[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12125-12127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4412]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19681; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-184-AD; 
Amendment 39-13999; AD 2005-05-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model 
BAe 146 Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 series airplanes. This 
AD requires repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the 
elevator ``G'' weight support structure, and repairs if necessary. This 
AD also provides for an optional terminating action. This AD is 
prompted by reported cracking of the elevator ``G'' weight support 
structure. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the elevator 
``G'' weight support structure with possible consequent jamming of the 
right-hand elevator servo tab and reduced controllability of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 15, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is

[[Page 12126]]

approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 13850 Mclearen 
Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. 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 U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19681; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2003-NM-184-AD.

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: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39 
with an AD for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 
series airplanes. That action, published in the Federal Register on 
November 24, 2004 (69 FR 68265), proposed to require repetitive 
detailed inspections for cracking of the elevator ``G'' weight support 
structure, and repairs if necessary. That action also proposed to 
provide an optional terminating action.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been submitted on the proposed 
AD or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD will affect about 19 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required actions will take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of this AD for U.S. operators is $1,235, or $65 per 
airplane, per inspection cycle.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. 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.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA 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 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2005-05-10 BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British 
Aerospace Regional Aircraft): Amendment 39-13999. Docket No. FAA-
2004-19681; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-184-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 15, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

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

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by reported cracking of the elevator 
``G'' weight support structure. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the elevator ``G'' weight support structure with possible 
consequent jamming of the right-hand elevator servo tab and reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

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.

Verification of Applicability

    (f) Before the accumulation of 14,000 total landings, or within 
4,000 landings after the effective date of this AD, whichever is 
later: Perform a one-time general visual inspection of the elevator 
``G'' weight support structure to determine whether BAE Systems 
(Operations) Limited Modification HCM00654A as described in BAE 
Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service Bulletin SB.27-
037-00654A, Revision 2, dated May 8, 2003, has been incorporated on 
the airplane. If it can be conclusively determined that HCM00654A 
has been incorporated, no further action is required by this AD.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is ``a visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the inspection 
area. This level of inspection is made under normally available 
lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, 
or droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''

Inspection

    (g) For airplanes on which BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Modification HCM00654A has not been done and

[[Page 12127]]

airplanes on which it cannot be conclusively determined that this 
modification has been done: Before the accumulation of 14,000 total 
landings, or within 4,000 landings after the effective date of this 
AD, whichever is later, except as provided by paragraph (h) of this 
AD, perform a detailed inspection for cracking of the elevator ``G'' 
weight support structure, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service 
Bulletin ISB.27-037, Revision 3, dated April 17, 2003.
    (1) If no crack is found and the structure has not been repaired 
previously, repeat the inspection at intervals not to exceed 4,000 
landings.
    (2) If no crack is found but the structure has been repaired 
previously, repeat the inspection at applicable intervals specified 
in Appendix 1 of the service bulletin.

    Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is 
``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.''

Post-Incident Inspection

    (h) If, before or after any inspection required by this AD, the 
airplane experiences any incident of nose wheel shimmy; overweight, 
hard, or high drag/side load landing; flight in severe turbulence; 
or pitch oscillation: Before further flight, repeat the inspection 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD. If no crack is found, repeat 
the inspection required by paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD, as 
applicable.

Corrective Actions

    (i) If any crack is found during any inspection required by 
paragraph (g) or (h) of this AD, before further flight, replace the 
elevator ``G'' weight support structure in accordance with paragraph 
(j) of this AD, or repair the structure in accordance with a method 
approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, or the Civil Aviation Authority 
(CAA) (or its delegated representative).

Optional Terminating Action

    (j) Replacement of the existing elevator ``G'' weight support 
structure with a new, improved elevator ``G'' weight support 
structure in accordance with BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Modification Service Bulletin SB.27-037-00654A, Revision 2, dated 
May 8, 2003, terminates the repetitive inspections required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD.

No Reporting Requirement

    (k) Although the service bulletins referenced in this AD specify 
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not 
include that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

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

Related Information

    (m) British airworthiness directive 006-04-2003 also addresses 
the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (n) You must use BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection 
Service Bulletin ISB.27-037, Revision 3, dated April 17, 2003; to 
perform the inspections and corrective actions that are required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. If the replacement of 
the elevator ``G'' weight support structure is accomplished, you 
must use BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service 
Bulletin SB.27-037-00654A, Revision 2, dated May 8, 2003; to 
accomplish this replacement. The Director of the Federal Register 
approves the incorporation by reference of these documents in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the 
service information, contact British Aerospace Regional Aircraft 
American Support, 13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. For 
information on the availability of this material at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or 
go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD docket at the 
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street SW, room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 28, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4412 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P