DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0639; Product Identifier 2017-CE-016-AD; Amendment
39-19052; AD 2017-19-22]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Regional Aircraft
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-07-09
for
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Jetstream Series 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 both the
need for newly added inspections for corrosion, which includes the door
hinges/supporting structure and attachment bolts for the main spar
joint and engine support, and inadequate existing instructions for
inspection for corrosion for several areas including the rudder hinge
location on the vertical stabilizer. We are issuing this AD to require
actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective October 30, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of October 30,
2017.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0395; 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 view this
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. It is also available on
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No.
FAA-2017-0639.
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:
Discussion
We issued AD 2014-07-09, Amendment 39-17823 (79 FR 22367; April 22,
2014) (``AD 2014-07-09''). That AD required actions intended to address
an unsafe condition on British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Model
Jetstream Series 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 2014-07-09, more extensive reports of corrosion
have been received, resulting in the need to inspect additional areas.
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (82 FR 28592; June
23, 2017) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Model Jetstream Series 3101 and
Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes and supersede AD 2014-07-09.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD No.: 2017-0073, dated April 27, 2017 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
Maintenance instructions for BAE Jetstream 3100 and 3200
aeroplanes, which are approved by EASA, are currently defined and
published in the BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd Jetstream Series 3100
& 3200 Corrosion Prevention and Control Programme (CPCP) document,
JS/CPCP/01. These instructions have been identified as mandatory for
continued airworthiness.
Failure to accomplish these instructions could result in an
unsafe condition.
EASA issued AD 2012-0036 to require operators to comply with the
inspection instructions as contained in the CPCP at Revision 6.
Since that AD was issued, reports have been received of finding
extensive corrosion. While affected areas are covered by an existing
zonal inspection, it has been determined that this inspection is
inadequate to identify the corrosion in those areas. Consequently,
new inspection items 52-11-002 C1, 200/EX/01 C2, 500/IN/02 C1, 600/
IN/04 C1 and 700/IN/04 C1 have been added to the CPCP at Revision 8.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2012-0036, which is superseded, and requires
accomplishment of the actions specified in BAE Systems (Operations)
Ltd Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200 CPCP, JS/CPCP/01, Revision 8
(hereafter referred to as `the CPCP' in this AD).
The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-0639-0002.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the NPRM and
the FAA's response to the comment.
Summary Clarification
Kenneth MacKinnon of BAE Systems Regional Aircraft stated that the
Summary and Reason, paragraph (e) of this AD, both list corrosion
issues that were introduced at Revision 6, which he assumes was
mandated by AD 2014-07-09. He assumes this is an error and that both
sections should summarize the changes introduced at Revisions 7 and 8,
as detailed in the BAE SYSTEMS Certification Plans AWR/768/J3I and AWR/
815/J31 respectively. BAE wants the summary to better reflect the
changes since FAA AD 2014-07-09.
We partially agree with this comment. The Summary and Reason,
paragraph (e) of this AD, could contain language to better clarify the
unsafe
condition. We disagree with including all of the details in this AD
because we matched the intent of the EASA AD, and the details provided
are included in the service documents. We have added language to the
Summary and Reason, paragraph (e) of this AD, to clarify the unsafe
condition.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the change described previously. We have determined that
these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200
Corrosion Prevention and Control Programme, Manual Ref: JS/CPCP/01,
Revision 8, dated October 15, 2016. The service information describes
procedures for a comprehensive corrosion prevention and control
program. 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
document.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 42 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 this AD on U.S.
operators to be $357,000, 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.
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 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-2017-
0639; 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 39-17823 (79 FR
22367; April 22, 2014), and adding the following new AD:
|