[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20832-20834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08318]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0241; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-008-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Regional Aircraft 
Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes that 
would supersede AD 2007-10-16. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as the need to incorporate revisions to the Airworthiness 
Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness. We 
are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact BAE 
Systems (Operations) Limited, Customer Information Department, 
Prestwick International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland, United 
Kingdom; telephone: +44 1292 675207; fax: +44 1292 675704; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/RegionalAircraft/. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0241; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2014-0241; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-008-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    On May 9, 2007, we issued AD 2007-10-16, Amendment 39-15057 (72 FR 
27953, May 18, 2007). That AD required actions intended to address an 
unsafe condition on all British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Jetstream 
Model 3201 airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of 
another country.
    Since we issued AD 2007-10-16, Amendment 39-15057 (72 FR 27953, May 
18, 2007), BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd amended Jetstream Series 3200 
Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 05-10-05, Airworthiness 
Limitations. Some life limits have been amended and new life limits 
introduced.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No.: 2014-0044, dated February 24, 2014 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    The Jetstream Series 3200 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), 
includes Chapter 05-10-05 ``Airworthiness Limitations, Description 
and Operation''. The maintenance tasks and limitations contained in 
this chapter have been identified as mandatory actions for continued 
airworthiness and EASA issued AD 2007-0074 to require operators to 
comply with those instructions.
    Since that AD was issued, BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd amended 
Jetstream Series 3200 AMM Chapter 05-10-05 to introduce life 
limitations for the main landing gear radius rod mounting shaft 
assemblies and to incorporate wing structure inspections previously 
introduced through BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd Service Bulletin 
(SB) SB 51-JA020940. In addition, a new table was introduced to 
provide extended fatigue life limitations for structural items for 
aeroplanes entered into a life extension programme. Reference to BAE 
Systems (Operations) Ltd SB 32-JA981042 was updated from Revision 7 
to Revision 8 to reflect increased life limits of the nose landing 
gear.
    Failure to comply with the new and more restrictive instructions 
could result in an unsafe condition.
    For the reasons described above, this EASA AD retains the 
requirements of EASA AD 2007-0074, which is superseded, and requires 
implementation of the maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness 
limitations as specified in Chapter 05-10-05 of the Jetstream Series 
3200 AMM at Revision 29.

You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0241.

Relevant Service Information

    BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd has issued British Aerospace Jetstream 
3200 Series Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Revision 29, dated December 
15, 2012.

[[Page 20833]]

The actions described in this AMM are intended to correct the unsafe 
condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 14 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD of 
inserting the document into the Airworthiness Limitations section of 
the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness. The average labor rate is 
$85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $1,190, or $85 per product.
    We have no way of determining the cost to replace the life limited 
parts and to do the applicable maintenance tasks on each 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 proposed 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 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 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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 removing Amendment 39-15057 (72 FR 
27953, May 18, 2007), and adding the following new AD:

British Aerospace Regional Aircraft: Docket No. FAA-2014-0241; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-008-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 29, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2007-10-16, Amendment 39-15057 (72 FR 
27953, May 18, 2007).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Jetstream 
Model 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 5: Time Limits.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as the need to 
incorporate revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations section of 
the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). We are issuing 
this AD to enforce compliance with these requirements in order to 
maintain airworthiness.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) and 
(f)(2) of this AD:
    (1) As of the effective date of this AD, replace each component 
before exceeding the applicable life limit and complete all 
applicable maintenance tasks within the thresholds and intervals as 
specified in British Aerospace Jetstream 3200 Series Aircraft 
Maintenance Manual, Revision 29, Airworthiness Limitations, Chapter 
05-10-05, dated December 15, 2012.
    (2) You may comply with the requirement of paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD by incorporating British Aerospace Jetstream 3200 Series 
Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Revision 29, Airworthiness Limitations, 
Chapter 05-10-05, dated December 15, 2012, into the Airworthiness 
Limitations section of your ICA and complying with that program.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC on any 
airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office 
(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2014-0044, dated February 24, 2014. You may examine the MCAI on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2014-0241. For service information related to this 
AD, contact BAE Systems (Operations) Limited, Customer Information 
Department, Prestwick International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, 
Scotland, United Kingdom; telephone: +44 1292 675207; fax: +44 1292 
675704; email:

[[Page 20834]]

[email protected]; Internet: http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/RegionalAircraft/. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 7, 2014.
Timothy Smyth,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-08318 Filed 4-11-14; 8:45 am]
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