[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 218 (Friday, November 8, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57830-57832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28691]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-NM-160-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream BAe Model ATP Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD), applicable to certain Jetstream BAe Model ATP 
airplanes, that would have required repetitive inspections to detect 
damage of the antenna mounting reinforcing plates and surrounding 
fuselage skin. If any damage was detected, the proposed AD would have 
also required replacement of the reinforcing plate with a new 
reinforcing plate and/or repair of the surrounding fuselage skin, which 
would have terminated the repetitive inspection requirements. That 
proposal was prompted by reports of corrosion found at the antenna 
reinforcing plates, which was caused by ingress of water at the plates. 
This action revises the proposed rule by expanding the inspection area. 
The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent such 
corrosion, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the 
fuselage pressure vessel.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 2, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-160-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule 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 FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

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) 
227-2141; fax (206) 227-1149.

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 shall 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 summarizing 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 Number 95-NM-160-AD.'' The 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, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 95-NM-160-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to add an airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to 
certain Jetstream BAe Model ATP airplanes, was published as a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on March 8, 1996 (61 
FR 9371). That NPRM would have required repetitive detailed external 
visual inspections to detect damage (i.e., corrosion, cracks, 
pillowing, and rivet pulling) of the antenna mounting reinforcing 
plates and surrounding fuselage skin. For cases where any damage was 
detected during the inspection, the NPRM would have required 
replacement of the reinforcing plate with a new reinforcing plate and/
or repair of the surrounding fuselage skin; this replacement/repair 
would have constituted terminating action for the repetitive inspection 
requirements. That NPRM was prompted by reports of corrosion found at 
the antenna reinforcing plates, which was caused by the ingress of 
water at the plates. That condition, if not corrected, could result in 
reduced structural integrity of the fuselage pressure vessel.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Proposal

    Since the issuance of that NPRM, Jetstream has issued Service 
Bulletin ATP-53-31, Revision 1, dated December 5, 1995. (The original 
issue of the service bulletin, dated July 1, 1995, was cited in the 
NPRM as the appropriate source of service

[[Page 57831]]

information.) Revision 1 of the service bulletin differs from the 
original issue in that it includes procedures for inspecting two 
additional reinforcing plates at the automatic direction finder (ADF) 
loop antenna positions. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is 
the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom, classified this 
revised service bulletin as mandatory in order to assure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.

Review of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA examined the findings of the CAA and reviewed the revised 
service information. The FAA finds that the NPRM must be revised to 
require that inspections be accomplished of the inspection areas 
described in Revision 1 of the service bulletin. The FAA also finds 
that the NPRM must be revised to specify Revision 1 of the service 
bulletin as the appropriate source of service information for 
accomplishment of the replacement/repair. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of 
this supplemental NPRM have been revised accordingly.
    In addition, a note has been added to this supplemental NPRM to 
specify that inspections accomplished prior to the effective date of 
the proposed AD, in accordance with the original version of the service 
bulletin, are considered acceptable for compliance with the applicable 
inspections in Revision 1 of the service bulletin.

Conclusion

    Since this change expands the scope of the originally proposed 
rule, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment 
period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 10 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 work 
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$1,200, or $120 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

    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 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) 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 is contained 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 the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Jetstream Aircraft Limited (Formerly British Aerospace Commercial 
Aircraft Limited): Docket 95-NM-160-AD.

    Applicability: Model BAe ATP airplanes having constructor's 
numbers 2002 through 2063 inclusive, 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 request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) 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 as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent corrosion of the antenna mounting reinforcing plates 
and surrounding skin, which could result in reduced structural 
integrity of the fuselage pressure vessel, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, perform 
a detailed external visual inspection to detect damage (i.e., 
corrosion, cracks, pillowing, and rivet pulling) of the antenna 
mounting reinforcing plates and surrounding fuselage skin in 
accordance with Part A of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Jetstream Service Bulletin ATP-53-31, Revision 1, dated December 5, 
1995.

    Note 2: Inspections of the areas specified in Jetstream Service 
Bulletin ATP-53-31, dated July 1, 1995, that have been accomplished 
prior to the effective date of this AD and in accordance with that 
service bulletin, are considered acceptable for compliance with the 
inspections of those areas as required by paragraph (a) of this AD. 
(It should be noted, however, that Revision 1 of Service Bulletin 
ATP-53-31 specifies procedures for inspection of two additional ADF 
antenna locations.)

    (1) If no damage is detected, repeat the inspection thereafter 
at intervals not to exceed 1 year.
    (2) If any damage is detected, replace the reinforcing plate 
with a new reinforcing plate and/or repair the surrounding fuselage 
skin at the applicable times specified in Figure 4 of the service 
bulletin, and in accordance with Part B of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the service bulletin. Accomplishment of this 
replacement/repair constitutes terminating action for the repetitive 
inspection requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this AD.
    (b) Accomplishment of the replacement/repair procedures 
specified in Part B of the Accomplishment Instructions of Jetstream 
Service Bulletin ATP-53-31, Revision 1, dated December 5, 1995, 
constitutes terminating action for the requirements of this AD.
    (c) 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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    (d) 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.


[[Page 57832]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 1, 1996.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-28691 Filed 11-.7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U