[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50584-50586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24874]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-NM-229-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 all Short Brothers Model SD3 
series airplanes. This proposal would require a one-time inspection of 
the installation of the bearing housings of the elevator torque shaft 
assembly, and corrective action if necessary. This action is necessary 
to prevent failure of the elevator torque shaft, which could result in 
reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to 
address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by November 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-229-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 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-229-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.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.

[[Page 50585]]

    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 2001-NM-229-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 2001-NM-229-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 all Short Brothers Model SD3 series airplanes. 
The CAA advises that an operator reported freeplay of the bearing 
housings of the elevator torque shaft assembly at frame station 74 due 
to incorrect installation of the bearing housings of the elevator 
torque shaft. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure 
of the elevator torque shaft and consequent reduced controllability of 
the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Shorts has issued the following service bulletins, and the CAA has 
issued the following British airworthiness directives:

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                                                                                                   Corresponding
                                                                              Date of service         British
            Model/series                Short Brothers service bulletin          bulletin          airworthiness
                                                                                                     directive
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SD3-60 Sherpa.......................  SD360 SHERPA-27-6                   May 22, 2001..........     003-05-2001
SD3 Sherpa..........................  SD3 SHERPA-27-5                     May 22, 2001..........     008-05-2001
SD360...............................  SD360-27-31                         May 22, 2001..........     009-05-2001
SD330...............................  SD330-27-39                         May 22, 2001..........     007-05-2001
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The service bulletins describe procedures for a one-time inspection of 
the elevator torque shaft to ensure that the bearing housings are 
securely mounted, without any obvious or apparent movement relative to 
the mounting structure. The CAA classified the service bulletins as 
mandatory and issued the above-referenced British airworthiness 
directives to ensure 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 applicable service bulletin described 
previously.
    The service bulletins recommend that operators submit reports of 
inspection results to the manufacturer. While ADs do not typically 
require a report, the inspection results will enable the manufacturer 
to determine the prevalence of the corrosion in the affected fleet. 
Therefore, Note 3 has been included in this proposed AD to advise 
operators accordingly.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 75 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 work 
hours 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 
$9,000, or $120 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 proposed 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

[[Page 50586]]

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:

Short Brothers PLC: Docket 2001-NM-229-AD.

    Applicability: All Model SD3 series airplanes, 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: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of the elevator torque shaft, which could 
result in reduced controllability of the airplane, accomplish the 
following:

Inspection

    (a) Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD: Perform 
a detailed visual inspection of the bearing housings of the elevator 
torque shaft assembly to detect discrepancies (including movement of 
the housings relative to the mounting structure), in accordance with 
the applicable service bulletin listed in the following table:

                                           Table 1.--Service Bulletins
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                                            Inspect in accordance with Short
               For model                        Brothers service bulletin                     Dated
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) SD3-60 Sherpa series airplanes.....  SD360 SHERPA-27-6                       May 22, 2001.
(2) SD3 Sherpa series airplanes........  SD3 SHERPA-27-5                         May 22, 2001.
(3) SD360 series airplanes.............  SD360-27-31                             May 22, 2001.
(4) SD330 series airplanes.............  SD330-27-39                             May 22, 2001.
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    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.''

Corrective Action

    (b) If any discrepancy is found during the inspection required 
by paragraph (a) of this AD: Prior to further flight, replace any 
affected part with a new part, in accordance with the applicable 
service bulletin listed in Table 1 of this AD.

    Note 3: The service bulletins listed in Table 1 of this AD 
recommend that operators submit a report of their inspection 
findings to the manufacturer. Although operators may submit such a 
report, this AD does not require it.

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, 
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 4: 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 
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 5: The subject of this AD is addressed in British 
airworthiness directives 003-05-2001, 008-05-2001, 009-05-2001, and 
007-05-2001.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 28, 2001.
Charles Huber,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-24874 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U