[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18062-18063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9452]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 92-CE-46-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Aircraft Limited Jetstream 
Models 3101 and 3201 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Jetstream Aircraft Limited (JAL) 
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes that have kit JK 2496 and 
modification JM 7537 installed. The proposed action would require 
installing magnetic latching relays on the ignition system. Reports of 
the auto-ignition system becoming disabled when switching from ground 
power to the airplane's internal power prompted the proposed action. 
The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss 
of the airplane's internal power connection to the auto-ignition 
system, which could cause loss of engine power and possible loss of the 
airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 13, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 92-CE-46-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 Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, 
Scotland; telephone (0292) 79888; facsimile (0292) 79703. This 
information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tom Rodriguez, Program Officer, 
Brussels Aircraft Certification Division, FAA, Europe, Africa, and 
Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; 
telephone (322) 508.2715; facsimile (322) 230.6899.

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-46-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, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 92-CE-46-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Events Leading to the Proposed Action

    The Civil Airworthiness Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom (UK), recently notified the FAA that 
an unsafe condition may exist on certain JAL Jetstream Models 3101 and 
3201 airplanes, serial numbers 693 through 870, that have kit JK 2496 
and modification JM 7537 installed. The CAA reports that the auto-
ignition arming relays are disarming when the battery master switch is 
moved from ground power (GND) to off (OFF) to internal power (INT). 
These conditions, if not detected, could result in interruption of 
power supply to the auto-ignition system, disabling the re-start of the 
engine, leading to loss of power.

Related Service Information

    JAL has issued Jetstream Service Bulletin No. 74-JM 7693A, Original 
Issue dated May 17, 1990; Revision No. 3 dated January 28, 1993, which 
specifies procedures for installing magnetic latching relays in the 
airplane's ignition system.
    The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory in order to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United 
Kingdom.

FAA's Determination

    These airplane models are manufactured in the United Kingdom and 
are type certificated for operation in the United States under the 
provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant 
to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAA has kept the FAA 
informed of the situation described above.
    The FAA has examined the findings of the CAA, reviewed all 
available information, including the service information referenced 
above; and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this 
type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other JAL Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes 
of the same type design that have kit JK 2496 and Modification JM 7537 
installed, registered in the United States, the proposed AD would 
require installing magnetically latching relays with wiring changes. 
Accomplishment of the proposed installation would be in accordance with 
Jetstream Service Bulletin No. 74-JM 7693A, Original Issue dated May 
17, 1990; Revision No. 3 dated January 28, 1993.

[[Page 18063]]

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 126 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 9 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The manufacturer is 
providing the parts at no charge. Based on these figures, the total 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$68,040 or $540 per airplane.
    Jetstream has informed the FAA it has received approximately 78 
orders for the parts to accomplish the proposed action. If each set of 
parts is installed on an affected airplane the estimated cost to the 
owners/operators in the U.S. would be reduced from $68,040 to $25,920.

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 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 USC 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. 92-CE-46-AD.

    Applicability: Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes (serial numbers 
693 through 870) that have kit JK 2496 and modification JM 7537 
installed, 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 within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent loss of the airplane's internal power connection to 
the auto-ignition system, which could cause loss of engine power and 
possible loss of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Install magnetically latching relays with wiring changes 
(quantity 2) in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section 
of the Jetstream Service Bulletin (SB) No. 74-JM 7693A, Original Issue 
dated May 17, 1990; Revision 3, dated January 28, 1993.
    (b) 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.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division, FAA, 
Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 
Brussels, Belgium. The request shall be forwarded through an 
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then 
send it to the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Brussels Aircraft Certification Division.

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to Jetstream Aircraft 
Limited, Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone 
(0292) 79888; facsimile (0292) 79703; or may examine this document 
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 April 7, 1997.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-9452 Filed 4-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U