[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 214 (Monday, November 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27479]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: November 7, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-NM-157-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Model Avro 146-RJ
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to all British Aerospace Model Avro
146-RJ series airplanes. This proposal would require inspections to
detect cracking of the upper main fitting of the nose landing gear
(NLG), and replacement or repair of cracked parts. This proposal is
prompted by reports of cracking of the upper main fitting of the NLG.
The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent
failure of the main fitting, which could lead to collapse of the NLG
during landing.
DATES: Comments must be received by January 4, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-NM-157-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from British Aerospace Holdings, Inc., Avro International
Aerospace Division, P.O. Box 16039, Dulles International Airport,
Washington DC 20041-6039. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Schroeder, Aerospace Engineer,
ANM-113, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056;
telephone (206) 227-2148; fax (206) 227-1320.
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 shall 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 summarizing 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 Number 94-NM-157-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, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 94-NM-157-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
On August 23, 1993, the FAA issued AD 93-17-04, amendment 39-8674
(58 FR 47036, September 7, 1993), applicable to all British Aerospace
Model BAe 146 series airplanes, to require repetitive eddy current or
ultra high sensitivity penetrant inspections to detect cracking of the
upper main fitting of the nose landing gear (NLG), and replacement or
repair of cracked parts. That action was prompted by reports of
cracking in the main fittings of the NLG. The actions required by that
AD are intended to prevent failure of the main fitting, which could
lead to collapse of the NLG during landing.
AD 93-17-04 is applicable only to British Aerospace Model BAe 146
series airplanes. Since issuance of that AD, however, the Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness authority for the
United Kingdom, has advised that additional airplanes may be subject to
the same unsafe condition addressed by the existing AD action. Further
analysis has indicated that cracking of the upper main fitting of the
NLG may occur on all British Aerospace Model Avro 146-RJ series
airplanes.
British Aerospace has issued Revision 2, dated July 10, 1993, of
Service Bulletin S.B. 32-131. The inspection procedures described in
this revision are identical to those described in Revision 1 of the
service bulletin (which was referenced in AD 93-17-04). This revision
only expands the effectivity listing to include additional airplanes.
The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory.
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 on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require repetitive eddy
current or ultra high sensitivity penetrant inspections, and
replacement or repair of cracked parts. The actions would be required
to be accomplished in accordance with the service bulletin described
previously. This proposed rule would be applicable only to Model Avro
146-RJ series airplanes.
(Note: The FAA's normal policy is that when an AD requires a
substantive change, such as a change (expansion) in its
applicability, the ``old'' AD is superseded by removing it from the
system and a new AD is added. In the case of this AD action, the FAA
normally would have proposed superseding AD 93-17-04 to expand its
applicability to include Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes as the
additional affected airplanes. However, in reconsideration of the
entire fleet size that would be affected by a supersedure action,
and the consequent workload associated with revising maintenance
record entries, the FAA has determined that a less burdensome
approach is to issue a separate AD applicable only to these
additional airplanes. This AD does not supersede AD 93-17-04;
airplanes listed in the applicability of AD 93-17-04 are required to
continue to comply with the requirements of that AD. This proposed
AD is a separate AD action, and is applicable to all British
Aerospace Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes.)
The FAA estimates that 3 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2.5 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to
be $450, or $150 per airplane.
The total cost impact figure discussed above is based on
assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.
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 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);
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 is contained 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 the following new
airworthiness directive:
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Limited, Avro International
Aerospace Division (Formerly British Aerospace, plc; British
Aerospace Commercial Aircraft, Limited): Docket 94-NM-152-AD.
Applicability: All Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes,
certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent the failure of the main fitting, which could lead to
collapse of the nose land gear (NLG) during landing, accomplish the
following:
(a) For airplanes on which NLG part number 200876001 or
200876003 has been installed:
(1) Prior to the accumulation of 4,000 total landings or within
30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later,
conduct an eddy current or ultra high sensitivity penetrant
inspection of the NLG, in accordance with British Aerospace Service
Bulletin S.B.
32-131, Revision 2, dated July 10, 1993. Repeat the inspection
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 4,000 landings.
(2) If cracking is detected during any inspection required by
this paragraph, prior to further flight, replace the currently
installed NLG with a new or serviceable unit, or repair the crack,
in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Standardization
Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. After
replacement or repair, repeat the inspection at intervals not to
exceed 4,000 landings.
(b) For airplanes on which NLG part number 200876002, 200876004,
or 201138002 has been installed: -
(1) Prior to the accumulation of 16,000 total landings or within
30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later,
conduct an eddy current or ultra sensitivity penetrant inspection of
the NLG, in accordance with British Aerospace Service Bulletin S.B.
32-131, Revision 2, dated July 10, 1993. Repeat the inspection
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 8,000 landings. -
(2) If cracking is detected during any inspection required by
this paragraph, prior to further flight, replace the currently
installed NLG with a new or serviceable unit, or repair the crack,
in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Standardization
Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. After
replacement or repair, repeat the inspection at intervals not to
exceed 8,000 landings. -
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113,
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager,
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
Note: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.
(d) 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.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 1, 1994.
S.R. Miller,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-27479 Filed 11-4-94; 8:45 am]
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