[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38816-38818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14320]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-NM-208-AD; Amendment 39-13689; AD 2004-13-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
(Jetstream) Model 4101 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Jetstream) Model 
4101 airplanes. This AD requires operators to determine the flight 
cycles accumulated on each component of the main landing gear (MLG) and 
the nose landing gear (NLG), and to replace each component that reaches 
its life limit with a serviceable component. This AD also requires 
operators to revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness in the aircraft maintenance 
manual to reflect the new life limits. This action is necessary to 
prevent failure of certain components of the MLG and the NLG, which 
could result in failure of either or both landing gears, and consequent 
damage to the airplane and injury to passengers or crewmembers. This 
action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Effective August 3, 2004.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of August 3, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 
13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. This information may be 
examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport 
Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, 
call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

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: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to all BAE Systems (Operations) 
Limited (Jetstream) Model 4101 airplanes was published in the Federal 
Register on March 5, 2004 (69 FR 10385). That action proposed to 
require operators to determine the flight cycles accumulated on each 
component of the main landing gear and the nose landing gear, and to 
replace each component that reaches its life limit with a serviceable 
component. That action also proposed to require operators to revise the 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness to reflect the new life limits.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have determined that air safety and the public interest require 
the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Explanation of Change Made to the Proposed Rule

    We have revised paragraph (a) the final rule to include BAE Systems 
(Operations) Limited Service Bulletin J41-05-001, Revision 3, dated 
January 9, 2004, as an additional appropriate source of service 
information for calculating the total accumulated flight cycles. In 
addition, we have revised paragraph (f) of the final rule to give 
operators credit for accomplishing the same calculation per two earlier 
revisions of Service Bulletin J41-05-001: Revision 1, dated April 10, 
2001, Revision 2, dated March 15, 2002.

Cost Impact

    We estimate that 57 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by 
this AD. It will take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to 
accomplish the required determination of the number of flight cycles, 
and 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the required revision of the 
aircraft maintenance manual. The average labor rate is $65 per work 
hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $7,410, or $130 per airplane.

[[Page 38817]]

    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the 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 adopted herein will 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 final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this 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) 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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2004-13-07 BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British 
Aerospace Regional Aircraft): Amendment 39-13689. Docket 2002-NM-
208-AD.

    Applicability: All Model Jetstream 4101 airplanes, certificated 
in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of certain components of the main landing 
gear and the nose landing gear, which could result in failure of 
either or both landing gears, and consequent damage to the airplane 
and injury to passengers or crewmembers, accomplish the following:

Determine Flight Cycles for Components

    (a) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD: 
Determine the number of flight cycles accumulated on each landing 
gear component listed in Table 1 and Table 2 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin 
J41-32-078, dated April 12, 2002. If there are no records or 
incomplete records for any component, establish the number of flight 
cycles in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of BAE 
Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin J41-05-001, Revision 
2, dated March 15, 2002; or Revision 3, dated January 1, 2004.

    Note 1: BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin, J41-
32-078 refers to BAE Systems (Operations) J41 Service Information 
Leaflet 32-15, Issue 1, dated February 15, 2002, as an additional 
source of service information for establishing the life limits of 
landing gear components and for tracking the accumulated life of 
each component.

Replace Components

    (b) Except as provided by paragraph (c) of this AD, within 60 
days after establishing the flight cycles per paragraph (a) of this 
AD: Replace any landing gear component that has reached the life 
limit determined by paragraph (a) of this AD, with a serviceable 
component per a method approved by either the Manager, International 
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the CAA 
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) (or its delegated agent). Doing the 
actions in chapter 32 of the applicable aircraft maintenance manual 
(AMM) is one approved method. Thereafter, replace any component that 
reaches its life limit prior to the accumulation of the applicable 
number of flight cycles shown in Table 1 and Table 2 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Service Bulletin J41-32-078, dated April 12, 2002.
    (c) Any component for which the total accumulated life cycles 
has not been established, or that has exceeded its life limit, but 
has not yet been replaced per paragraph (b) of this AD, must be 
replaced within 72 months after the effective date of this AD, in 
accordance with BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin 
J41-32-078, dated April 12, 2002.

Revise Aircraft Maintenance Manual

    (d) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Revise 
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for 
Continued Airworthiness of the Jetstream 4100 AMM to include the 
life limits of the components listed in Table 1 and Table 2 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Service Bulletin J41-32-078, dated April 12, 2002. This may be 
accomplished by inserting a copy of the service bulletin in the 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness until such time as a revision is issued. Thereafter, 
except as provided in paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative 
replacement times may be approved for any affected component.

Parts Installation

    (e) As of the effective date of this AD, no landing gear unit 
may be installed on any airplane unless the accumulated flight 
cycles of all components of that landing gear have been established 
per paragraph (a) of this AD, and any component that has exceeded 
its life limit has been replaced per paragraph (b) of this AD.

Actions Accomplished Per Previous Issue of Service Bulletin

    (f) Calculations of total accumulated flight cycles accomplished 
per BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin J41-05-001, 
Revision 1, dated April 10, 2001; or BAE Systems (Operations) 
Limited Service Bulletin J41-05-001, Revision 2, dated March 15, 
2002; are considered acceptable for compliance with the 
corresponding action specified in this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

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

Incorporation by Reference

    (h) Unless otherwise specified in this AD, the actions shall be 
done in accordance with BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service 
Bulletin J41-05-001, Revision 2, dated March 15, 2002, or BAE 
Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin J41-05-001, Revision 
3, dated January 9, 2004; and BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Service Bulletin J41-32-078, dated April 12, 2002; as applicable. 
This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the 
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 
51. Copies may be obtained from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft 
American Support, 13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. 
Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in British 
airworthiness directive 007-04-2002.


[[Page 38818]]



Effective Date

    (i) This amendment becomes effective on August 3, 2004.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 16, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-14320 Filed 6-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P