[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18376-18377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8831]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 91-CE-85-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Aircraft Limited (Formerly
British Aerospace, Regional Airlines Limited) 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 certain Jetstream Aircraft Limited (JAL)
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The proposed action would require
modifying the central annunciator panel test button circuit. A report
of diode failure in this circuit and subsequent inadvertent engine
shutdown on one of the affected airplanes prompted the proposed action.
The actions specified in the proposed AD are intended to prevent
failure of a diode in the central annunciator panel test button
circuit, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in
inadvertent engine shutdown while in flight if the central annunciator
panel test button is pressed.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 9, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 91-CE-85-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 Jetstream Aircraft Limited, Manager Product Support, Prestwick
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW Scotland; telephone (44-292) 79888;
facsimile (44-292) 79703; or Jetstream Aircraft Inc., Librarian, P.O.
Box 16029, Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC, 20041-6029;
telephone (703) 406-1161; facsimile (703) 406-1469. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer,
Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification Service, FAA, 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. 91-CE-85-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 Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 91-CE-85-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness
authority for the United Kingdom, has notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on JAL Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes.
The CAA reports that a diode failed in the central annunciator panel
test button circuit on one of the affected airplanes. This led to
inadvertent engine failure of one of the engines when the airplane
operator pressed the central annunciator panel test button.
JAL has issued Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 80-A-JA
911045, Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991, which specifies procedures
for modifying the central annunciator panel test button circuit on
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The modification (Amendment
JA 911045) consists of removing diodes from the engine stop circuit and
configuring a minor wire change.
In order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes
in the United Kingdom, the CAA classified Jetstream ASB 80-A-JA 911045,
Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991, as mandatory. The CAA classifying a
service document as mandatory is the same for airplanes registered in
the United Kingdom as the FAA issuing an AD for airplanes registered in
the United States.
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 in other JAL Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes
of the same type design, the proposed AD would require modifying the
central annunciator panel test button circuit by removing diodes from
the engine stop circuit and configuring a minor wiring change. The
proposed actions would be accomplished in accordance with Jetstream ASB
80-A-JA 911045, Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991.
The FAA estimates that 260 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take
[[Page 18377]] approximately 2 workhours per airplane to accomplish the
proposed modification, and that the average labor rate is approximately
$60 an hour. JAL will provide parts at no cost to the owner/operator.
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators is estimated to be $31,200. This figure is based on the
assumption that no affected owner/operator has incorporated the
proposed modification.
JAL has informed the FAA that 2 modification kits have been
distributed to affected airplane owners/operators. Assuming that each
of these modification kits has been incorporated on an affected
airplane, then the proposed cost impact upon U.S. operators would be
reduced $240 (2 workhours x $60 per hour x 2 airplanes) from
$31,200 to $30,960. The FAA also believes that numerous owners/
operators of the affected airplanes have accomplished the modification
using 22AWA cable and terminal tags instead of obtaining parts from the
manufacturer, as is provided for in the proposed AD. This would further
reduce the cost impact of the proposed AD upon U.S. operators of the
affected airplanes. The FAA has no way of determining how many
airplanes have accomplished the proposed modification utilizing the
22AWA cable and terminal tags alternative.
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. 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 a new AD to read as follows:
Jetstream Aircraft Limited: Docket No. 91-CE-85-AD.
Applicability: Jetstream Model 3101 airplanes, all serial
numbers, and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes, serial numbers 790
through 950, 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 use the authority
provided in paragraph (d) of this AD to request approval from the
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair
remove any aircraft from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required within the next 200 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent failure of a diode in the central annunciator panel
test button circuit, which, if not detected and corrected, could
result in inadvertent engine shutdown while in flight if the central
annunciator panel test button is pressed, accomplish the following:
(a) Modify the central annunciator panel test button circuit
(Amendment JA 911045) by removing diodes from the engine stop
circuit and configuring a minor wiring change in accordance with
PART 2 of the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Jetstream Alert
Service Bulletin 80-A-JA 911045, Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991.
(b) As noted in Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 80-A-JA 911045,
Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991, terminals may be linked using 22
AWA cable and terminal tags, provided the following is accomplished:
(1) For airplanes without roof panel plug breaks, identify the
cables as WQ69 and WQ70.
(2) For airplanes with roof panel plug breaks, identify the
cables as WQ71 and WQ72.
(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, Brussels Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), Europe, Africa, Middle East office, FAA, c/o American
Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. The request should be forwarded
through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add
comments and then send it to the Manager, Brussels ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Brussels ACO.
(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the documents referred to herein upon request to Jetstream Aircraft
Limited, Manager Product Support, Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, KA9
2RW Scotland; or Jetstream Aircraft Inc., Librarian, P.O. Box 16029,
Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC, 20041-6029; or may
examine these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 27, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-8831 Filed 4-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
