[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 29, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52371-52373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21996]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-348-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace (Jetstream) Model 
4101 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain British Aerospace 
(Jetstream) Model 4101 airplanes. This proposal would require 
inspection of certain components, and corrective action, if necessary. 
This action is necessary to prevent loosening of the locknut holding 
the main landing gear (MLG) piston to the ramrod, which could result in 
detachment of the MLG piston from the ramrod and loss of hydraulic 
control of the MLG. This action is intended to address the identified 
unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-348-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the 
following address: [email protected]. Comments sent via the 
Internet must contain ``Docket No. 99-NM-348-AD'' in the subject line 
and need not be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet 
as attached electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for 
Windows or ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 
13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. This information may be 
examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.

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 shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications

[[Page 52372]]

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.
    Submit comments using the following format:
     Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    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 summarizing 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 Number 99-NM-348-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, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 99-NM-348-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain British Aerospace (Jetstream) Model 4101 
airplanes. The CAA advises that the peening of the lockwasher, which 
locks the locknut holding the main landing gear (MLG) piston to the 
ramrod, may be insufficient in some cases. The manufacturer of the 
landing gear, APPH, has reported that MLG units are being returned for 
overhaul with locknuts having incorrectly peened lockwashers. Incorrect 
peening of the lockwashers would allow loosening of the locknut during 
operation. This condition, if not corrected, could result in detachment 
of the MLG piston from the ramrod and loss of hydraulic control of the 
MLG.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    British Aerospace has issued Jetstream Service Bulletin J41-32-068, 
Revision 1, dated May 12, 2000, which describes procedures for 
inspecting airplane records to determine the number of landings, the 
overhaul status, and the presence of ink mark ``32-03'' on the left and 
right MLG retract actuators. Depending on the results of this 
inspection, the service bulletin describes procedures for corrective 
actions, including overhaul and replacement of the actuator, inspection 
of the locknut peening of the MLG retract actuator, replacement of the 
lockwasher and addition of ink mark ``32-03.'' Accomplishment of the 
actions specified in the service bulletin is intended to adequately 
address the identified unsafe condition. The CAA classified this 
service bulletin as mandatory and issued British airworthiness 
directive 007-09-99 in order to assure the continued airworthiness of 
these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
    The Jetstream service bulletin references APPH Service Bulletin 
AIR86496-32-03, Revision 2, dated March 2000, as an additional source 
of service information for accomplishment of the inspection for 
loosening of the locknuts and replacement of the lockwasher.

FAA's Conclusions

    This airplane model is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is 
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, and determined 
that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered 
in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of 
the actions specified in the Jetstream service bulletin described 
previously, except as discussed below.

Difference Between Proposed AD and Service Bulletin

    The table in paragraph 2.A.(2) of the Accomplishment Instructions 
of the Jetstream service bulletin specifies that no further overhaul or 
inspection actions are necessary for certain MLG retract actuators with 
fewer than 8,000 landings. However, this AD would require, for any 
actuator that has not been overhauled, replacement of the actuator 
prior to further flight or prior to the accumulation of 8,000 total 
landings on the actuator, whichever occurs later. The FAA has 
determined that such a requirement is necessary to ensure that all 
actuators are overhauled by an appropriate compliance threshold.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 59 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work 
hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
cost impact of the proposed inspection on U.S. operators is estimated 
to be $3,540, or $60 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures 
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to 
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures 
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to 
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other 
administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would 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 proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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

[[Page 52373]]

under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the 
draft regulatory 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, 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 the following new 
airworthiness directive:

British Aerospace Regional Aircraft [Formerly Jetstream Aircraft 
Limited; British Aerospace (Commercial Aircraft) Limited]: Docket 
99-NM-348-AD.

    Applicability: Model Jetstream 4101 airplanes, certificated in 
any category; on which any APPH main landing gear (MLG) retract 
actuator having part number AIR86496, any suffix, is installed.

    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 as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent loosening of the locknut holding the MLG piston to 
the ramrod, which could result in detachment of the MLG piston from 
the ramrod and loss of hydraulic control of the MLG, accomplish the 
following:

Inspection and Corrective Actions

    (a) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Inspect the airplane records to determine the overhaul status and 
number of landings on the left and right MLG retract actuators, and 
inspect the actuators for the presence of ink mark ``32-03,'' in 
accordance with Jetstream Service Bulletin J41-32-068, Revision 1, 
dated May 12, 2000.
    (1) If both actuators have been overhauled and ink mark ``32-
03'' is present on each actuator, no further action is required by 
this AD.
    (2) For any actuator that has been overhauled but does not have 
ink mark ``32-03'' present on the actuator: Within 2 years after the 
effective date of this AD, accomplish all applicable corrective 
actions for that actuator (including inspection of locknut peening, 
lockwasher replacement, and ink marking), in accordance with Part 3 
or Part 4, as applicable, of the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
service bulletin.
    (3) For any actuator that has not been overhauled: Prior to 
further flight, or prior to the accumulation of 8,000 total landings 
on that actuator, whichever occurs later, replace the actuator with 
an overhauled actuator having ink mark ``32-03'' present, in 
accordance with Part 1 or Part 2, as applicable, of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin.

    Note 2: Jetstream Service Bulletin J41-32-068, Revision 1, dated 
May 12,2000, refers to APPH Service Bulletin AIR86496-32-03, 
Revision 2, dated March 2000, as an additional source of service 
information for the inspection of locknut peening and the lockwasher 
replacement.

Spares

    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no APPH MLG retract 
actuator having P/N AIR86496, any suffix, may be installed on any 
airplane unless the actuator is marked with ink mark ``32-03.'' 
Alternative Methods of Compliance
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in British 
airworthiness directive 007-09-99.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 23, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-21996 Filed 8-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U