AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
British
Aerospace Regional Aircraft Jetstream Series 3101 and Jetstream Model
3201 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) issued 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 inadequate instructions for
inspection for corrosion on the rudder upper hinge bracket and certain
internal wing and drainage paths. We are issuing this AD to require
actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective May 27, 2014.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of May 27, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0042; or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
For service information identified in 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:
RApublications@baesystems.com; Internet: http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/RegionalAircraft/.
You may review
this 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.
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:
taylor.martin@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to British Aerospace Regional
Aircraft Jetstream Series 3101 and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes. The
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2014 (79 FR
5323). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another
country. The MCAI states:
Compliance with the inspections in the Corrosion Prevention and
Control Programme (CPCP) has been identified as a mandatory action
for continued airworthiness and UK CAA AD 003-04-94 was issued to
require operators to comply with those inspection instructions.
Since the issuance of that AD, reports have been received of
finding extensive corrosion on the rudder upper hinge bracket.
Although there is an existing zonal inspection of the area in the
CPCP, it has been concluded that this is inadequate to identify the
corrosion on this bracket and consequently, a new specific
inspection of the rudder upper hinge bracket,
task 200/EX/01 C2, has been added to the CPCP, currently at Revision
6. Failure of the rudder upper hinge bracket could lead to the onset
of flutter and loss of control of the aeroplane.
In addition, although the CPCP already included a wing internal
inspection to check for corrosion and to verify that all drainage
paths are clear, prompted by feedback from the fleet sampling
programme, a new, more specific, inspection of wing stations 36, 51
and 83, together with a check of the drainage paths, has been
introduced into the CPCP through task 3/400/IN/01 C2. Failure to
comply with these instructions could result in an unsafe condition.
For the reasons described above, this AD retains the
requirements of UK CAA AD 003-04-94, which is superseded, and
requires the implementation of the new inspections.
The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-0042-0002.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 5323, January 31,
2014) or on the determination of the cost to the public.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (79 FR 5323, January 31, 2014) for correcting the unsafe
condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 5323, January 31, 2014).
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 66 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 100 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S.
operators to be $561,000, or $8,500 per product.
The scope of damage found in the required inspection could vary
significantly from airplane to airplane. We have no way of determining
how much damage may be found on each airplane or the cost to repair
damaged parts on each airplane or the number of airplanes that may
require repair.
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 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 this AD:
(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.
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-
0042; 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 the NPRM, 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
|