E9-10615. Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146-100A and 146-200A Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd has determined that in order to assure the continued structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates in the rib 1 area of certain BAe 146 aircraft, a revised inspection programme for this area is considered necessary. The disbonding of joints can lead to corrosion which, if undetected, could result in degradation of the structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer.

* * * * *

The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 8, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-40, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact BAE Systems Regional Aircraft, 13850 McLearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171; telephone [phone]; e-mail [e-mail]; Internet http://www.baesystems.com/​Businesses/​RegionalAircraft/​index.htm. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone [phone]) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2009-0432; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-168-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD based on those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA Airworthiness Directive 2008-0167, dated September 2, 2008 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd has determined that in order to assure the continued structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates in the rib 1 area of certain BAe 146 aircraft, a revised inspection programme for this area is considered necessary. The disbonding of joints can lead to corrosion, which, if undetected, could result in degradation of the structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer.

For the reasons described above, this EASA AD requires the implementation of repetitive inspections and corrective actions, depending on findings. It also provides an approved repair as optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.

The repetitive inspections for damage of the left and right side of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates include a detailed visual inspection for damage (including distortion, loose or distorted fasteners, and corrosion) of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin, a borescopic inspection for damage (including staining, debris around the stringer and joint plate edges, cracked or broken stringers, and distortion or corrosion in rivet holes) of the internal structure of the horizontal stabilizer, and a low frequency eddy current inspection for damage (including corrosion) of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin. For airplanes on which no damage is found, the required actions include drilling and reaming four holes and doing a detailed visual inspection of the holes for distortion and corrosion. Corrective actions include installing rivets, and contacting BAE Systems (Operations) Limited for repair instructions and doing the repair. Doing a repair of the horizontal stabilizer (which consists of partially replacing the lower skin from the center line to inboard of rib 3) ends the repetitive inspections.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited has issued Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.55-020, dated December 11, 2007; and Repair Instruction Leaflet HC551H9061, Issue 3, dated January 31, 2008. The actions described in this service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and related service information.

We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 5 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 9 work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $3,600, or $720 per product.

Authority for This Rulemaking

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. “Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,” describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in “Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.” Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct effect 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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed regulation:

1. Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

2. Is not a “significant rule” under the 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British Aerospace Regional Aircraft): Docket No. FAA-2009-0432; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-168-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments by June 8, 2009.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146-100A and 146-200A series airplanes, certificated in any category, as identified in BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.55-020, dated December 11, 2007.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 55: Stabilizers.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states:

BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd has determined that in order to assure the continued structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates in the rib 1 area of certain BAe 146 aircraft, a revised inspection programme for this area is considered necessary. The disbonding of joints can lead to corrosion, which, if undetected, could result in degradation of the structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer.

For the reasons described above, this EASA AD requires the implementation of repetitive inspections and corrective actions, depending on findings. It also provides an approved repair as optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.

The repetitive inspections for damage of the left and right side of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates include a detailed visual inspection for damage (including distortion, loose or distorted fasteners, and corrosion) of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin, a borescopic inspection for damage (including staining, debris around the stringer and joint plate edges, cracked or broken stringers, and distortion or corrosion in rivet holes) of the internal structure of the horizontal stabilizer, and a low frequency eddy current inspection for damage (including corrosion) of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin. For airplanes on which no damage is found, the required actions include drilling and reaming four holes and doing a detailed visual inspection of the holes for distortion and corrosion. Corrective actions include installing rivets, and contacting BAE Systems (Operations) Limited for repair instructions and doing the repair. Doing a repair of the horizontal stabilizer (which consists of partially replacing the lower skin from the center line to inboard of rib 3) ends the repetitive inspections.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following actions.

(1) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, inspect for damage of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates, in accordance with paragraphs 2.C.(1) through 2.C.(3) of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.55-020, dated December 11, 2007 (the “service bulletin”); and, if no damage is found, drill and ream four holes in accordance with paragraph 2.C.(4)(a) of the service bulletin, and do a detailed visual inspection of the holes for distortion and corrosion, in accordance with paragraph 2.C.(4)(b) of the service bulletin.

(i) If any distortion or corrosion is found in any rivet hole, before further flight, contact BAE Systems (Operations) Limited for approved repair instructions and do the repair prior to the fitment of the rivets.

(ii) If no distortion and no corrosion is found, before further flight, install the four rivets in accordance with paragraph 2.C.(4)(c) of the service bulletin.

(2) Repeat the inspection for damage of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD thereafter at intervals not to exceed 24 months.

(3) If damage is found during any inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, before further flight, contact BAE Systems (Operations) Limited in accordance with paragraph 2.C.(5) of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.55-020, dated December 11, 2007 (“the service bulletin”), and accomplish an approved repair in accordance with paragraph 2.C.(6) of the service bulletin.

(4) Doing the repair of the horizontal stabilizer in accordance with BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Repair Instruction Leaflet (RIL) HC551H9061, Issue 3, dated January 31, 2008, on the left and right sides of the horizontal stabilizer, terminates the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (f)(2) of this AD.

(5) Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD according to BAE Systems (Operations) Limited RIL HC551H9061, Issue 2, dated November 16, 2007, are considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding action specified in this AD.

FAA AD Differences

Note:

This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Airworthiness Directive 2008-0167, dated September 2, 2008; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin ISB.55-020, dated December 11, 2007; and BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Repair Instruction Leaflet HC551H9061, Issue 3, dated January 31, 2008; for related information.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 1, 2009.

Stephen P. Boyd,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.