[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19936-19938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10168]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-115-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 repetitively removing the nose landing gear steering 
selector valve and installing either a new nose landing gear steering 
selector valve or one that has been overhauled in accordance with the 
appropriate component maintenance manual. 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 inability to steer the 
airplane because of wear in the nose landing gear steering selector 
differential, which could result in loss of control of the airplane 
during take-off, landing, or taxi operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 28, 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-

[[Page 19937]]

115-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-115-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-115-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 a recent incident where the operator of one of the affected 
airplanes lost control while the airplane was on the ground and veered 
off the runway. Investigation of this incident revealed an unacceptable 
amount of free play in the nose landing gear steering linkage because 
of an excessive amount of wear in the steering selector differential.
    This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result 
in loss of control of the airplane during take-off, landing, or taxi 
operations.

Relevant Service Information

    British Aerospace has issued the following:

--Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-JA980841, Original Issue: October 28, 
1998, which specifies removing the nose landing gear steering selector 
valve and installing either a new nose landing gear steering selector 
valve or one that has been overhauled in accordance with the 
appropriate component maintenance manual; and
--Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-JA980840, Original Issue: 
October 28, 1998, Revision No. 2: December 17, 1998, which specifies 
procedures for inspecting the nose wheel steering system to assure that 
the free play between the steering handle or knob and the nose wheels 
is within acceptable limits, and adjusting as necessary.

    The CAA classified these service bulletins 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 Sec. 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 repetitively removing the nose landing 
gear steering selector valve and installing either a new nose landing 
gear steering selector valve or one that has been overhauled in 
accordance with the appropriate component maintenance manual. 
Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with the 
applicable maintenance manual, as specified in British Aerospace 
Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-JA980841, Original Issue: October 28, 
1998.
    The FAA is proposing in another action (Docket No. 98-CE-117-AD) a 
one-time inspection of the nose wheel steering system to assure that 
the free play between the steering handle or knob and the nose wheels 
is within acceptable limits, with adjustment as necessary.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 350 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed initial replacement, that it would take 
approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed 
action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. 
Parts cost approximately $2,500 per airplane. Based on these figures, 
the total cost impact of the proposed initial replacement on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $959,000, or $2,740 per airplane.
    These figures only take into account the cost of the initial 
overhaul or replacement and do not take into account the cost of 
subsequent overhauls or replacements. The FAA has no way of determining 
the number of overhauls or replacements that each owner/operator of the 
affected airplanes would incur over the life of his/her airplane.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and

[[Page 19938]]

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-115-AD.

    Applicability: HP137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream 
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, 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: Upon accumulating 10,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) 
on the nose landing gear selector valve or within the next 12 
calendar months after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs later, unless already accomplished; and thereafter each time 
10,000 hours TIS is accumulated on a nose landing gear selector 
valve.
    To prevent the inability to steer the airplane because of wear 
in the nose landing gear steering selector differential, which could 
result in loss of control of the airplane during take-off, landing, 
or taxi operations, accomplish the following:
    (a) Remove the nose landing gear steering selector valve, part 
number (P/N) 8668C or AIR86002-0 (or FAA-approved equivalent part 
number), and install one of the following in accordance with the 
applicable maintenance manual, as specified in British Aerospace 
Jetstream Service Bulletin 32-JA980841, Original Issue: October 28, 
1998:
    (1) A new steering selector valve, P/N 8668C or AIR86002-0 (or 
FAA-approved equivalent part number); or
    (2) An FAA-approved nose landing gear steering selector valve 
that has been overhauled in accordance with the appropriate 
component maintenance manual.

    Note 2: The FAA is proposing in another action (Docket No. 98-
CE-117-AD) a one-time inspection of the nose wheel steering system 
to assure that the free play between the steering handle or knob and 
the nose wheels is within acceptable limits, with adjustment as 
necessary.

    (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 
initial or repetitive compliance times 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 3: 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 Service Bulletin 32-JA980841, Original Issue: 
October 28, 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 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in British Aerospace 
Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 32-JA980841, Original Issue: 
October 28, 1998. This service bulletin is classified as mandatory 
by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 15, 1999.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-10168 Filed 4-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P