[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70700-70701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33791]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-102-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream 
Series 200, and 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 all British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream 
series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The proposed 
AD would require replacing the nose wheel steering jack seals with 
seals of an improved design. 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 the nose landing gear steering from locking 
up due to deterioration of the original design nose landing gear 
steering jack seals, which could result in reduced or loss of control 
of the airplane during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 29, 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-102-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-102-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-102-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 all British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, 
Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The 
CAA reports that the results of investigations into a recent incident 
reveals that the nose landing gear steering jack seals deteriorated. 
The deterioration caused particles of seal material to disperse into 
the selector valve.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could cause the nose 
landing gear steering to lock up and result in reduced or loss of 
control of the airplane during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations.

Relevant Service Information

    British Aerospace has issued Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-
JA900942, Original Issue: October 22, 1990, Revision No. 5: September 
4, 1998, which specifies replacing the nose landing gear steering jack 
seals with seals of an improved design. The procedures for 
accomplishing this replacement are included in APPH Ltd. Service 
Bulletin 32-51, Revision 5, dated April 1996.
    The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory in order to 
assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United 
Kingdom. The CAA classifying a service bulletin as mandatory is the 
same in the United Kingdom as the FAA issuing an AD in the United 
States.

The 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.

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 HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 
200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 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 wheel steering jack 
seals with seals of improved design. Accomplishment of the proposed 
actions would be required

[[Page 70701]]

in accordance with the instructions in APPH Ltd. Service Bulletin 32-
51, Revision 5, dated April 1996, and Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-
JA900942, Original Issue: October 22, 1990, Revision No. 5: September 
4, 1998.

Compliance Time of the Proposed AD

    The unsafe condition referenced in the proposed AD is not a result 
of repetitive airplane operation. The nose wheel steering jack seals 
deteriorate over time due to weather and climate conditions. For this 
reason, the FAA has determined that a compliance based on calendar time 
instead of hours time-in-service (TIS) should be utilized in the 
proposed AD in order to assure that the unsafe condition is addressed 
on all airplanes in a reasonable time period.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 250 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 12 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $220 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$235,000, or $940 per airplane.

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-102-AD.

    Applicability: HP137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream 
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in 
any category; that incorporate the following:
    Steering Jack Type: 618200.
    Nose Gear Type: 1873, B00A702852A, B00A703056A; or B00A703064A.

    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 within the next 9 calendar months after the 
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent the nose landing gear steering from locking up due to 
deterioration of the original design nose landing gear steering jack 
seals, which could result in reduced or loss of control of the 
airplane during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Replace the nose wheel steering jack seals with seals of 
improved design, in accordance with the instructions in APPH Ltd. 
Service Bulletin 32-51, Revision 5, dated April 1996, and Jetstream 
Service Bulletin 32-JA900942, Original Issue: October 22, 1990, 
Revision No. 5: September 4, 1998.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on any of the affected airplanes, any landing gear steering jack 
seal that is not of the improved design referenced in the service 
information specified in paragraph (a) of this AD, or an FAA-
approved equivalent.
    (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 
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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (e) Questions or technical information related to British 
Aerospace Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-JA900942, Original Issue: 
October 22, 1990, Revision No. 5: September 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 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in British Aerospace 
Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-JA900942, Original Issue: October 22, 
1990, Revision No. 5: September 4, 1998. This service bulletin is 
classified as mandatory by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation 
Authority (CAA).

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 15, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-33791 Filed 12-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P