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:
RApublications@baesystems.com; 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:
doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

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.

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

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