[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70700-70701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33791]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-102-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream
Series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 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 HP137 Mk1, Jetstream
series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The proposed
AD would require replacing the nose wheel steering jack seals with
seals of an improved design. 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 prevent the nose landing gear steering from locking
up due to deterioration of the original design nose landing gear
steering jack seals, which could result in reduced or loss of control
of the airplane during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 29, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-102-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 British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 479888;
facsimile: (01292) 479703. 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, 1201 Walnut, suite 900,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-6932; facsimile:
(816) 426-2169.
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. 98-CE-102-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. 98-CE-102-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 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 HP137 Mk1,
Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The
CAA reports that the results of investigations into a recent incident
reveals that the nose landing gear steering jack seals deteriorated.
The deterioration caused particles of seal material to disperse into
the selector valve.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could cause the nose
landing gear steering to lock up and result in reduced or loss of
control of the airplane during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations.
Relevant Service Information
British Aerospace has issued Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-
JA900942, Original Issue: October 22, 1990, Revision No. 5: September
4, 1998, which specifies replacing the nose landing gear steering jack
seals with seals of an improved design. The procedures for
accomplishing this replacement are included in APPH Ltd. Service
Bulletin 32-51, Revision 5, dated April 1996.
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 is the
same in the United Kingdom as the FAA issuing an AD in the United
States.
The FAA's Determination
These airplane models are manufactured in the United Kingdom and
are 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.
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 HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series
200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes of the same type
design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing AD action.
The proposed AD would require replacing the nose wheel steering jack
seals with seals of improved design. Accomplishment of the proposed
actions would be required
[[Page 70701]]
in accordance with the instructions in APPH Ltd. Service Bulletin 32-
51, Revision 5, dated April 1996, and Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-
JA900942, Original Issue: October 22, 1990, Revision No. 5: September
4, 1998.
Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
The unsafe condition referenced in the proposed AD is not a result
of repetitive airplane operation. The nose wheel steering jack seals
deteriorate over time due to weather and climate conditions. For this
reason, the FAA has determined that a compliance based on calendar time
instead of hours time-in-service (TIS) should be utilized in the
proposed AD in order to assure that the unsafe condition is addressed
on all airplanes in a reasonable time period.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 250 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 12
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $220 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$235,000, or $940 per airplane.
Regulatory Impact
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. 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. 98-CE-102-AD.
Applicability: HP137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in
any category; that incorporate the following:
Steering Jack Type: 618200.
Nose Gear Type: 1873, B00A702852A, B00A703056A; or B00A703064A.
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 within the next 9 calendar months after the
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent the nose landing gear steering from locking up due to
deterioration of the original design nose landing gear steering jack
seals, which could result in reduced or loss of control of the
airplane during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations, accomplish
the following:
(a) Replace the nose wheel steering jack seals with seals of
improved design, in accordance with the instructions in APPH Ltd.
Service Bulletin 32-51, Revision 5, dated April 1996, and Jetstream
Service Bulletin 32-JA900942, Original Issue: October 22, 1990,
Revision No. 5: September 4, 1998.
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install,
on any of the affected airplanes, any landing gear steering jack
seal that is not of the improved design referenced in the service
information specified in paragraph (a) of this AD, or an FAA-
approved equivalent.
(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
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service, 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 British
Aerospace Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-JA900942, Original Issue:
October 22, 1990, Revision No. 5: September 4, 1998, should be
directed to 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.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in British Aerospace
Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-JA900942, Original Issue: October 22,
1990, Revision No. 5: September 4, 1998. This service bulletin is
classified as mandatory by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA).
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 15, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-33791 Filed 12-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
