[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 147 (Wednesday, July 31, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49627-49630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19255]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-CE-14-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Model HP.137 
Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, Jetstream Series 3101, and 
Jetstream Model 3201 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 British Aerospace Model HP.137 Jetstream 
Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, Jetstream Series 3101, and Jetstream Model 
3201 airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to repetitively 
inspect the horizontal and vertical stabilizer attachment fittings and 
associated hardware for corrosion and wear (damage). If damage is 
found, this proposed AD would also require you to repair or replace the 
damaged parts. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for the United Kingdom. The actions specified by this proposed AD are 
intended to detect and correct damage on the horizontal and vertical 
stabilizer attachment fittings and associated hardware, which could 
result in failure of the attachment fittings. Such failure could lead 
to fluttering and subsequent structural failure of the empennage.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before August 30, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-CE-14-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also send comments 
electronically to the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments sent electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2002-CE-14-AD'' 
in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached 
electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for 
Windows or ASCII text.
    You may get service information that applies to this proposed AD 
from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 672345; 
facsimile: (01292) 671625. You may also view this information at the 
Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How Do I Comment on This Proposed AD?

    The FAA invites comments on this proposed rule. You may submit 
whatever written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to 
include the rule's docket number and submit your comments to the 
address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all 
comments received on or before the closing date. We may amend this 
proposed rule in light of comments received. Factual information that 
supports your ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this proposed AD action and determining whether we 
need to take additional rulemaking action.

[[Page 49628]]

Are There Any Specific Portions of This Proposed AD I Should Pay 
Attention to?

    The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed rule that 
might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may view all comments we 
receive before and after the closing date of the rule in the Rules 
Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that summarizes each 
contact we have with the public that concerns the substantive parts of 
this proposed AD.

How Can I Be Sure FAA Receives My Comment?

    If you want FAA to acknowledge the receipt of your mailed comments, 
you must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, 
write ``Comments to Docket No. 2002-CE-14-AD.'' We will date stamp and 
mail the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This Proposed AD?

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on all British Aerospace Model HP.137 Jetstream 
Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, Jetstream Series 3101, and Jetstream Model 
3201 airplanes. The CAA reports that, during regular scheduled 
maintenance, an operator discovered fretting corrosion on the 
horizontal and vertical stabilizer attachment bolts on an in service 
Jetstream Series 4100 airplane. The Jetstream Series 4100 airplane has 
a similar structural layout in the affected area to those affected by 
this proposed action. The corrosion is occurring on the eye bolt shanks 
and the horizontal and vertical stabilizer forward and rear attachment 
fitting lugs on the contact faces. There have been 10 reported cases of 
corrosion found on Jetstream Series 3101 and Jetstream Model 3201 
airplanes.

What Are the Consequences If the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
failure of the horizontal and vertical stabilizer attachment fittings. 
Such failure could lead to fluttering and subsequent structural failure 
of the empennage.

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

    British Aerospace has issued Jetstream Service Bulletin 55-
JA010941, Original issue: January 25, 2002.

What Are the Provisions of This Service Information?

    The service bulletin includes procedures for:

--Repetitively inspecting the forward and rear horizontal and vertical 
stabilizer attachment fittings and associated hardware for corrosion 
and wear (damage); and
--Replacing or repairing any damaged parts found during any inspection.

What Action Did the CAA Take?

    The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory in order to 
assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United 
Kingdom. The CAA classifying a service bulletin as mandatory is the 
same in the United Kingdom as the FAA issuing an AD in the United 
States.

Was This in Accordance With the Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement?

    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 FAA informed of the situation described above.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of This 
Proposed AD

What Has FAA Decided?

    The FAA has examined the findings of the CAA; reviewed all 
available information, including the service information referenced 
above; and determined that:

--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other British Aerospace Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, 
Jetstream Series 200, Jetstream Series 3101, and Jetstream Model 3201 
airplanes of the same type design that are on the U.S. registry;
--The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

What Would This Proposed AD Require?

    This proposed AD would require you to incorporate the actions in 
the previously-referenced service bulletin.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Would This Proposed AD Impact?

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 250 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.

What Would Be the Cost Impact of This Proposed AD on Owners/Operators 
of the Affected Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the proposed 
inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Total cost
             Labor cost                    Parts cost         per airplane      Total cost  on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 workhours x $60 = $2,400........  No parts required to           $2,400   $2,400 x 250 = $600,000.
                                      perform the
                                      inspection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has no method of determining the number of repetitive 
inspections each owner/operator would incur over the life of each of 
the affected airplanes so the cost impact is based on the initial 
inspection.
    The FAA has no method of determining the number of repairs each 
owner/operator would incur over the life of each of the affected 
airplanes based on the results of the proposed inspections. We have no 
way of determining the number of airplanes that may need such repair. 
The extent of damage would vary on each airplane.

Compliance Time of This Proposed AD

What Would Be the Compliance Time of This Proposed AD?

    The compliance time of this proposed AD is ``upon accumulating 8 
calendar years on the airframe or within the next 6 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.''

Why Is the Compliance Time Presented in Calendar Time Instead of Hours 
Time-in-Service (TIS)?

    The unsafe condition specified by this proposed AD is caused by 
corrosion. Corrosion can occur regardless of whether the aircraft is in 
operation or is in storage. Therefore, to assure that the unsafe 
condition specified in this

[[Page 49629]]

proposed AD does not go undetected for a long period of time, the 
compliance is presented in calendar time instead of hours time-in-
service (TIS). This will allow the owners/operators to work the 
proposed inspection into regularly scheduled maintenance.

Regulatory Impact

Would This Proposed AD Impact Various Entities?

    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 proposed rule would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Would This Proposed AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
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, under 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

British Aerospace: Docket No. 2002-CE-14-AD.
    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, Jetstream Series 
3101, and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, that 
are certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to detect and correct corrosion and/or wear on 
the horizontal and vertical stabilizer attachment fittings and 
associated hardware, which could result in failure of the attachment 
fittings. Such failure could lead to fluttering and subsequent 
structural failure of the empennage.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Visually inspect the      Initially inspect     In accordance with
 forward and rear horizontal   upon accumulating 8   British Aerospace
 stabilizer attachment bolts   years on the          Jetstream Service
 and associated hardware for   airframe or within    Bulletin 55-
 corrosion (i.e., pitting or   the next 6 calendar   JA010941, Original
 a change of color in the      months after the      Issue: January 25,
 surface) and wear (damage)    effective date of     2002.
                               this AD, whichever
                               occurs later.
                               Repetitively
                               inspect thereafter
                               at intervals not to
                               exceed 8 years
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) If corrosion or wear is   Prior to further      In accordance with
 found during any inspection   flight after the      British Aerospace
 required in paragraph         inspection in which   Jetstream Service
 (d)(1) of this AD, replace    the damage was        Bulletin 55-
 or repair any damaged part    found                 JA010941, Original
 in accordance with the                              Issue: January 25,
 procedures specified in the                         2002.
 manufacturer's service
 bulletin.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Visually inspect the      Initially inspect     In accordance with
 forward and rear horizontal   upon accumulating 8   British Aerospace
 and vertical stabilizer       years on the          Jetstream Service
 attachment fittings and the   airframe or within    Bulletin 55-
 forward eye bolts of the      the next 6 calendar   JA010941, Original
 vertical stabilizer for       months after the      Issue: January 25,
 corrosion or damage at the    effective date of     2002.
 lug faces.                    this AD, whichever
                               occurs later.
                               Repetitively
                               inspect thereafter
                               at intervals not to
                               exceed 8 years
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) If corrosion or damage    Prior to further      Repair in accordance
 is found during any           flight after the      the scheme obtained
 inspection required in        inspection in which   from British
 paragraph (d)(3) of this      the damage was        Aerospace Regional
 AD:                           found                 Aircraft, Prestwick
(i) replace or repair any                            International
 damaged part in accordance                          Airport, Ayrshire,
 with the procedures                                 KA9 2RW, Scotland,
 specified in the                                    Obtain this repair
 manufacturer's service                              scheme through the
 bulletin; or.                                       FAA at the address
(ii) if damage exceeds the                           specified in
 limits defined in the                               paragraph (f) of
 manufacturer's service                              this AD.
 bulletin, obtain a repair
 scheme from the
 manufacturer through the
 FAA at the address
 specified in paragraph (f)
 of this AD; and.
(iii) incorporate this
 repair scheme.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1: Although not required by this AD, FAA highly recommends 
you accomplish Section 2, Part B, Highly Recommended Corrosion 
Prevention Tasks, of the manufacturer's service bulletin.

    (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 Standards Office 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 Standards Office Manager.

    Note 2: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, regardless of whether it has been modified,

[[Page 49630]]

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? Contact Doug Rudolph, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; 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) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 672345; 
facsimile: (01292) 671625. You may view these documents at FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 
506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in British Aerospace 
Jetstream Service Bulletin 55-JA010941, Original Issue: January 25, 
2002. This service bulletin is classified as mandatory by the United 
Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).



    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 23, 2002.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-19255 Filed 7-30-02; 8:45 am]
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