[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 162 (Monday, August 21, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50617-50619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20776]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-117-AD; Amendment 39-11870; AD 2000-16-13]
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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to all British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and 
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. This AD requires you to 
inspect 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 requires you to adjust the free play as 
necessary. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the United 
Kingdom. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the 
inability to steer the airplane because of excessive free play in the 
steering linkage. This excessive free play could then result in loss of 
control of the airplane during take-off, landing, or taxi operations.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on September 29, 2000.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulation as of 
September 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 479888; 
facsimile: (01292) 479703. You may examine this information at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-117-AD, 901 Locust, 
Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. S.M. Nagarajan, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; facsimile: (816) 329-
4090.

[[Page 50618]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Caused This AD?

    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 reported 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. Inspection of this airplane following the 
incident revealed an unacceptable amount of free play in the nose 
landing gear steering linkage because of excessive wear in the steering 
selector differential.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to all 
British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream Models 
3101 and 3201 airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal 
Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on April 23, 1999 
(64 FR 19930). The NPRM proposed to require you to inspect 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 
adjust as necessary.
    Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the NPRM 
would be required in accordance with British Aerospace Alert Service 
Bulletin 32-A-JA980840, Original Issue: October 28, 1998, Revision No. 
2: December 17, 1998.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    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.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. We received one comment in favor of the NPRM and no 
comments on our determination of the cost to the public.

Has the Manufacturer Issued Revised Service Information?

    Operator reports that indicate it is difficult to accomplish the 
steering backlash check caused British Aerospace to revise Alert 
Service Bulletin 32-A-JA980840. Improved procedures are included in 
British Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-JA980840, Revision No. 3: 
May 5, 1999.

The FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    We carefully reviewed all available information related to the 
subject presented above, including the referenced service bulletin 
revision, and determined that:
    --The actions proposed in the NPRM should be accomplished in 
accordance with the revised service information;
    --Air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the 
rule as proposed except for the incorporation of this service 
information and minor editorial corrections; and
    --These changes provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM 
for correcting the unsafe condition and do not impose any additional 
burden over what was proposed in the NPRM.

Are There Differences Between This AD and the Service Information?

    British Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-JA980840, Original 
Issue: October 28, 1998, Revision No. 3: May 5, 1999, specifies 
calendar compliance times based on the number of landings each airplane 
has accumulated. In order to keep the compliance time equal for all 
airplane operators, we are requiring the inspection when the airplane 
has 10,000 landings. In order to assure that no affected airplane is 
inadvertently grounded, we are utilizing 100 landings as a grace 
period. The compliance time is as follows:

    ``Upon accumulating 10,000 landings or within the next 100 
landings after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later.''

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 350 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry, and that it will take approximately 6 workhours per airplane 
to accomplish the inspection at an average labor rate of $60 an hour. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the inspection on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $126,000, or $360 per airplane.

What About the Cost of any Adjustments?

    These figures only take into account the costs of the inspection 
and do not take into account the costs associated with any adjustments 
that will be necessary if the free play is not within acceptable 
limits. The adjustment should take approximately 1 workhour at $60 per 
hour (cost of $60 per airplane). We have no way of determining the 
number of airplanes that would need adjustments to the nose wheel 
steering system based on the results of the inspection required in this 
AD.

Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct 
effect 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, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:

2000-16-13  British Aerospace: Amendment 39-11870; Docket No. 98-CE-
117-AD.


[[Page 50619]]


    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD applies to 
HP137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 
airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes on the U.S. Register must comply with 
this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent the inability to steer the airplane 
because of excessive free play in the steering linkage. This 
excessive free play could then result in loss of control of the 
airplane during take-off, landing, or taxi operations.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Action                Compliance time         Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the nose wheel    Upon accumulating     Accomplish this
 steering system of assure     10,000 landings or    inspection in
 that the free play between    within the next 100   accordance with the
 the steering handle or knob   landings after        A. Inspection
 and the nose wheels is        September 29, 2000    portion of the
 within acceptable limits,     (the effective date   ACCOMPLISHMENT
 as specified in the service   of this AD),          INSTRUCTIONS
 information.                  whichever occurs      section of British
                               later.                Aerospace Alert
                                                     Service Bulletin 32-
                                                     A-JA980840,
                                                     Revision No. 3: May
                                                     5, 1999.
(2) Adjust the free play      Required before       Accomplish in
 between the steering handle   further flight        accordance with the
 or knob and the nose wheels   after the             B. Rectification
 if it is not within the       inspection where      portion of the
 acceptable limits.            the free play was     ACCOMPLISHMENT
                               not within the        INSTRUCTIONS
                               acceptable limits.    section of British
                                                     Aerospace Alert
                                                     Service Bulletin 32-
                                                     A-JA980840,
                                                     Revision No. 3: May
                                                     5, 1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Note: If the number of landings is unknown, you may use hours time-in-
  service (TIS) by dividing 10,000 and 100 by 0.75. If hours TIS are
  utilized to calculate the number of landings, this would calculate the
  10,000 landings compliance time to 13,333 hours TIS; and the 100
  landings grace period compliance time to 133 hours TIS.

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate approves your 
alternative. Submit your request through an FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

    Note: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? You may contact S.M. Nagarajan, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64016; telephone: (816) 329-4145; 
facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with British Aerospace Alert Service Bulletin 32-A-JA980840, 
Revision No. 3: May 5, 1999. The Director of the Federal Register 
approved this incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51. You can get copies from British Aerospace Regional 
Aircraft, Prestwick International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, 
Scotland; telephone: (01292) 479888; facsimile: (01292) 479703. You 
can look at copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, 
suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on September 29, 2000.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 10, 2000.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20776 Filed 8-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U