DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2014-1093; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-035-AD;
Amendment 39-18119; AD 2015-06-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Regional Aircraft
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding an airworthiness directive (AD) 2014-06-03
for British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Model 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 stress corrosion cracking of the main landing gear spigot
housing. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 24, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 24,
2015.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
1093; or in person at the Docket 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) Ltd, Customer Information Department, Prestwick
International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland, United Kingdom;
phone: +44 1292 675207, fax: +44 1292 675704; email:
RApublications@baesystems.com; Internet: http://www.jetstreamcentral.com.
You may view 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. It is also available on the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for locating Docket
No. FAA-2014-1093.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer,
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 to add an AD that would apply to British Aerospace Regional
Aircraft Model Jetstream Series 3101 and Jetstream Model 3201
airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on December
31, 2014 (79 FR 78726), and proposed to supersede AD 2014-06-03,
Amendment 39-17807 (79 FR 17395, March 28, 2014).
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 that:
Several cases of stress corrosion cracking of DTD 5094 standard
Main Landing Gear (MLG) cylinders have been reported on Jetstream
Series 3200 and 3100 aeroplanes.
Prompted by these findings, The United Kingdom (UK) Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA) issued AD 003-01-86 to require visual and
non-destructive testing (NDT) inspections of the MLG assembly
cylinder attachment spigot housing in accordance with BAE Systems
(Operations) Ltd SB 32-A-JA851226. In 2012 an additional occurrence
of Jetstream 3100 MLG failure after landing was reported, the
subsequent investigation revealed stress corrosion cracking of the
yoke pintle housing as a root cause of the MLG failure. Consequently
EASA issued EASA AD 2013-0208 to require inspection of the MLG in
accordance with BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd SB 32-A-JA851226
Revision 5 or later approved revisions to detect any crack, however,
SB 32-A-JA851226 did not apply to aeroplanes equipped with MLG
cylinders manufactured from L161 material, since that is not
susceptible to stress corrosion, BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd issued
SB 32-JM7862 to address degradation of the surface protection by
placing a special washer over the forward face of the MLG spigot
housing, which rotates with the spigot housing. EASA issued AD 2013-
0206 to require modification of the left (LH) and right hand (RH)
MLG in accordance with this SB.
In 2014 a further event was reported, where the LH MLG of a
Jetstream 3100 aeroplane collapsed during landing, this resulted in
the aeroplane departing from the runway. The accident is still under
investigation by the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch.
Preliminary results of the investigation determined that cracking,
which caused the MLG collapse, was initiated from a corrosion pit at
the top outer edge of the forward spigot housing and extended along
the top of the spigot housing. The spigot housing material was DTD
5094. The affected LH MLG had been modified in accordance with BAE
Systems (Operations) Ltd SB 32-JM7862 Revision 1. Further
investigation discovered that the instructions provided in BAE
Systems (Operations) Ltd SB 32-JM7862 Revision 1 did not effectively
prevent stress corrosion cracking because, under certain
circumstances, it allows the rotation of the special washer and
consequent damage of the end face of the spigot housing.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to structural
failure of the MLG, possibly resulting in loss of control of the
aeroplane during take-off or landing runs.
To address this potential unsafe condition, BAE Systems
(Operations) Ltd issued SB 32-JM7862 Revision 2 to clarify the
orientation of the spigot bearing cap, later revised to SB 32-JM7862
Revision 3 to ensure the spigot bearing cap is correctly positioned.
Additionally, BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd issued SB 32-A-JA140940
to provide inspection instructions to detect migration of the
special washer and any potential corrosion resulting from that
unwanted migration for MLG installations modified earlier in
accordance with BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd SB 32-JM7862 up to
Revision 2.
For the reasons described above, this AD partially retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2013-0206, which is superseded, and requires
a one-time inspection of pre-SB 32-JM7862 Revision 3 MLG
installations and, depending on findings, applicable corrective
action(s).
The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-1093-0002.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 78726, December 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 78726, December 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 78726, December 31, 2014).
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200
Service Bulletin No. 32-JM7862, Revision 3,
dated October 3, 2014; and British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and
3200 Service Bulletin No. 32-A-JA140940, Original Issue, dated October
3, 2014. The service information describes procedures for modifying the
LH and RH MLG at the forward spigot and inspecting for migration of the
special washer, taking corrective action as necessary. This service
information is reasonably available; see ADDRESSES for ways to access
this service information.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 44 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $170 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S.
operators to be $14,960, or $340 per product.
We accept modification of the MLG, if done before the effective
date of this AD, using earlier versions of the service information.
However, the earlier versions of the service information require
additional inspections with possible corrective actions.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions that
may be required if using an earlier version of the service information
would take about 1 work-hour to inspect for special washer migration
and corrosion damage and require parts costing $100 for replacement of
the special washer and application of witness paint, if necessary, for
a cost of $185 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.
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-
1093; 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 removing Amendment 39-17807 (79 FR
17395, March 28, 2014) and adding the following new AD:
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