inspection required by
this AD. The FAA has no way of determining how many torque tube
assemblies will be found cracked or how many repetitive inspections
each owner/operator will incur over the life of the affected airplanes.
Regulatory Impact
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 copy of the final 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, 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. 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:
98-26-05 British Aerospace (Operations) Limited: Amendment 39-
10946; Docket No. 97-CE-122-AD.
Applicability: Model B.121 Series 1, 2, and 3 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 (d) 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 and correct cracks in the brake torque tube
assemblies, which could result in reduced brake efficiency with
possible reduced and/or loss of airplane control, accomplish the
following:
(a) Upon accumulating 3,300 hours time-in-service (TIS) on each
brake torque tube assembly or within the next 100 hours TIS after
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, and
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 600 hours TIS, visually
inspect each brake torque tube assembly for cracks. Accomplish this
inspection in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS
section of Jetstream Aircraft Ltd. PUP Service Bulletin No. B121/
103, ORIGINAL ISSUE: October 26, 1995.
(b) If a crack(s) is found during any inspection required by
paragraphs (a) or (b)(2) of this AD, prior to further flight,
accomplish the following:
(1) Obtain repair instructions from the manufacturer through the
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, at the address specified in
paragraph (d) of this AD; and
(2) Incorporate these repair instructions, and continue to
reinspect at intervals not to exceed 600 hours TIS.
(c) 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.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, 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.
(e) Questions or technical information related to Jetstream
Aircraft Ltd. PUP Service Bulletin No. B121/103, ORIGINAL ISSUE:
October 26, 1995, should be directed to British Aerospace
(Operations) Limited, British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick
International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone:
(01292) 479888; facsimile: (01292) 479703. This service information
may be examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
(f) The inspection required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with Jetstream Aircraft Ltd. PUP Service Bulletin No.
B121/103, ORIGINAL ISSUE: October 26, 1995. 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 British Aerospace (Operations) Limited, British
Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International Airport,
Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland. Copies may be inspected at the FAA,
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E.
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in British AD 003-
10-95, not dated.
(g) This amendment becomes effective on January 29, 1999.
[[Page 70001]]
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 9, 1998.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-33244 Filed 12-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
