[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63551-63553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27223]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 24, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 63551]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-57-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream 
Series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to all British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream 
series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The proposed 
AD would require you to remove the nose landing gear steering actuator 
and install one that incorporates a modified piston rod. The proposed 
AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. 
The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent 
failure of the nose landing gear steering actuator because of problems 
with the current design piston rod. Continued operation with the 
current design piston rod could result in loss of nose wheel steering 
and possible loss of control of the airplane during takeoff, landing, 
and taxi operations.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before November 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to FAA, Central Region, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-57-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be 
inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, holidays excepted.
    Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained 
from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 479888; 
facsimile: (01292) 479703. This information also may be examined at the 
Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. S.M. Nagarajan, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; facsimile: (816) 329-
4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on the proposed AD? The FAA invites comments on 
this proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
submit your comments in triplicate to the address specified under the 
caption ADDRESSES. The FAA will consider all comments received on or 
before the closing date. We may amend the proposed rule in light of 
comments received. Factual information that supports your ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
proposed AD action and determining whether we need to take additional 
rulemaking action.
    Are there any specific portions of the proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may examine all 
comments we receive before and after the closing date of the rule in 
the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of the proposed AD.
    We are re-examining the writing style we currently use in 
regulatory documents, in response to the Presidential memorandum of 
June 1, 1998. That memorandum requires Federal agencies to communicate 
more clearly with the public. We are interested in your comments on 
whether the style of this document is clearer, and any other 
suggestions you might have to improve the clarity of FAA communications 
that affect you. You can get more information about the Presidential 
memorandum and the plain language initiative at http://www.plainlanguage.gov.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want us to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2000-CE-57-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? The Civil Aviation 
Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness authority for the United 
Kingdom, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist 
on all British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream 
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The CAA reports three occurrences of 
nose landing gear failure in the area of the undercut on the base of 
the eye and thread on the steering actuator. The CAA reports cracks in 
this area on 10 additional nose landing gear units.
    Investigation of these occurrences reveals incorrect installation 
or insufficient lubrication at the steering actuator trunnions. This 
then causes bending loads in the steering actuator piston rod during 
operation.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? Cracks 
in or failure of the steering actuator piston rod could result in loss 
of nose wheel steering and possible loss of control of the airplane 
during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? British 
Aerospace has issued Jetstream Mandatory Service Bulletin 32-JA000342, 
Issued: May 5, 2000. This service bulletin:
    <bullet> Specifies removing the nose landing gear steering actuator 
and installing one that incorporates a modified piston rod; and
    <bullet> References APPH Ltd. Hydraulics Service Bulletin 32-73, 
dated April 2000, which includes and references procedures for 
accomplishing the removal and installation actions.
    What action did the CAA take? The CAA classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued British AD 004-05-2000, not dated, in 
order to assure

[[Page 63552]]

the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
    Was this in accordance with the bilateral airworthiness agreement? 
These airplane models are manufactured in the United Kingdom and are 
type certificated for operation in the United States under the 
provisions of section 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 FAA informed of the situation described above.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of the 
Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? The FAA has examined the findings of the CAA; 
reviewed all available information, including the service information 
referenced above; and determined that:
    <bullet> The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or 
could develop on other British Aerospace HP137 Mk1, Jetstream series 
200, and Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes of the same type 
design;
    <bullet> The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
    <bullet> AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe 
condition.
    What would the proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to remove the nose landing gear steering actuator and install one 
that incorporates a modified piston rod.
    Are there differences between the proposed AD and the British AD? 
British AD 004-05-2000 requires these actions on airplanes registered 
in the United Kingdom within 180 days after the effective date of the 
British AD. Since cracks in or failure of the nose landing gear 
steering actuator piston rod is related to airplane operation, we are 
proposing the compliance time in hours time-in-service (TIS) instead of 
calendar time. We believe that ``within 200 hours time-in-service TIS 
after the effective date of the AD'' is an appropriate compliance time.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would the proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD affects 264 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of the proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to 
accomplish the proposed modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Total cost on
               Labor cost                  Parts cost per  airplane    Total cost per  airplane    U.S. airplane
                                                                                                     operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $120.....  $1,520....................  $1,640....................        $432,960
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? 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 
proposed rule would not have federalism implications under Executive 
Order 13132.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
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) 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 has been placed 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, under 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. FAA amends Section 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

British Aerospace:  Docket No. 2000-CE-57-AD

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Models HP137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream Models 3101 
and 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any 
category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes on the U.S. Register must comply with 
this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent failure of the nose landing gear 
steering actuator because of problems with the current design piston 
rod. Continued operation with the current design piston rod could 
result in loss of nose wheel steering and possible loss of control 
of the airplane during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Action                 Compliance time       Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Remove the nose landing gear  Within 200 hours    In accordance with
 steering actuator and install     time-in-service     the procedures in
 one that incorporates a           (TIS) after the     APPH Ltd. Service
 modified piston rod.              effective date of   Bulletin 32-73,
                                   this AD, unless     dated April 2000,
                                   already             as referenced in
                                   accomplished.       British Aerospace
                                                       Jetstream
                                                       Mandatory Service
                                                       Bulletin 32-
                                                       JA000342, Issued:
                                                       May 5, 2000.

[[Page 63553]]

 
(2) You may not install,on any    As of the           Not Applicable.
 affected airplane, a nose         effective date of
 landing gear unit that does not   this AD.
 incorporate a modified steering
 actuator piston rod, as
 required by paragraph (d)(1) of
 this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, approves your 
alternative. Submit your request through an FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.


    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, regardless of whether it has been 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.


    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Mr. S.M. Nagarajan, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; 
facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may obtain copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland. You may examine these 
documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in British AD 004-
05-2000.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 17, 2000.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-27223 Filed 10-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P