[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67633-67634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32471]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-91-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Jetstream Model 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 British Aerospace Jetstream Model 3201 
airplanes. The proposed AD would require replacing the nose landing 
gear downlock actuator, the flap actuator, the steering selector valve, 
the hydraulic reservoir, and the emergency selector valve. The proposed 
AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. 
The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent 
internal corrosion of the hydraulic components on airplanes where these 
components were exposed to water contamination, which could result in 
reduced or loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-91-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 British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 479888; 
facsimile: (01292) 479703. This information also may be examined at the 
Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. S.M. Nagarajan, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 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. 98-CE-91-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 Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 98-CE-91-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Civil Airworthiness Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain British Aerospace Jetstream Model 
3201 airplanes. The CAA reports incidents of hydraulic components 
having significant internal corrosion.
    This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result 
in loss of hydraulic power with consequent reduced or loss of control 
of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    British Aerospace has issued Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-
JA 970940, Original Issue: February 4, 1998, which specifies replacing 
the following critical components of the hydraulic system in accordance 
with the applicable maintenance manual:

--the nose landing gear downlock actuator;
--the flap actuator;
--the steering selector valve;
--the hydraulic reservoir; and
--the emergency selector valve.

    The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
British AD 001-02-98, not dated, in order to assure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.

The FAA's Determination

    This airplane model is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is 
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.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other British Aerospace Jetstream Model 3201 
airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the 
FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require replacing the 
nose landing gear downlock actuator, the flap actuator, the steering 
selector valve, the hydraulic reservoir, and the emergency selector 
valve. Accomplishment of the proposed actions would be required in 
accordance with the applicable maintenance manual, as specified in 
Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-JA 970940, Original Issue: 
February 4, 1998.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 9 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 33 
workhours per

[[Page 67634]]

airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor 
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts to accomplish the replacements 
cost approximately $46,636. (Overhauled or repaired parts are available 
from the agencies of equipment manufacturers or from the aircraft 
manufacturer's agency). Based on these figures, the total cost impact 
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $437,544, or 
$48,616 per airplane.

Compliance Time of the Proposed AD

    The compliance time of the proposed AD is presented in both 
calendar time and hours time-in-service (TIS). Corrosion could occur on 
the hydraulic system components and then either continue to deteriorate 
the part over time regardless of airplane operation or develop into 
stress cracks over time based on airplane operation. In order to assure 
that this condition does not go undetected, a compliance time of 
specific hours TIS and calendar time is proposed.

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 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:

British Aerospace: Docket No. 98-CE-91-AD.

    Applicability: Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes, constructor 
numbers 841, 842, 844 through 848, 851, 853 through 855, 857, 859 
through 862, and 864; 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 at whichever of the following occurs later, 
unless already accomplished:
    1. Upon accumulating 8,000 landings on the airplane or within 5 
years since the last time the hydraulic system components were 
replaced (see paragraph (a) of this AD for listing of components), 
whichever occurs first; or
    2. Within the next 12 calendar months after the effective date 
of this AD.

    Note 2: If the number of landings is unknown, hours time-in-
service (TIS) may be used by dividing 8,000 by 0.75. If hours TIS 
are utilized to calculate the number of landings, this would 
calculate the 8,000 landings compliance time to 10,667 hours TIS.

    To prevent internal corrosion of the hydraulic components on 
airplanes where these components were exposed to water 
contamination, which could result in reduced or loss of control of 
the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Replace the following critical components of the hydraulic 
system, in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual, as 
specified in Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-JA 970940, 
Original Issue: February 4, 1998:
    (1) the nose landing gear downlock actuator;
    (2) the flap actuator;
    (3) the steering selector valve;
    (4) the hydraulic reservoir; and
    (5) the emergency selector valve.

    Note 3: The FAA highly recommends replacing the hydraulic fluid 
while these system components are being replaced, as specified in 
Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-JA 970940, Original Issue: 
February 4, 1998.

    (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, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

    Note 4: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (d) Questions or technical information related to British 
Aerospace Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 29-A-JA 970940, Original 
Issue: February 4, 1998, should be directed to British Aerospace 
Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 
2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 479888; facsimile: (01292) 479703. 
This service information may be examined at the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 5: The subject of this AD is addressed in British AD 001-
02-98, not dated.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 1, 1998.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32471 Filed 12-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U