Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 28, 2000 / Proposed Rules 39831

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 22,

2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–16358 Filed 6–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–355–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; British

Aerospace Model BAe 146 and Model

Avro 146–RJ Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to all

British Aerospace Model BAe 146 and

certain Model Avro 146–RJ series

airplanes. This proposal would require

inspections and torque checks of the

stringer crown fittings and bolts at Ribs

0 and 2 of the wings for discrepancies,

corrective action, if necessary; and

eventual modification of the stringer

crown fittings, which would terminate

the inspections and checks. This action

is necessary to prevent increased loads

on the upper wing skin due to looseness

of the stringer fittings and bolts at Ribs

0 and 2 of the wings, which could result

in reduced structural integrity of the

wings. This action is intended to

address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

July 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 99–NM–

355–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. Comments may also

be sent via the Internet using the

following address: 9-anmnprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent

via the Internet must contain ‘‘Docket

No. 99–NM–355–AD’’ in the subject line

and need not be submitted in triplicate.

Comments sent via the Internet as

attached electronic files must be

formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

British Aerospace Regional Aircraft

American Support, 13850 Mclearen

Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

fax (425) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Submit comments using the following

format:

• Organize comments issue-by-issue.

For example, discuss a request to

change the compliance time and a

request to change the service bulletin

reference as two separate issues.

• For each issue, state what specific

change to the proposed AD is being

requested.

• Include justification (e.g., reasons or

data) for each request.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 99–NM–355–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

99–NM–355–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA),

which is the airworthiness authority for

the United Kingdom, notified the FAA

that an unsafe condition may exist on

all British Aerospace Model BAe 146

and certain Model Avro 146–RJ series

airplanes. The CAA advises that, during

in-service maintenance inspections

inside the upper part of the center and

outer wing fuel tanks at Ribs 0 and 2,

loose Jo-bolts and movement at the

stringer crown fittings have been found.

Movement in this area will cause

increased loads on the upper wing skin.

This condition, if not corrected, could

result in reduced structural integrity of

the wings.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

British Aerospace has issued Service

Bulletin SB.57–56, dated September 2,

1999, which describes procedures for

repetitive detailed visual inspections of

the stringers and torque checks of the Jobolts at Ribs 0 and 2 of the wings for

discrepancies. The discrepancies

include loose Jo-bolts, loose stringer

crown fittings, fretting of fittings and

stringers, and cracking or other damage

of attachments to the upper skin and

joint plates. The service bulletin also

describes procedures for modification of

all stringer crown fittings at Ribs 0 and

2 of the wings, which would eliminate

the need for the repetitive inspections.

The modification includes detailed

visual and eddy current inspections for

discrepancies (i.e., fretting, cracking,

corrosion) of the stringers, fittings, and

upper wing skin; repairs, if necessary;

and installation of oversize interference

fit radial-lock fasteners per Repair

Instruction (R.I.L. HC571H9033).

Accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin is

intended to adequately address the

identified unsafe condition. The CAA

classified this service bulletin as

mandatory and issued British

airworthiness directive 004–09–99 in

order to assure the continued

airworthiness of these airplanes in the

United Kingdom.

FAA’s Conclusions

These airplane models are

manufactured in the United Kingdom

and are type certificated for operation in

the United States under the provisions

39832 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 28, 2000 / Proposed Rules

of § 21.29 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the

applicable bilateral airworthiness

agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral

airworthiness agreement, the CAA has

kept the FAA informed of the situation

described above. The FAA has

examined the findings of the CAA,

reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other airplanes of the same

type design registered in the United

States, the proposed AD would require

accomplishment of the actions specified

in the service bulletin described

previously, except as discussed below.

Differences Between Proposed Rule and

the Service Bulletin

Operators should note that, although

the service bulletin specifies that the

manufacturer may be contacted for

disposition of certain repair conditions,

this proposal would require the repair of

those conditions to be accomplished in

accordance with a method approved by

either the FAA or the CAA (or its

delegated agent). In light of the type of

repair that would be required to address

the identified unsafe condition, and in

consonance with existing bilateral

airworthiness agreements, the FAA has

determined that, for this proposed AD,

a repair approved by either the FAA or

the CAA would be acceptable for

compliance with this proposed AD.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 20 airplanes

of U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD.

It would take approximately 8 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

proposed inspection, at an average labor

rate of $60 per work hour. Based on

these figures, the cost impact of the

proposed inspection on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $9,600, or $480 per

airplane, per inspection cycle.

It would take approximately 450 work

hours per airplane (including access and

close) to accomplish the proposed

modification, at an average labor rate of

$60 per work hour. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the proposed

modification on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $540,000, or $27,000 per

airplane.

The cost impact figures discussed

above are based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed requirements of this AD

action, and that no operator would

accomplish those actions in the future if

this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

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. Therefore,

it is determined that this proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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); and (3) if

promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(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.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

British Aerospace Regional Aircraft

(Formerly British Aerospace Regional

Aircraft Limited, Avro International

Aerospace Division; British Aerospace,

PLC; British Aerospace Commercial

Aircraft Limited): Docket 99–NM–355–

AD.

Applicability: All Model BAe 146 series

airplanes; and Model Avro 146–RJ series

airplanes, as listed in British Aerospace

Service Bulletin SB.57–56, dated September

2, 1999; certificated in any category; except

those on which British Aerospace

Modification HCM01307A or HCM01307B

[Reference Repair Instruction (R.I.L.

HC571H9033)] has been accomplished.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in

the area subject to the requirements of this

AD. For airplanes that have been modified,

altered, or repaired so that the performance

of the requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent increased loads on the upper

wing skin due to looseness of the stringer

fittings and bolts at Ribs 0 and 2 of the wings,

which could result in reduced structural

integrity of the wings, accomplish the

following:

Inspections and Modification

(a) Prior to the accumulation of 14,000 total

flight cycles, or within 4,000 flight cycles

after the effective date of this AD, whichever

occurs later: Perform a detailed visual

inspection of the stringers and a torque check

of the Jo-bolts at Ribs 0 and 2 of the wings

for discrepancies (including loose Jo-bolts

and stringer crown fittings, fretting of fittings

and stringers, and cracking or damage of

attachments); in accordance with British

Aerospace Service Bulletin SB.57–56, dated

September 2, 1999.

(1) If no discrepancy is found, or, if 1, 2,

or 3 loose Jo-bolts are found per rib side and

no loose crown (dagger) fittings are found

(Category 1 or 2, as specified in Table 2 of

paragraph D. ‘‘Compliance’’ of the service

bulletin), accomplish the actions required in

paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this AD.

(i) Repeat the inspection thereafter at the

applicable times specified in Table 2, until

accomplishment of the actions required by

paragraph (a)(1)(ii).

(ii) Prior to accumulation of 40,000 total

flight cycles, or within 4,000 flight cycles

after the effective date of this AD, whichever

occurs later: Modify all stringer crown

fittings at Ribs 0 and 2 of the wings

(including inspections, repairs, and

installation of oversize interference fit

fasteners per R.I.L. HC571H9033) in

accordance with the service bulletin, except

as required by paragraph (b) of this AD. This

modification terminates the requirements of

this AD.

(2) If any other discrepancy is found, as

specified in Table 2 (Categories 3 through 6):

At the applicable times specified in Table 2,

repeat the inspection thereafter, and modify

all crown fittings at Ribs 0 and 2 of the wings

(including inspections, repairs, and

installation of oversize interference fit

fasteners per R.I.L. HC571H9033); in

accordance with the service bulletin, except

as required by paragraph (b) of this AD. This

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 28, 2000 / Proposed Rules 39833

modification terminates the requirements of

this AD.

Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a

detailed visual inspection is defined as: ‘‘An

intensive visual examination of a specific

structural area, system, installation, or

assembly to detect damage, failure, or

irregularity. Available lighting is normally

supplemented with a direct source of good

lighting at intensity deemed appropriate by

the inspector. Inspection aids such as mirror,

magnifying lenses, etc., may be used. Surface

cleaning and elaborate access procedures

may be required.’’

Approved Repairs

(b) Where British Aerospace Service

Bulletin SB.57–56, dated September 2, 1999,

specifies to contact the manufacturer for a

repair, prior to further flight, repair in

accordance with a method approved by

either the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116, FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate; or the Civil Aviation Authority of

the United Kingdom (or its delegated agent).

For a repair method to be approved by the

Manager, International Branch, ANM–116, as

required by this paragraph, the Manager’s

approval letter must specifically reference

this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

Special Flight Permits

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with §§ 21.197 and 21.199 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197

and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a

location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in British airworthiness directive 004–09–99.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 22,

2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–16359 Filed 6–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00–AAL–03]

Proposed Modification and Revocation

of Federal Airways; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This action proposes to

revoke one jet route (J–155), and to

modify two jet routes (J–115 and J–125),

two Very High Frequency

Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal

airways (V–447 and V–436), and one

colored Federal airway (A–15) in

Alaska. The FAA is proposing this

action to remove all airways and routes

off the Chandalar Lake Nondirectional

Radio Beacon (NDB), AK, in preparation

for the NDB’s eventual

decommissioning from the National

Airspace System (NAS).

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before August 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the

proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air

Traffic Division, AAL–500, Docket No.

00–AAL–03, Federal Aviation

Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue,

#14, Anchorage, AK 99533.

The official docket may be examined

in the Rules Docket, Office of the Chief

Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC,

weekdays, except Federal holidays,

between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

An informal docket may also be

examined during normal business hours

at the office of the Regional Air Traffic

Division.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph C. White, Airspace and Rules

Division, ATA–400, Office of Air Traffic

Airspace Management, Federal Aviation

Administration, 800 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;

telephone: (202) 267–8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to

participate in this proposed rulemaking

by submitting such written data, views,

or arguments as they may desire.

Comments that provide the factual basis

supporting the views and suggestions

presented are particularly helpful in

developing reasoned regulatory

decisions on the proposal. Comments

are specifically invited on the overall

regulatory, aeronautical, economic,

environmental, and energy-related

aspects of the proposal.

Communications should identify the

airspace docket number and be

submitted in triplicate to the address

listed above. Commenters wishing the

FAA to acknowledge receipt of their

comments on this notice must submit

with those comments a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the

following statement is made:

‘‘Comments to Airspace Docket No. 00–

AAL–03.’’ The postcard will be date/

time stamped and returned to the

commenter. All communications

received on or before the specified

closing date for comments will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposal contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of comments received. All comments

submitted will be available for

examination in the Rules Docket both

before and after the closing date for

comments. A report summarizing each

substantive public contact with FAA

personnel concerned with this

rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM’s

An electronic copy of this document

may be downloaded, using a modem

and suitable communications software,

from the FAA regulations section of the

Fedworld electronic bulletin board

service (telephone: 703–321–3339) or

the Federal Register’s electronic bulletin

board service (telephone: 202–512–

1661).

Internet users may reach the FAA’s

web page at http://www.faa.gov or the

Superintendent of Document’s web page

at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara for

access to recently published rulemaking

documents.

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

Federal Aviation Administration, Office

of Air Traffic Airspace Management,

ATA–400, 800 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by

calling (202) 267–8783.

Communications must identify the

notice number of the NPRM. Persons

interested in being placed on a mailing

list for future NPRM’s should call the

FAA’s Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267–

9677, for a copy of Advisory Circular

No. 11–2A, Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking Distribution System, which

describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment

to 14 CFR part 71 (part 71) to revoke one

jet route (J–155), and to modify two jet

routes (J–115 and J–125), two VOR

Federal airways (V–447 and V–436), and

one colored Federal airway (A–15) in