Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 202 / Monday, October 20, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 54375

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–05–AD; Amendment

39–10168; AD 97–21–15]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; British

Aerospace Model Avro 146–RJ Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to all British Aerospace

Model Avro 146–RJ series airplanes,

that requires a modification of the

electrical system in the equipment bay

area by replacing certain cables, clamps,

and fairleads with new components.

This amendment is prompted by a

report indicating that the incorrect size

of electrical cables were used in the

generator feeder circuit to certain

busbars from the generator contactors.

As a result, the electrical cables are not

compatible with generator rating

requirements and can overheat. The

actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent possible

overheating of electrical generator

feeder cables and consequent damage,

which could lead to possible fire or the

loss of essential electrical systems.

DATES: Effective November 24, 1997.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications, as listed in the

regulations, is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of November

4, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from AI(R) American Support, Inc.,

13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon,

Virginia 20171. This information may be

examined at the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim

H. Backman, Aerospace Engineer,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(425) 227–2797; fax (425) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to all British

Aerospace Model Avro 146–RJ series

airplanes was published in the Federal

Register on February 28, 1997 (62 FR

9111). That action proposed to require

modifying the electrical system in the

equipment bay area by replacing certain

cables, clamps, and fairleads with new

components.

Consideration of Comment Received

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the one

comment received.

Request to Revise the Summary Section

of the Preamble of the Proposed AD

The commenter requests that the

description of what prompted the

NPRM that appeared in the Summary

section of the preamble to the NPRM be

revised to read, ‘‘* * * the generator

feeder circuit to certain busbars from the

generator contactors. As a result, the

cables are not compatible * * *.’’ The

commenter suggests that this statement

is more accurate. The FAA

acknowledges that the commenter’s

wording is more accurate and has

revised the final rule to reflect the

suggested changes. In addition, the FAA

has included the word ‘‘electrical’’ to

identify which type of cables are not

compatible.

Request to Revise Other Sections of the

Preamble of the Proposed AD

The commenter also requests that the

description of what the CAA advises

that appeared in the Discussion section

of the preamble to the NPRM be revised

to read, ‘‘* * * generator feeder circuit

to busbars AC1 and AC2.’’

In addition, the commenter requests

that a description of the procedures

referenced in the service bulletin that

appeared in the Explanation of Relevant

Service Information section of the

preamble to the NPRM be revised to

read ‘‘* * * existing 6ANC generator

feeder cables installed to the AC1 and

AC2 busbars from the generator

contactors * * *.’’

The commenter states that these

statements will improve the technical

accuracy of the proposal. The FAA

recognizes that the suggested changes to

these sections provide improved

technical accuracy. However, since

neither the Discussion nor the

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information sections of the preamble to

the NPRM are restated in the final rule,

no change to the final rule is necessary.

Explanation of Changes Made to the

Proposal

For clarification purposes, the FAA

has revised the description of the unsafe

condition that appeared throughout the

NPRM to read, ‘‘* * * possible

overheating of the electrical generator

feeder cables and consequent damage,

which could lead to a possible fire or

the loss of essential electrical systems.’’

The FAA also has revised the final

rule to reflect the corporate name

change of British Aerospace Regional

Aircraft Limited, Avro International

Aerospace Division to British Aerospace

Regional Aircraft. In addition, the

address for obtaining service

information has been revised to AI(R)

American Support, Inc., 13850 Mclearen

Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171.

Furthermore, the FAA has revised the

area code from (206) to (425) of the

telephone numbers in the For Further

Information Contact section of the final

rule.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available

data, including the comment noted

above, the FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule with the changes

previously described. The FAA has

determined that these changes will

neither increase the economic burden

on any operator nor increase the scope

of the AD.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 10 British

Aerospace Model Avro 146–RJ series

airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected

by this AD. Modification of the

electrical system will take

approximately 4 work hours per

airplane to accomplish, at an average

labor rate of $60 per work hour.

Required parts will cost approximately

$300 per airplane. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the AD on

U.S. operators is estimated to be $5,400,

or $540 per airplane.

The cost impact figures discussed

above are based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the 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 adopted herein will

not have substantial direct effects 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, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612,
54376 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 202 / Monday, October 20, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

it is determined that this final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (1) is not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a

‘‘significant rule’’ under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3)

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 final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the rules docket. A copy of

it may be obtained from the rules docket

at the location provided under the

caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 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:

97–21–15 British Aerospace Regional

Aircraft (Formerly British Aerospace

Regional Aircraft Limited, Avro

International Aerospace Division; British

Aerospace, PLC; British Aerospace

Commercial Aircraft Limited):

Amendment 39–10168. Docket 97–NM–

05–AD.

Applicability: All Model Avro 146–RJ

series airplanes, certificated in any category.

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 (b) 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 possible overheating of the

electrical generator feeder cables and

consequent damage, which could lead to

possible fire or loss of essential electrical

systems, accomplish the following:

(a) Prior to the accumulation of 500 flight

cycles after the effective date of this AD,

modify the electrical system in the electrical

equipment bay in accordance with British

Aerospace Service Bulletin SB.24–113–

01532A, dated March 12, 1996, or British

Aerospace Service Bulletin SB.24–113–

01532A, Revision 1, dated June 18, 1996.

(b) 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,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests to through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Standardization

Branch, ANM–113.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Standardization Branch,

ANM–113.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 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.

(d) The modification shall be done in

accordance with British Aerospace Service

Bulletin SB.24–113–01532A, dated March 12,

1996; or British Aerospace Service Bulletin

SB.24–113–01532A, Revision 1, dated June

18, 1996, which contains the following list of

effective pages:

Page No.

Revision level

shown on

page

Date shown

on page

1, 2 ............... 1 ................... June 18,

1996.

3–15 ............. Original ........ March 12,

1996.

This incorporation by reference was

approved by the Director of the Federal

Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained

from AI(R) American Support, Inc., 13850

Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171.

Copies may be inspected at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in British airworthiness directive 006–03–96,

dated March 12, 1996.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

November 24, 1997.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October

10, 1997.

James V. Devany,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–27576 Filed 10–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96–NM–120–AD; Amendment

39–10167; AD 97–21–14]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives;

Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.

(CASA) Model C–212 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to all CASA Model C–212

series airplanes, that requires an initial

inspection of the restrictor pistons on

the shock absorbers of the left and right

main landing gear (MLG) to determine

the number and condition of threaded

screw pins that are installed;

replacement of any discrepant pin; and

repetitive inspections of certain pistons.

Modification of certain pistons by the

installation of two additional pins

terminates these inspections. This

amendment is prompted by reports

indicating that the threaded screw pin

that holds the restrictor piston on the

slide tube of the shock absorber has

been found to have loosened on some

airplanes. The actions specified by this

AD are intended to prevent the loss of

hydraulic damping in the MLG, due to

failure of the screw pins that hold the

restrictor pistons on the slide tubes of

the shock absorbers, and consequent

structural damage to the airplane.

DATES: Effective November 24, 1997.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of November

24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.,

Getafe, Madrid, Spain. This information

may be examined at the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA),

Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules

Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington; or at the Office of

the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.