[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30397]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-66-AD; Amendment 39-9095; AD 94-25-11]

 

Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Model 4101 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Jetstream Model 4101 airplanes, that requires 
installation of additional venting between the flight deck and the 
passenger compartment. This amendment is prompted by results of an 
engineering analysis that revealed there was insufficient venting in 
the forward stowage and wardrobe assembly. The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent injury to the crew resulting from 
structural failure of the bulkhead between the flight deck and the 
passenger compartment in the event of windshield failure and subsequent 
rapid decompression.

DATES: Effective January 17, 1995.-
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of January 17, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Jetstream Aircraft, Inc., P.O. Box 16029, Dulles 
International Airport, Washington, DC 20041-6029. This information may 
be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport 
Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Schroeder, Aerospace Engineer, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 
227-2148; fax (206) 227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Jetstream Model 4101 
airplanes was published in the Federal Register on July 15, 1994 (59 FR 
36096). That action proposed to require installation of additional 
venting between the flight deck and the passenger compartment. -
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the single comment received. -
    The commenter supports the proposed rule. -
    The FAA has recently reviewed the figures it has used over the past 
several years in calculating the economic impact of AD activity. In 
order to account for various inflationary costs in the airline 
industry, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to increase the 
labor rate used in these calculations from $55 per work hour to $60 per 
work hour. The economic impact information below has been revised to 
reflect this increase in the specified hourly labor rate. -
    As a result of recent communications with the Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America, the FAA has learned that, in general, 
some operators may misunderstand the legal effect of AD's on airplanes 
that are identified in the applicability provision of the AD, but that 
have been altered or repaired in the area addressed by the AD. Under 
these circumstances, at least one operator appears to have incorrectly 
assumed that its airplane was not subject to an AD. On the contrary, 
all airplanes identified in the applicability provision of an AD are 
legally subject to the AD. If an airplane has been altered or repaired 
in the affected area in such a way as to affect compliance with the AD, 
the owner or operator is required to obtain FAA approval for an 
alternative method of compliance with the AD, in accordance with the 
paragraph of each AD that provides for such approvals. A note has been 
added to this final rule to clarify this requirement. The FAA has 
determined that this addition will neither increase the economic burden 
on any operator nor increase the scope of this AD.-
    After careful review of the available data, including the comment 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the change previously 
described. -
    The FAA estimates that 10 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 40 work hours per 
airplane to accomplish the required actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will be provided by the 
manufacturer at no cost to the operators. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$24,000, or $2,400 per airplane. -
    The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on 
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted. -
    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 -

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment -

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 the following new 
airworthiness directive:

94-25-11 Jetstream Aircraft Limited: Amendment 39-9095. Docket 94-
NM-66-AD.

    -Applicability: Model 4101 airplanes, constructors numbers 41005 
through 41015 inclusive, 41019 through 41024 inclusive, 41028, and 
41029; 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 (b) 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 airplane from the applicability of this AD.

     -Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously. -
    To prevent injury to the crew resulting from structural failure 
of the bulkhead between the flight deck and the passenger 
compartment in the event of windshield failure and subsequent rapid 
decompression, accomplish the following: -
    (a) Within 525 hours time-in-service after the effective date of 
this AD, install additional decompression vents in the left and 
right stowage and the right forward wardrobe assembly bulkhead 
between the flight deck and passenger compartment, in accordance 
with Jetstream Service Bulletin J41-25-018, dated March 15, 1994. -
    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

     -Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

     -(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Sec. Sec. 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) The installation shall be done in accordance with Jetstream 
Service Bulletin J41-25-018, dated March 15, 1994. This 
incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the 
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 
51. Copies may be obtained from Jetstream Aircraft, Inc., P.O. Box 
16029, Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC 20041-6029. 
Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, 
Washington, DC. -
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on January 17, 1995.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 5, 1994.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-30397 Filed 12-14-94; 8:45 am]
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