[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 146 (Monday, July 31, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38954-38956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17553]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-NM-183-AD; Amendment 39-9310; AD 95-15-07]


Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Model BAC 1-11 200 
and 400 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to British Aerospace Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series 
airplanes, that currently requires structural inspections and repairs 
or replacements, as necessary. This amendment requires additional 
inspections of certain Structural Significant Items (SSI) and expansion 
of the inspection area for certain other SSI's. This amendment is 
prompted by the results of a structural integrity audit, which 
indicated that in order to maintain the structural integrity of these 
airplanes as they approach or exceed the manufacturer's original 
fatigue design life goal, certain SSI's need to be inspected. The 
actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure continuing 
structural integrity of these airplanes.

DATES: Effective August 30, 1995.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of August 30, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from British Aerospace, Airbus Limited, P.O. Box 77, Bristol 
BS99 7AR, England. 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) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 87-24-06 R1, 
amendment 39-6037 (53 FR 37993, September 29, 1988), which is 
applicable to British Aerospace Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series 
airplanes, was published in the Federal Register on April 17, 1995 (60 
FR 19179). The action proposed to require a revision of the FAA-
approved maintenance inspection program to include additional 
structural inspections of certain Structural Significant Items (SSI), 
expansion of the inspection area for certain other SSI's, and repair or 
replacement of cracked parts; and establishes a life limit for the 
engine mount/attachment structure on certain airplanes.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public. 
The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require 
the adoption of the rule as proposed.
    The FAA estimates that 31 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 158 work hours per 
airplane to accomplish the actions, and that the average labor rate is 
$60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the 
AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $293,880, or $9,480 per 
airplane, per inspection cycle.
    The total cost impact figures discussed above are 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.

[[Page 38955]]


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 removing amendment 39-6037 (53 FR 
37993, September 29, 1988), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), amendment 39-9310 , to read as follows:

95-15-07  British Aerospace Airbus Limited (Formerly British 
Aerospace Commercial Aircraft Limited, British Aerospace Aircraft 
Group): Amendment 39-9310. Docket 94-NM-183-AD. Supersedes AD 87-24-
06 R1, Amendment 39-6037.

    Applicability: Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series airplanes, 
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 (f) 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 airplane from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To ensure continuing structural integrity of the airplane, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 6 months after November 3, 1988 (the effective date 
of AD 87-24-06 R1, amendment 39-6037), incorporate a revision into 
the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program which requires 
inspections, repairs, and replacements, as necessary, in accordance 
with Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3 of British Aerospace BAC 1-11 
Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 3, dated March 19, 1987. 
The revision to the maintenance inspection program must include 
procedures to notify the manufacturer when Structural Significant 
Items (SSI) are found cracked or otherwise significantly 
deteriorated. [Information collection requirements contained in this 
regulation have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 
2120-0056.] The inspection thresholds, repetitive intervals, and 
inspection techniques are listed in the alert service bulletin.
    (b) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 
the revision of the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program 
required by paragraph (a) of this AD, with a revision which requires 
inspections, repairs, and replacements, as necessary, in accordance 
with Table 1 (except Maintenance Planning Guide Reference Numbers 
52-10- 6R and 53-10-29R), Table 2, and Table 3 of British Aerospace 
BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 4, dated January 
28, 1993. The revision to the maintenance inspection program must 
include procedures to notify the manufacturer when SSI's are found 
cracked or otherwise significantly deteriorated. [Information 
collection requirements contained in this regulation have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.] The 
inspection thresholds, repetitive intervals, and inspection 
techniques are listed in the alert service bulletin.

    Note 2
: Maintenance Planning Guide (MPG) Reference Numbers 52-10-6R and 53-
10-29R, listed in Table 1 of British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service 
Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 4, dated January 28, 1993, are excluded 
from the requirements of this AD for the following reasons:

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  MPG reference                                                         
       No.                                Reason                        
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52-10-6R........  Required by AD 87-21-06, amendment 39-5744.           
53-10-29R.......  Will be addressed in a separate rulemaking action.    
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Within one year after November 3, 1988 (the effective date 
of AD 87-24-06 R1, amendment 39-6037), or prior to the accumulation 
of the number of landings listed in the landing threshold indicated 
in British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, 
Issue 3, dated March 19, 1987, whichever occurs later, and 
thereafter, at intervals not to exceed the number of landings 
specified in the alert service bulletin, accomplish the inspections, 
repairs, and replacements, as necessary, of the SSI's identified in 
Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3 of that service bulletin.
    (d) Within one year after the effective date of this AD, or 
prior to the accumulation of the number of landings listed in the 
landing threshold indicated in British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert 
Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 4, dated January 28, 1993, 
whichever occurs later, and thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 
the number of landings specified in the alert service bulletin, 
accomplish the inspections, repairs, and replacements, as necessary, 
of the SSI's identified in Table 1 (except Maintenance Planning 
Guide Reference Numbers 52-10-6R and 53-10-29R), Table 2, and Table 
3 of the alert service bulletin.

    Note 3: For operators that have accomplished this inspection 
previously in accordance with the requirements of AD 87-24-06 R1, 
amendment 39-6037: This paragraph requires that the next scheduled 
inspection for that SSI be performed within the repetitive interval 
specified for that SSI in the alert service bulletin after the last 
inspection performed in accordance with the requirements of AD 87-
24-06 R1 for that SSI.

    (e) For any cracked structure detected during any inspection 
required by this AD, prior to further flight, accomplish either 
paragraph (e)(1), (e)(2), or (e)(3) of this AD.
    (1) Replace the cracked part with a serviceable part of the same 
part number, in accordance with the Airplane Maintenance Manual. Or
    (2) Repair the cracked structure in accordance with the 
Structural Repair Manual, listed in the service bulletin. Or
    (3) Repair in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate.
    (f) 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 4: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    (g) 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.
    (h) The inspections, repairs, and replacements shall be done in 
accordance with British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 
51-A-PM5830, Issue 4, dated January 28, 1993; as applicable. 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 British Aerospace, Airbus Limited, 
P.O. Box 77, Bristol BS99 7AR, England. 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. 

[[Page 38956]]

    (i) This amendment becomes effective on August 30, 1995.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 12, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17553 Filed 7-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U