[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31049-31051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12444]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-NM-209-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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[[Page 31050]]

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 installing a new warning 
annunciator light on the central warning panel and revising the Normal 
Procedures Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual to provide the 
flightcrew with procedures related to the new light. This action is 
necessary to prevent an engine shut-down, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane and consequent injury to flightcrew and 
passengers. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe 
condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NM-209-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. 2002-NM-209-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 or 2000 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.
    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 2002-NM-209-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. 2002-NM-209-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 several occurrences of in-flight shut down of the 
engine while flying in icing conditions have been reported where 
failure to deploy the engine intake anti-icing vanes (inertial 
separators) has been cited as a contributory factor. When other anti-
icing systems have been selected, there was no warning annunciator 
light to alert the flightcrew that the inertial separators were not yet 
deployed. This condition, if not corrected, could result in an engine 
shut down, which could result in loss of control of the airplane and 
consequent injury to flightcrew and passengers.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Short Brothers has issued Service Bulletins SD3 Sherpa-31-2, 
Revision 1, dated October 29, 2002 (for Model SD3-SHERPA series 
airplanes); SD360 Sherpa-31-01, Revision 1, dated October 29, 2002 (for 
Model SD3-60 SHERPA series airplanes); SD330-31-15, Revision 1, dated 
October 29, 2002 (for Model SD3-30 series airplanes); and SD360-31-06, 
Revision 1, dated October 29, 2002 (for Model SD3-60 series airplanes); 
as applicable. The service bulletins describe procedures for installing 
a new warning annunciator light on the central warning panel and 
revising the Normal Procedures Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual to 
provide the flightcrew with procedures related to the new warning 
light. 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 002-06-2002, 003-06-2002, 004-06-2002, and 
005-06-2002 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 applicable service bulletins described 
previously.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 125 Model SD3 series airplanes of U.S. 
registry

[[Page 31051]]

would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 
30 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that 
the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately $4,800 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$843,750, or $6,750 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.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

Short Brothers PLC: Docket 2002-NM-209-AD. ]

    Applicability: All Model SD3 series airplanes, certificated in 
any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent an engine shut down, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane and consequent injury to flight crew and 
passengers, accomplish the following:

Installation and Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revision

    (a) Within five months after the effective date of this AD, do 
the actions specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Install a new warning annunciator light on the central 
warning panel in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
the applicable Shorts service bulletins listed in Table 1 of this 
AD; and
    (2) Revise the Normal Procedures Section of the AFM by inserting 
a copy of the applicable pages of the Shorts AFM document listed in 
Table 1 of this AD, per the Accomplisment Instructions of the 
applicable Shorts service bulletin listed in Table 1 of this AD.

               Table 1.--Shorts Service Bulletins and AFMs
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                                    Shorts service        Shorts AFM
           For Model--                bulletin--        document No.--
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SD3-SHERPA series airplanes.....  SD3 Sherpa-31-2,    Doc. No.SB.5.2, P/
                                   Revision 1, dated   5.
                                   October 29, 2002.
SD3-60 SHERPA series airplanes..  SD360 Sherpa-31-    Doc. No.SB.6.2, P/
                                   01, Revision 1,     3.
                                   dated October 29,
                                   2002.
SD3-30 series airplanes.........  SD330-31-15,        Doc. No. SBH.3.3,
                                   Revision 1, dated   P/20 or Doc.
                                   October 29, 2002.   No.SBH.3.6, P/18,
                                                       as applicable.
SD3-60 series airplanes.........  SD360-31-06,        Doc. No. SB.4.8, P/
                                   Revision 1, dated   19 or Doc. No.
                                   October 29, 2002.   SB.4.6, P/20, as
                                                       applicable.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (b) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116, FAA, is authorized to approve alternative methods 
of compliance (AMOCs) for this AD.

    Note 1: The subject of this AD is addressed in British 
airworthiness directives 002-06-2002, 003-06-2002, 004-06-2002, and 
005-06-2002.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 25, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-12444 Filed 6-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P