[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67633-67634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32471]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-91-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Jetstream Model 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 certain British Aerospace Jetstream Model 3201
airplanes. The proposed AD would require replacing the nose landing
gear downlock actuator, the flap actuator, the steering selector valve,
the hydraulic reservoir, and the emergency selector valve. 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
internal corrosion of the hydraulic components on airplanes where these
components were exposed to water contamination, which could result in
reduced or loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 11, 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-91-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-91-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-91-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 certain British Aerospace Jetstream Model
3201 airplanes. The CAA reports incidents of hydraulic components
having significant internal corrosion.
This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result
in loss of hydraulic power with consequent reduced or loss of control
of the airplane.
Relevant Service Information
British Aerospace has issued Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-
JA 970940, Original Issue: February 4, 1998, which specifies replacing
the following critical components of the hydraulic system in accordance
with the applicable maintenance manual:
--the nose landing gear downlock actuator;
--the flap actuator;
--the steering selector valve;
--the hydraulic reservoir; and
--the emergency selector valve.
The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
British AD 001-02-98, not dated, in order to assure the continued
airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
The FAA's Determination
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, 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 Jetstream Model 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 landing gear downlock actuator, the flap actuator, the steering
selector valve, the hydraulic reservoir, and the emergency selector
valve. Accomplishment of the proposed actions would be required in
accordance with the applicable maintenance manual, as specified in
Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-JA 970940, Original Issue:
February 4, 1998.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 9 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 33
workhours per
[[Page 67634]]
airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts to accomplish the replacements
cost approximately $46,636. (Overhauled or repaired parts are available
from the agencies of equipment manufacturers or from the aircraft
manufacturer's agency). Based on these figures, the total cost impact
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $437,544, or
$48,616 per airplane.
Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
The compliance time of the proposed AD is presented in both
calendar time and hours time-in-service (TIS). Corrosion could occur on
the hydraulic system components and then either continue to deteriorate
the part over time regardless of airplane operation or develop into
stress cracks over time based on airplane operation. In order to assure
that this condition does not go undetected, a compliance time of
specific hours TIS and calendar time is proposed.
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-91-AD.
Applicability: Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes, constructor
numbers 841, 842, 844 through 848, 851, 853 through 855, 857, 859
through 862, and 864; 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 (c) 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 at whichever of the following occurs later,
unless already accomplished:
1. Upon accumulating 8,000 landings on the airplane or within 5
years since the last time the hydraulic system components were
replaced (see paragraph (a) of this AD for listing of components),
whichever occurs first; or
2. Within the next 12 calendar months after the effective date
of this AD.
Note 2: If the number of landings is unknown, hours time-in-
service (TIS) may be used by dividing 8,000 by 0.75. If hours TIS
are utilized to calculate the number of landings, this would
calculate the 8,000 landings compliance time to 10,667 hours TIS.
To prevent internal corrosion of the hydraulic components on
airplanes where these components were exposed to water
contamination, which could result in reduced or loss of control of
the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Replace the following critical components of the hydraulic
system, in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual, as
specified in Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-JA 970940,
Original Issue: February 4, 1998:
(1) the nose landing gear downlock actuator;
(2) the flap actuator;
(3) the steering selector valve;
(4) the hydraulic reservoir; and
(5) the emergency selector valve.
Note 3: The FAA highly recommends replacing the hydraulic fluid
while these system components are being replaced, as specified in
Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-JA 970940, Original Issue:
February 4, 1998.
(b) 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.
(c) 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 4: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(d) Questions or technical information related to British
Aerospace Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-JA 970940, Original
Issue: February 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 5: The subject of this AD is addressed in British AD 001-
02-98, not dated.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 1, 1998.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32471 Filed 12-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
