[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25441]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 14, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-CE-13-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Aircraft Limited (Formerly
British Aerospace, Regional Airlines Limited) HP137 Mk1, Jetstream
Series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
that would apply to Jetstream Aircraft Limited (JAL) HP137 Mk1,
Jetstream series 200 and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The
proposed action would require repetitively inspecting the left and
right pilot windscreens for poly vinyl butyrate (PVB) interlayer
cracks, and replacing any windscreen that has a crack that exceeds
certain limits. Several reports of varying degrees of PVB interlayer
cracking of pilot windscreens on the affected airplanes prompted the
proposed action. The proposed actions are intended to prevent such
windscreen cracking, which, if not detected and corrected, could result
in decompression injuries.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 19, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-13-AD, Room 1558, 601 E.
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at
this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from Jetstream Aircraft Limited, Manager Product Support, Prestwick
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW Scotland; telephone (44-292) 79888;
facsimile (44-292) 79703; or Jetstream Aircraft Inc., Librarian, P.O.
Box 16029, Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC, 20041-6029;
telephone (703) 406-1161; facsimile (703) 406-1469. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Raymond A. Stoer, Program Officer,
Brussels Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle
East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; telephone
(322) 513.3830; facsimile (322) 230.6899; or Mr. John P. Dow, Sr.,
Program Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification
Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;
telephone (816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 94-CE-13-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-13-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on JAL HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The CAA reports several
incidents of varying degrees of PVB interlayer cracking of pilot
windscreens on the affected airplanes.
Jetstream Aircraft Limited has issued SB 56-JA 920843, Revision 1,
dated December 16, 1993, which specifies procedures for inspecting the
left and right windscreens for PVB interlayer cracks. This document
also introduces Pilkington Aerospace (the windscreen manufacturer) SB
No. 037-56-1001, Issue Date: October 21, 1992, Revision 1: March 31,
1993. The latter document includes a figure that shows a cross section
of the windscreen from where cracking can originate and also sets in-
service cracking limits for the affected windscreens. The CAA
classified Jetstream SB 56-JA 92-843 as mandatory in order to assure
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
The CAA classifying a service bulletin as mandatory in the United
Kingdom is equivalent to the FAA issuing an airworthiness directive in
the United States.
This airplane model is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is
type certificated for operation in the United States under the
provisions of section 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. The FAA has examined the
findings of the CAA, reviewed all available information, and determined
that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other JAL HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes of the same type design, the
proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the left and right
pilot windscreens for PVB interlayer cracks, and replacing any
windscreen that has a crack that exceeds certain limits. The proposed
actions would be accomplished in accordance with the service
information described above.
The FAA estimates that 160 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1
workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed modification, and that
the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $8,800. This figure does not take into account for any
possible window replacements nor repetitive inspections. The FAA has no
way of determining how many windscreens may have PVB interlayer cracks
that exceed the limitations and would require replacement, or the
number of repetitive inspections each owner/operator may incur.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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) if promulgated,
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:
Jetstream Aircraft Limited: Docket No. 94-CE-13-AD.
Applicability: HP137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in
any category.
Compliance: Required within the next 300 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished, and thereafter as indicated.
To prevent pilot windscreen poly vinyl butyrate (PVB) interlayer
cracking, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in
decompression injuries, accomplish the following:
(a) Visually inspect the left and right windscreens for PVB
interlayer cracks in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS
section of Jetstream Service Bulletin (SB) 56-JA 92-843, Revision
No. 1, dated December 16, 1993.
(1) If any crack is found that is within the limits specified in
Pilkington Aerospace SB No. 037-56- 1001, Issue Date: October 21,
1992, Revision 1: March 31, 1993, reinspect within the next 300
hours TIS, and replace or reinspect the windscreen thereafter as
applicable.
(2) If any crack is found that exceeds the limits specified in
Pilkington Aerospace SB No. 037-56-1001, Issue Date: October 21,
1992, Revision 1: March 31, 1993, prior to further flight, replace
the windscreen with a new windscreen and reinspect within the next
2,400 hours TIS, and replace or reinspect the windscreen thereafter
as applicable.
(3) If no cracks are found, reinspect the windscreen within the
next 2,400 hours TIS, and replace or reinspect the windscreen
thereafter as applicable.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft
Certification Office, Europe, Africa, Middle East office, FAA, c/o
American Embassy, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. The request should be
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Brussels Aircraft
Certification Office.
Note: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Brussels Aircraft Certification Office.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the documents referred to herein upon request to Jetstream Aircraft
Limited, Manager Product Support, Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, KA9
2RW Scotland; telephone (44-292) 79888; or Jetstream Aircraft Inc.,
Librarian, P.O. Box 16029, Dulles International Airport, Washington,
DC, 20041-6029; or may examine these documents at the FAA, Central
Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E.
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 7, 1994.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-25441 Filed 10-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U