[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52263-52265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25221]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-99-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Short Brothers and Harland Ltd. Models 
SC-7 Series 2 and SC-7 Series 3 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 Short Brothers and Harland Ltd. (Shorts) 
Models SC-7 Series 2 and SC-7 Series 3 airplanes. The proposed AD would 
require repetitively inspecting the wing attachment bushes in the 
fuselage front and rear spar frames for migration (gaps), and replacing 
the bushes if a gap exists that is of a certain length or more. 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 
detect and correct migration of the wing attachment bushes in the 
fuselage front and rear spar frames, which could result in structural 
damage to the wing spar/fuselage fitting with possible loss of control 
of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 3, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-99-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 Short Brothers plc, P.O. Box 241, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, 
Northern Ireland. This information also may be examined at the Rules 
Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger Chudy, 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. 97-CE-99-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. 97-CE-99-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 Shorts Models SC-7 Series 2 and SC-7 
Series 3 airplanes. The CAA reports migration in the wing attachment 
bushes in the fuselage front and rear spar frames.
    If the migration is not detected and corrected in a timely manner, 
then gaps will occur in these areas. Once a gap exists that is of a 
certain length, structural damage to the wing spar/fuselage fitting 
could occur. This could eventually result in loss of control of the 
airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. issued Shorts Service Bulletin 53-68, 
which specifies procedures for inspecting the wing attachment bushes in 
the fuselage front and rear spar frames for migration (gaps), and 
replacing the bushes if a gap exists that is of a certain length or 
more. Shorts Service Bulletin No. 53-68 incorporates the following 
pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Pages              Revision level             Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17,   Original Issue.  January 10, 1996.
 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
 and 25.
12..........................  Revision No: 1.  May 30, 1996.
3...........................  Revision No: 2.  September 1998.
1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 15, and 16..  Revision No: 3.  May 1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
British Airworthiness Directive 009-01-96, not dated, in order to 
assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United 
Kingdom.

[[Page 52264]]

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 Shorts Models SC-7 Series 2 and SC-7 Series 3 
airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the 
FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require repetitively 
inspecting the wing attachment bushes in the fuselage front and rear 
spar frames for migration (gaps), and replacing the bushes if a gap 
exists that is of a certain length or more. Accomplishment of the 
proposed action would be required in accordance with Shorts Service 
Bulletin 53-68.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 22 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed initial inspection, that it would take 
approximately 10 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed 
inspection, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an 
hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed 
initial inspection on U.S. operators is estimated to be $13,200, or 
$600 per airplane.
    These figures only take into account the cost of the initial 
inspections and do not account for the cost of repetitive inspections 
or the cost necessary to replace any bushings when gaps that exceed a 
certain length are found. The FAA has no way of determining the number 
of repetitive inspections or replacements each owner/operator will 
incur over the life of the affected airplanes.

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:

    Short Brothers and Harland Ltd.: Docket No. 97-CE-99-AD.

    Applicability: Models SC-7 Series 2 and SC-7 Series 3 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 (f) 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 in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To detect and correct migration of the wing attachment bushes in 
the fuselage front and rear spar frames, which could result in 
structural damage to the wing, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, and thereafter as indicated in the 
paragraphs below (depending on the inspection results), inspect the 
wing attachment bushes in the fuselage front and rear spar frames 
for migration. Accomplish this inspection in accordance with Shorts 
Service Bulletin No. 53-68, which incorporates the following pages:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Pages              Revision level             Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17,   Original Issue.  January 10, 1996.
 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
 and 25.
12..........................  Revision No: 1.  May 30, 1996.
3...........................  Revision No: 2.  September 1998.
1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 15, and 16..  Revision No: 3.  May 1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) If no gaps are found at the bush areas during any inspection 
required by this AD, repeat the inspection specified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD at intervals not to exceed 500 hours.
    (c) If any gap is found at the bush area that is less than 0.125 
inches in length during any inspection required by this AD, repeat 
the inspection specified in paragraph (a) of this AD at intervals 
not to exceed 100 hours TIS provided the gaps do not increase to 
0.125 inches or more in length. If the gap has not increased during 
3 additional inspections and continue to not increase, then the 
inspection intervals may be increased to 500 hours TIS.
    (d) If any gap is found at the bush areas that is 0.125 inches 
or more in length during any inspection required by this AD, prior 
to further flight, replace the bushes with parts specified in and in 
accordance with Shorts Service Bulletin 53-68. Inspect the 
replacement bushes at intervals not to exceed

[[Page 52265]]

500 hours TIS (in accordance with paragraph (a) of this AD).
    (e) 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.
    (f) 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, 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.

    (g) Questions or technical information related to Shorts Service 
Bulletin 53-68 should be directed to Short Brothers plc, P.O. Box 
241, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, Northern Ireland. 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 
Airworthiness Directive 009-01-96, not dated.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 21, 1999.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25221 Filed 9-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U