[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49144-49146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22708]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 24, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 49144]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0993; Product Identifier 2017-CE-026-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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-08-
06 for British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Models HP.137 Jetstream 
Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200 and 3101, and Jetstream Model 3201 
airplanes. This 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 for 
airworthiness limitations for critical components in the main and nose 
landing gear assemblies. 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 December 8, 
2017.

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, Policy and Innovation Division, 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-2017-
0993; 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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; 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-2017-0993; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-026-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

    We issued AD 2007-08-06, Amendment 39-15023 (72 FR 18565; April 13, 
2007) (``AD 2007-08-06''). That AD required actions intended to address 
an unsafe condition on British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Models 
HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200 and 3101, and 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 2007-08-06, new part numbers have been 
introduced into service that allow for a change in the life limits 
requirements in the airworthiness limitations.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD No.: 2017-0157, dated August 25, 2017 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    The airworthiness limitations for critical Main Landing Gear and 
Nose Landing Gear components installed on Jetstream 3100 and 3200 
aeroplanes, which are approved by EASA, are currently defined and 
published in BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd Service Bulletin (SB) 32-
JA981042. These instructions have been identified as mandatory 
actions for continued airworthiness. Failure to accomplish these 
instructions could result in an unsafe condition.
    Previously, EASA issued AD 2006-0087 to require implementation 
of the airworthiness limitations for critical landing gear 
components as specified in BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd SB 32-
JA981042 at Revision 5.
    Since that AD was issued, two new Part Numbers (P/N) were 
introduced into service (alternative port and starboard axles P/N 
AIR141958 and P/N AIR141959 specific to Jetstream 3200). 
Consequently, BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd published SB 32-JA981042 
Revision 7 (later revised) to introduce the associated life limits, 
and to introduce a life limit for the steering jack piston, which 
was found missing in the SB at Revision 5.

[[Page 49145]]

    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD retains the 
requirements of AD 2006-0087, which is superseded, and requires 
implementation of the airworthiness limitations as specified in BAE 
Systems (Operations) Ltd SB 32-JA981042 at Revision 9 (hereafter 
referred to as `the SB' in this AD).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    BAE Systems (Operations) Limited has issued British Aerospace 
Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200 Service Bulletin 32-JA981042, Revision No. 
9, dated July 11, 2017, which contains instructions for replacing main 
landing gear components within specified life limits. This service 
information is reasonably available because the interested parties have 
access to it through their normal course of business or by the means 
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

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 26 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. 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 $4,420, or $170 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 6 work-hours and require parts costing $5,000, for a cost of 
$5,510 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need these actions.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes and domestic 
business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy and 
Innovation Division.

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 39-15023 (72 FR 
18565; April 13, 2007), and adding the following new AD:

British Aerospace Regional Aircraft: Docket No. FAA-2017-0993; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-026-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 8, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2007-08-06, Amendment 39-15023 (72 FR 18565; 
April 13, 2007) (``2007-08-06'').

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Models 
HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200 and 3101, and Jetstream 
Model 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing 
Gear.

(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 for 
airworthiness limitations for critical components in the main and 
nose landing gear assemblies. We are issuing this AD to introduce 
new replacement part numbers and incorporate new limitations for the 
replacement part numbers to prevent failure of the main and nose 
landing gear, which could result in loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions listed in 
paragraphs (f)(1) through (4) of this AD:
    (1) For all affected airplane models: Before further flight 
after the effective date of this AD, replace each component part in 
the main and nose landing gear assemblies as applicable to airplane 
model and configuration before exceeding the applicable life limit, 
following the Accomplishment Instructions in BAE Systems British 
Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200 Service Bulletin 32-
JA981042 Rev 9, dated July 11, 2017.
    (2) For the affected Model Jetstream 3201 airplanes: Within 50 
hours after the effective date of this AD, replace alternative port 
and starboard axles part numbers (P/N) AIR141958 and P/N AIR141959 
that have exceeded the applicable life limits as shown in table 5 of 
BAE Systems British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200 Service

[[Page 49146]]

Bulletin 32-JA981042 Rev 9, dated July 11, 2017.
    (3) For all affected airplane models: Before further flight 
after the effective date of this AD, revise the FAA-approved 
maintenance program (instructions for continued airworthiness) on 
the basis of which the operator or the owner ensures the continuing 
airworthiness of each operated airplane, as applicable to the 
airplane model, by incorporating the limitations described in BAE 
Systems British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200 Service 
Bulletin 32-JA981042 Rev 9, dated July 11, 2017, as applicable to 
the airplane model and depending on the airplane configuration.
    (4) For all airplanes: The compliance times in paragraphs (f)(1) 
and (2) of this AD are presented in flight cycles (landings). If the 
total flight cycles have not been kept, multiply the total number of 
airplane hours time-in-service (TIS) by 0.75 to calculate the 
cycles. For the purposes of this AD:
    (i) 100 hours TIS x .75 = 75 cycles; and
    (ii) 1,000 hours TIS x .75 = 750 cycles.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Small Airplane 
Standards Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA).

(h) Related Information

    (1) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2017-0157, dated August 25, 2017, and 
BAE Systems British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200 Service 
Bulletin 32-JA981042 Rev 9, dated July 11, 2017, for related 
information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2017-0993. 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: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/RegionalAircraft/. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation 
Division, 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 October 12, 2017.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22708 Filed 10-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P