[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9794-9796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4252]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 92-CE-23-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Aircraft Limited (formerly 
British Aerospace, Regional Aircraft Limited) Jetstream Models 3101 and 
3201 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); Reopening of 
the comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document reopens the comment period and proposes to 
revise an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), which would 
have required inspecting the main passenger/crew door locking mechanism 
on certain Jetstream Aircraft Limited (JAL) Jetstream Models 3101 and 
3201 airplanes to ensure that a taper pin is installed, and installing 
a taper pin if not already installed. Since publication of that 
proposal, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has re-examined 
various service difficulty reports on the affected airplanes, and 
determined that this is still a valid safety issue, and that a 
modification to the passenger door warning system should also be 
included. Since this action adds an additional modification that was 
not originally proposed, the FAA is allowing additional time for the 
public to comment. The proposed actions are intended to prevent the 
inability to open the passenger/crew door or failure of the passenger 
door warning system, which, if not detected and corrected, could result 
in passenger injury if emergency evacuation is needed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 28, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 92-
CE-23-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. Raymond A. Stoer, Program Officer, 
Brussels Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle 
East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; telephone 
(322) 513.3830; facsimile (322) 230.6899; or Mr. John P. Dow, Sr., 
Project Officer, 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. 92-CE-23-AD.'' The [[Page 9795]] 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. 92-CE-23-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    A proposal (NPRM) to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to 
certain JAL Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes was published in 
the Federal Register on May 26, 1992 (57 FR 21911). The action proposed 
to require inspecting the main passenger/crew door locking mechanism to 
ensure that a taper pin is installed, and installing a taper pin if not 
already installed. The proposed actions would require to be 
accomplished in accordance with Jetstream Service Bulletin (SB) 52-A-JA 
911140, dated February 3, 1992. This proposal was revised to 
incorporate Jetstream 52-A-JA 911140, Revision 1, dated June 26, 1992, 
and then republished in the Federal Register as a supplemental NPRM on 
April 26, 1993 (58 FR 21957).
    Interested persons were afforded an opportunity to participate in 
the making of this amendment during both the NPRM and supplemental NPRM 
stages. No comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's 
determination of the cost to the public in either instance.
    Since publication of the proposals, the FAA has re-examined various 
service difficulty reports on the affected airplanes, and determined 
that the proposed modification is still a valid safety issue, but is 
not considered an urgent safety of flight issue. In addition, the FAA 
determined that a modification to the passenger door warning system 
should be incorporated in order to ensure evacuation efficiency in the 
event of an emergency. Several reports of passenger door warning system 
malfunctions prompted the FAA to incorporate this modification into the 
proposal. Accomplishment of the proposed passenger door warning 
modification would be in accordance with Jetstream SB 52-JM 7793, which 
incorporates the following pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Pages                Revision level               Date         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 through..............  Original Issue.........  November 19, 1992.    
1, 2, and 3............  Revision 1.............  August 10, 1993.      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, JAL has revised certain pages of Jetstream SB 52-A-JA 
911140, and the FAA has incorporated these revised pages (Revision 2) 
into the proposal. Jetstream SB 52-A-JA 911140 now incorporates the 
following pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Pages                Revision level               Date         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4, 5, 7, and 9.........  Original Issue.........  February 3, 1992.     
2......................  Revision 1.............  June 26, 1992.        
1, 3, 6, and 8.........  Revision 2.............  October 6, 1992.      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Since this action adds an additional modification that was not 
originally proposed, the FAA is reopening the comment period to provide 
additional time for public comment.
    The FAA estimates that 200 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10 
workhours (2 workhours for the taper pin installation and 8 workhours 
for the passenger door warning system modification) per airplane to 
accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor rate is 
approximately $60 an hour. Parts to accomplish the modifications will 
be provided by JAL 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 $120,000. This figure is based on the assumption that 
no affected owner/operator has accomplished either of the proposed 
modifications; that all airplanes would need a taper pin installed on 
the passenger/crew door locking mechanism; and that no airplane owner/
operator has accomplished the passenger door warning system 
modification. The FAA anticipates that a majority of the affected 
airplanes would already have taper pins installed and passenger door 
warning system modifications incorporated, thereby reducing the 
proposed cost impact upon the public.
    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 airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Jetstream Aircraft Limited: Docket No. 92-CE-23-AD.

    Applicability: Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes (all 
serial numbers), certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within the next 500 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent the inability to open the passenger/crew door or 
failure of the passenger door warning system, which, if not detected 
and corrected, could result in passenger injury if emergency 
evacuation is needed, accomplish the following:
    (a) For all affected airplanes that have a main passenger/crew 
door installed with one of the following serial numbers, accomplish 
paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD, as applicable:

WIPL-SD-0001 through WIPL-SD-0005,
WIPL-SD-0008 through WIPL-SD-0031,
WIPL-SD-0034 through WIPL-SD-0046, [[Page 9796]] 
WIPL-SD-0049, WIPL-SD-0051 through WIPL-SD-0065, WIPL-SD-0067, WIPL-
SD-0070, WIPL-SD-0071,
SDJ10883, SDJ10884A, SDJ10884B, and SDJ10886 through SDJ10891

    (1) To ensure that a part number SP28E4 taper pin is installed, 
visually inspect the passenger/crew door locking mechanism in the 
area between the locking dog and indicator button assembly in 
accordance with Part 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions section of 
Jetstream Service Bulletin (SB) 52-A-JA 911140, which incorporates 
the following pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Pages                Revision level               Date         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4, 5, 7, and 9.........  Original Issue.........  February 3, 1992.     
2......................  Revision 1.............  June 26, 1992.        
1, 3, 6, and 8.........  Revision 2.............  October 6, 1992.      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) If a taper pin (part number SP28E4) is not installed, prior 
to further flight, accomplish Part 3 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions section of Jetstream SB 52-A-JA 911140.
    (b) For all affected airplanes regardless of the serial number 
passenger door installed, modify the passenger door warning system 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section of 
Jetstream SB 52-JM 7793, which incorporates the following pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Pages                Revision level               Date         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 through 11...........  Original Issue.........  November 19, 1992.    
1, 2, and 3............  Revision 1.............  August 10, 1993.      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1: Compliance with a previous revision level of the service 
bulletins referenced in this AD fulfills the applicable requirements 
of this AD and is considered ``unless already accomplished'' for 
that portion of the AD.

    (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 times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, 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; telephone (44-292) 79888; 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 February 14, 1995.
Barry D. Clements,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 95-4252 Filed 2-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U