[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2987-2989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20078; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-210-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model 
Avro 146-RJ Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model Avro 146-RJ series 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the Thales 
Avionics distance bearing indicator (DBI) to determine part number (P/
N) and serial number (S/N), and replacement of the affected DBI with a 
new or modified DBI. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of 
defective electrical insulators in DBIs. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent a short circuit in the DBI due to defective electrical 
insulation, which could potentially cause a loss of primary navigation 
instruments (such as airspeed indicator, altimeter, and global 
positioning system (GPS) information).

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 18, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Governmentwide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 13850 Mclearen 
Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket 
number is FAA-2005-20078; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-210-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Technical information: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

[[Page 2988]]

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-20078; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-210-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our 
docket website, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, notified us that an unsafe condition 
may exist on BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model Avro 146-RJ series 
airplanes equipped with certain Thales Avionics distance bearing 
indicators (DBI). The CAA advises that a manufacturing fault with the 
electrical insulation of the transformer in the DBI's power supply unit 
could result in the propagation of the 115V AC input power supply 
through the instrument and onto the DBI's Aeronautical Radio, Inc. 
(ARINC) 429 Input/Output interfaces (a short circuit). An analysis of 
this failure concluded that at the airplane level, the effect of this 
insulation failure/short-circuit could be loss of all airplane primary 
navigation instruments. Defective electrical insulation, if not 
corrected, could result in a short circuit in the DBI, and potentially 
cause a loss of primary navigation instruments (such as airspeed 
indicator, altimeter, and global positioning system (GPS) information).

Relevant Service Information

    BAE Systems (Operations) Limited has issued Modification Service 
Bulletin SB.34-371-70671A, dated September 19, 2003. The modification 
service bulletin describes procedures for replacing the DBI with a new 
or modified DBI. Accomplishing the actions specified in the 
modification service bulletin is intended to adequately address the 
unsafe condition. The CAA mandated the modification service bulletin, 
and an inspection of Thales Avionics DBIs to determine part number (P/
N) and serial number (S/N). The CAA issued British airworthiness 
directive G-2004-0006, dated March 2, 2004, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
    The BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service Bulletin 
SB.34-371-70671A, dated September 19, 2003 refers to Thales Avionics 
Service Bulletin 354-34-052, dated September 1, 2003, as an additional 
source of service information for replacing the DBI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This airplane model is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is 
type certificated for operation in the United States under the 
provisions of Sec.  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. We have examined the CAA's 
findings, evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we 
need to issue an AD for products of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously, except as discussed under ``Differences Between 
the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletin

    In addition to requiring certain actions in accordance with the 
service bulletin, this proposed AD would require an inspection for 
identifying the affected DBI's P/N and S/N. The Accomplishment 
Instructions of the referenced modification service bulletin do not 
specify to inspect the DBI for P/N and S/N.
    Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the referenced modification service bulletin describe 
procedures for submitting an advice note related to recording 
compliance with the service bulletin, this proposed AD would not 
require that action. The FAA does not need this information from 
operators.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 54 airplanes of U.S. registry. 
The proposed actions would take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
about $728 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of 
the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $42,822, or $793 per airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106, 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's 
authority.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, the FAA is charged with promoting 
safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this AD.

[[Page 2989]]

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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 FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British Aerospace 
Regional Aircraft): Docket No. FAA-2005-20078; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-NM-210-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by February 18, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of defective electrical 
insulators in distance bearing indicators (DBI). We are issuing this 
AD to prevent a short circuit in the DBI due to defective electrical 
insulation, which could potentially cause a loss of primary 
navigation instruments (such as airspeed indicator, altimeter, and 
global positioning system (GPS) information).

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Part Number Inspection

    (f) Within four months after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect the Thales Avionics DBI to determine whether a part number 
(P/N) and serial number (S/N) listed in the Effectivity of BAE 
Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service Bulletin SB.34-
371-70671A, dated September 19, 2003, is installed. Instead of 
inspecting the DBI, a review of airplane maintenance records is 
acceptable if the P/N and the S/N of the DBI can be positively 
determined from that review.
    (1) If the DBI P/N and S/N do not match those listed in the 
service bulletin, no further action is required by this AD.
    (2) If the DBI P/N and S/N do match those listed in the service 
bulletin, do the actions required in paragraph (g) of this AD within 
four months after the effective date of this AD.

Replacement

    (g) Replace the DBI with a new DBI having P/N 63543-280-1 with a 
S/N not listed in the service bulletin, or a DBI having P/N 63543-
280-2, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of BAE 
Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service Bulletin SB.34-
371-70671A, dated September 19, 2003.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
DBI with a part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N) listed in the 
Effectivity of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service 
Bulletin SB.34-371-70671A, dated September 19, 2003, on any airplane 
unless it has been modified in accordance with paragraph (g) of this 
AD.

No Reporting

    (i) Although the service bulletin references a reporting 
requirement in paragraph 2.C.2, ``Documentation,'' that reporting is 
not required by this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (k) British airworthiness directive G-2004-0006, dated March 2, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 6, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-994 Filed 1-18-05; 8:45 am]
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