[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 46 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12121-12122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2141]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 46 / Thursday, March 9, 2006 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 12121]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-23477; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-181-AD; 
Amendment 39-14507; AD 2006-05-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 
146-RJ airplanes. This AD requires a one-time detailed inspection for 
corrosion of the hinge bracket assembly of the left and right main 
landing gear (MLG) doors, and corrective action if necessary. This AD 
results from in-service reports of hinge bracket failures on the MLG 
doors. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the hinge bracket 
on the MLG door, which could result in separation of the door, 
consequent structural damage to the airplane, and possible injury to 
people on the ground.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 13, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 13, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the 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., Nassif Building, 
room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 13850 
Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171, for service information 
identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain BAE Systems 
(Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2006 (71 
FR 297). That NPRM proposed to require a one-time detailed inspection 
for corrosion of the hinge bracket assembly of the left and right main 
landing gear (MLG) doors, and corrective action if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM 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 affects about 35 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required 
actions will take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an average labor 
rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost 
of the actions for U.S. operators is $9,100, or $260 per airplane.

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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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.

[[Page 12122]]

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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-05-10 BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British 
Aerospace Regional Aircraft): Amendment 39-14507. Docket No. FAA-
2005-23477; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-181-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 13, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model 
BAe 146-100A, -200A, and -300A series airplanes, and Model Avro 146-
RJ70A, 146-RJ85A, and 146-RJ100A airplanes; certificated in any 
category; as identified in BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.52-113, Revision 1, dated February 
11, 2005.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from in-service reports of hinge bracket 
failures on the main landing gear (MLG) doors. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the hinge bracket on the MLG door, which 
could result in separation of the door, consequent structural damage 
to the airplane, and possible injury to people on the ground.

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.

Inspection/Corrective Action

    (f) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (f)(1) or 
(f)(2) of this AD: Perform a one-time detailed inspection for 
corrosion of the hinge bracket assembly of the left and right MLG 
doors by doing all the applicable actions in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.52-113, Revision 1, dated February 
11, 2005. Perform any applicable corrective action before further 
flight in accordance with the service bulletin. If no corrosion is 
found, before further flight, apply protective treatment in 
accordance with the service bulletin.
    (1) For airplanes on which the date of issuance of the original 
standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the 
original export certificate of airworthiness is on or before 
February 28, 1991: Within 192 months since the date of issuance of 
the original standard airworthiness certificate or the date of 
issuance of the original export certificate of airworthiness, or 
within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever is 
later.
    (2) For airplanes on which the date of issuance of the original 
standard airworthiness certificate or the date of issuance of the 
original export certificate of airworthiness is after February 28, 
1991: Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD.


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is: 
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or 
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available 
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good 
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as 
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning 
and elaborate procedures may be required.''

Inspections Accomplished According to Previous Issue of Service 
Bulletin

    (g) Inspections accomplished before the effective date of this 
AD in accordance with BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection 
Service Bulletin ISB.52-113, dated February 2, 2001, are considered 
acceptable for compliance with the corresponding action specified in 
this AD.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on any airplane, a hinge bracket assembly of the left and right MLG 
doors, unless it has been inspected (and any corrective actions 
done) according to BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection 
Service Bulletin ISB.52-113, Revision 1, dated February 11, 2005.

No Reporting Required

    (i) Although BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service 
Bulletin ISB.52-113, Revision 1, dated February 11, 2005, referenced 
in this AD, specifies to submit certain information to the 
manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(1) 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.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (k) British airworthiness directive G-2005-0017, dated July 6, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection 
Service Bulletin ISB.52-113, Revision 1, dated February 11, 2005, to 
perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD 
specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact British Aerospace Regional 
Aircraft American Support, 13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 
20171, for a copy of this service information. You may review copies 
at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 24, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-2141 Filed 3-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P