[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 58 (Monday, March 25, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12051-12053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7150]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-44-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Aircraft Limited HP137 Mk1,
Jetstream Series 200, and 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 proposes to revise an earlier proposed
airworthiness directive (AD) that would have required the following on
Jetstream Aircraft Limited (JAL) HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes: repetitively inspecting the
main landing gear (MLG) pintle to cylinder interface for cracks, and
replacing any MLG cylinder that has a crack exceeding certain limits.
Reports of MLG cracks in the area of the pintle to cylinder interface
on three of the affected airplanes prompted the proposal. Since
publication of that proposal, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
has determined that the proposed action is still a valid safety issue,
but that the MLG cylinder should be replaced if any cracks are found
regardless of the length. This proposed action revises the previous
proposal by incorporating this change. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the MLG caused by cracks
in the pintle to cylinder interface area, which, if not detected and
corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane during
landing operations. Since the comment period for the original proposal
has closed and the change described above goes beyond the scope of what
was originally proposed, the FAA is allowing additional time for the
public to comment.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 24, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-44-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, Prestwick International 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, D.C. 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: Ms. Dorenda Baker, Program Manager,
Brussels Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle
East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; telephone
(32 2) 508.2715; facsimile (32 2) 230.6899; or Mr. Jeffrey Morfitt,
Project Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64105;
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
[[Page 12052]]
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 supplemental 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 supplemental notice must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made:
``Comments to Docket No. 95-CE-44-AD.'' The postcard will be date
stamped and returned to the commenter.
Availability of Supplemental NPRM's
Any person may obtain a copy of this supplemental NPRM by
submitting a request to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-44-AD, Room
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain JAL HP137
Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes
was published in the Federal Register on September 19, 1995 (60 FR
48429). The action proposed to require repetitively inspecting (using
non-destructive testing eddy current methods) the MLG pintle to
cylinder interface for cracks, and replacing any MLG cylinder that has
a crack exceeding certain limits. Accomplishment of the proposed
inspections would be in accordance with Jetstream Alert Service
Bulletin 32-A-JA 941245, Revision 2, dated March 28, 1995, and AP
Precision Hydraulics Ltd. Service Bulletin 32-56, Revision 3, dated
February 1995.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. One comment was received in favor of
the proposed rule and no comments were received regarding the FAA's
determination of the cost to the public.
Since publication of the proposal, the FAA has re-examined all
information related to this subject and determined that the MLG
cylinder should be replaced if any cracks are found, and not merely if
cracks are found that exceed certain limits. The FAA has determined
that no airplane should be allowed to operate with cracks in a single-
load path primary structure element (the MLG is considered a single-
load path primary structure element), and should be repaired or
replaced immediately.
Since the comment period for the original proposal has closed and
revision of the NPRM to require immediate MLG cylinder replacement if
any crack is found in the MLG pintle to cylinder interface for the JAL
HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201
airplanes proposes actions that go beyond the scope of what was already
proposed, the FAA is allowing additional time for the public to
comment.
The FAA estimates that 250 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed inspection on U.S.
operators is estimated to be $90,000. This figure does not take into
account the cost of repetitive inspections or the cost of replacement
MLG cylinders if cracks are found that exceed certain limits. The FAA
has no way of determining the number of repetitive inspections each
owner/operator would incur over the life of the airplane or the number
of MLG cylinders that may be found cracked during the inspections
proposed by this action.
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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Jetstream Aircraft Limited: Docket No. 95-CE-44-AD.
Applicability: HP 137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in
any category, that are equipped with one of the following main
landing gear (MLG) part numbers: 1863, 1863/4A, 1863/4B, 1863/4C,
1864, 1864/4A, 1864/4B, 1864/4C, BOOA702850A, BOOA702851A,
BOOA702925A, BO1A702925A, BOOA703065A, BO1A703065A, BOOA703030A,
BOOA702926A, BO1A702926A, BOOA703066A, BO1A703066A, BOOA703031A.
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 request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required initially upon the accumulation of 8,500
landings on an affected MLG or within the next 100 landings after
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, unless
already accomplished, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed
4,000 landings accumulated on an affected MLG.
[[Page 12053]]
Note 2: If the number of landings is unknown, hours time-in-
service (TIS) may be used by multiplying the number of hours TIS by
0.75. If hours TIS are utilized to calculate the number of landings,
this would make the AD effective ``initially upon the accumulation
of 11,333 hours TIS on an affected MLG or within the next 133 hours
TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, and
thereafter at intervals not to exceed to 5,333 hours TIS accumulated
on an affected MLG.''
To prevent failure of the MLG caused by cracks in the pintle to
cylinder interface area, which, if not detected and corrected, could
result in loss of control of the airplane during landing operations,
accomplish the following:
(a) Using non-destructive testing (NDT) eddy current methods,
inspect the MLG pintle to cylinder interface for cracks in
accordance with the following:
(1) Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-JA 941245, Revision 2,
dated March 28, 1995; and
(2) AP Precision Hydraulics Ltd. Service Bulletin 32-56,
Revision 3, dated February 1995.
(b) If any crack is found during any inspection required by this
AD, prior to further flight, replace the MLG cylinder with a new
part. Replacing the MLG cylinder does not eliminate the repetitive
inspection requirement of this AD.
Note 3: The ``prior to further flight'' compliance time required
by this AD if a MLG cylinder is cracked is different from the
compliance time referenced in Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-
JA 941245, Revision 2, dated March 28, 1995; and AP Precision
Hydraulics Ltd. Service Bulletin 32-56, Revision 3, dated February
1995. This AD takes precedence over the service information.
(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
initial and repetitive compliance times 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 4: 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 19, 1996.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-7150 Filed 3-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U