[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13378-13379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7087]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-15-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Model 3101 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 Model 3101
airplanes. The proposed AD would require modifying the emergency
hydraulic hand-pump by increasing the length of the access aperture.
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 difficulty accessing the emergency hydraulic hand-pump because
of the current design, which, in the event of a hydraulic system
failure, could result in the inability to operate the flaps and landing
gear.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 24, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-15-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, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service,
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-15-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-15-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, notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on certain British Aerospace Model 3101 airplanes.
The CAA reports difficulty in accessing the emergency hydraulic hand-
pump on the above-referenced airplanes. The emergency hydraulic hand-
pump is provided for lowering the flaps and landing gear using the
emergency selector valve in the event of hydraulic system failure.
This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result
in the inability to operate the flaps and landing gear, leading to
hazardous conditions during landing.
Relevant Service Information
British Aerospace has issued Jetstream Service Bulletin 29-JM 7360,
Revision No. 1, dated January 3, 1991, which specifies procedures for
modifying the emergency hydraulic hand-pump by increasing the length of
the access aperture.
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
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 Model 3101 airplanes of the
same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing
AD action. The proposed AD would require modifying the emergency
hydraulic hand-pump by increasing the length of the access aperture.
Accomplishment of the proposed modification would be in accordance with
the service bulletin previously referenced.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 58 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 7
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed modification, and
that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. British
Aerospace will provide parts to
[[Page 13379]]
the owners/operators of the affected airplanes at no cost. Based on
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.
operators is estimated to be $24,360, or $420 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-15-AD.
Applicability: Model 3101 airplanes, serial numbers 601 through
646, 648 through 655, 657, 658, and 660, 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 within the next 300 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent difficulty accessing the emergency hydraulic hand-
pump because of the current design, which, in the event of a
hydraulic system failure, could result in the inability to operate
the flaps and landing gear, accomplish the following:
(a) Modify the emergency hydraulic hand-pump by increasing the
length of the access aperture in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT
INSTRUCTIONS section of British Aerospace Jetstream Service Bulletin
29-JM 7360, Revision 1, dated January 3, 1991.
(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 2: 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 Service Bulletin 29-JM 7360 Revision No. 1,
dated January 3, 1991, should be directed to British Aerospace
Regional Aircraft Limited, 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 29-JM 7360, Revision 1, dated January 3,
1991. This service bulletin is classified as mandatory by the United
Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 11, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7087 Filed 3-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U