[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43126-43128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20809]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-175-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Short Brothers Model SD3 Series 
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 Short Brothers Model SD3 
series airplanes. This proposal would require an inspection to find 
discrepancies of the hydraulic pipelines of the 7P panel and adjacent 
electrical wiring harnesses, and corrective action, if necessary. This 
action is necessary to find and fix such discrepancies, which could 
result in electrical arcing between the hydraulic lines and adjacent 
wiring and a potential fire. This action is intended to address the 
identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 17, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-175-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 be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2001-NM-175-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 Short Brothers, Airworthiness & Engineering Quality, P.O. 
Box 241, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, Northern Ireland. This 
information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-1175; 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 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 action 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.

[[Page 43127]]

     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 action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2001-NM-175-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. 2001-NM-175-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 Short Brothers Model SD3 series 
airplanes. The CAA advises that investigation of these airplanes by the 
manufacturer revealed that, in certain areas, clearance between the 
hydraulic lines and electrical wiring must be ensured. Inadequate 
clearance may lead to chafing of the cables and damage to the hydraulic 
pipelines. This condition, if not corrected, could result in electrical 
arcing between the hydraulic lines and adjacent wiring and a potential 
fire.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The manufacturer has issued Shorts Service Bulletins SD3 SHERPA-24-
5; SD330-24-29; SD360-24-25; and SD360 SHERPA-24-4; all dated April 30, 
2001. The service bulletins describe procedures for an inspection to 
find discrepancies of the hydraulic pipelines of the 7P panel and 
adjacent electrical wiring harnesses, and corrective action, if 
necessary. The discrepancies include inadequate clearance between 
certain hydraulic pipelines of the 7P panel and adjacent electrical 
wiring harnesses, chafing between the electrical wires and hydraulic 
line, or damage to the hydraulic pipelines or wiring harnesses. The 
corrective action includes rerouting for adequate clearance, clipping 
or sleeving of the wiring harness and/or replacement of damaged 
pipelines with new pipelines. Accomplishment of the actions specified 
in the service bulletins is intended to adequately address the 
identified unsafe condition.
    The CAA classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued 
British airworthiness directives 006-04-2001, 007-04-2001, 008-04-2001, 
and 009-04-2001, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of 
these airplanes in the United Kingdom.

FAA's Conclusions

    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, 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 service bulletin described previously, 
except as discussed below.

Difference Between This Proposed AD and Service Bulletins

    The referenced service bulletins do not define the type of 
inspection to be used to find discrepancies of the hydraulic pipelines 
of the 7P panel and adjacent electrical wiring harnesses. However, the 
FAA has determined that a detailed visual inspection would be required 
to find such discrepancies. A note has been added that defines a 
detailed visual inspection.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 75 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 AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$4,500, 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 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.

[[Page 43128]]

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Short Brothers, PLC: Docket 2001-NM-175-AD.

    Applicability: This AD applies to the airplanes listed in Table 
1 of this AD, certificated in any category:

                                                                 Table 1.--Applicability
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        Short Brothers model                                                              Description
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SD3-SHERPA series airplanes.........  On which Short Brothers Modification K2239 has not been accomplished.
SD3-60 SHERPA series airplanes......  On which Short Brothers Modification K6109 has not been accomplished.
SD3-60 series airplanes.............  On which Short Brothers Modification A8684 has not been accomplished.
SD3-30 series airplanes.............  On which Short Brothers Modification P4810 has not been accomplished.
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    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise 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 (b) 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 find and fix discrepancies of the hydraulic pipelines of the 
7P panel and adjacent electrical wiring harnesses, which could 
result in electrical arcing between the hydraulic lines and adjacent 
wiring and a potential fire, accomplish the following:

Inspection/Corrective Action

    (a) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, do a 
detailed visual inspection to find discrepancies (inadequate 
clearance, chafing, or damage) of the hydraulic pipelines of the 7P 
panel and adjacent electrical wiring harnesses, per the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Shorts Service Bulletins SD3 SHERPA-
24-5, SD330-24-29, SD360-24-25, or SD360 SHERPA-24-4, all dated 
April 30, 2001; as applicable. Before further flight, fix any 
discrepancies found, per the applicable service bulletin.

    Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed visual 
inspection is defined as: ``An intensive visual examination of a 
specific structural area, system, installation, or assembly to 
detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available lighting is 
normally supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at 
intensity deemed appropriate by the inspector. Inspection aids such 
as mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be used. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate access procedures may be required.''

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) 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, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. 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

    (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.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in British 
airworthiness directives 006-04-2001, 007-04-2001, 008-04-2001, and 
009-04-2001.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 13, 2001.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-20809 Filed 8-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P