DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0555; Product Identifier 2017-NM-152-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model 4101 airplanes. This proposed AD
was prompted by a report of an improperly installed spacer around the
electrical pins in the cartridge connector for the fire bottle
extinguisher cartridge. This proposed AD would require repetitive
inspections for excessive or missing spacers, and applicable corrective
actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 13,
2018.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in
14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, 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/index.htm. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th
St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
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-2018-
0555; 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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations
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: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer,
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2018-0555;
Product Identifier 2017-NM-152-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM based on
those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this NPRM.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
2017-0212, dated October 25, 2017 (referred to after this as the
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or "the MCAI"), to
correct an unsafe condition for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
Model 4101 airplanes. The MCAI states:
During scheduled maintenance (fire bottle extinguisher cartridge
resistance check) it was noted that on the extinguisher cartridge,
the blue spacer around the electrical pins appeared to be located
too far forward. It was discovered that, inadvertently, an
additional spacer (possibly from a previous extinguisher cartridge)
was located in the extinguisher cartridge connector. This
effectively shortens the electrical pins in the cartridge connector,
which could result in insufficient engagement with the associated
sockets on the aeroplane connector. A missing spacer would not
affect the electrical connection between the extinguisher cartridge
and the aeroplane wiring, but could allow moisture ingress over
time.
Both conditions, if not detected and corrected, could prevent
the fire extinguisher bottle from discharging when required,
possibly resulting in damage to the aeroplane and injury to
occupants.
To address this potential unsafe condition, BAE Systems
(Operations) Ltd issued Service Bulletin (SB) J41-26-009, providing
inspection instructions to ensure that a single blue spacer is
fitted on the inside of the extinguisher cartridge connector.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time [general visual] inspection [and inspection after a maintenance
task that involves disconnection or re-connection of the electrical
connector] of the extinguisher cartridge electrical connector and
the aeroplane's electrical connector and, depending on findings,
removal of excessive spacers or replacement of the fire extinguisher
bottle.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0555.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited has issued Service Bulletin J41-
26-009, dated November 23, 2016. This service information describes
procedures for a general visual inspection of the cartridge electrical
connector and the aircraft electrical connector for missing or
excessive spacers, and corrective actions including removing excessive
spacers or replacing the fire bottle extinguisher cartridge. 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.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This 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 the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an 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 affects 4 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$0 |
$85 |
$340 |
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary on-condition
actions that would be required based on the results of any required
actions. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that
might need these on-condition actions:
Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Up to $1,734 |
Up to $1,819 |
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 proposed 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 transport category airplanes to the Director of the System Oversight
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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
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