Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 11, 2013 / Proposed Rules 75289 

b. Limit values of protected flight 

parameters (and if applicable, associated 

warning thresholds) must be compatible 

with the following: 

i. Airplane structural limits, 

ii. Required safe and controllable 

maneuvering of the airplane, and 

iii. Margins to critical conditions. 

Unsafe flight characteristics/conditions 

must not result if dynamic 

maneuvering, airframe and system 

tolerances (both manufacturing and inservice), and non-steady atmospheric 

conditions, in any appropriate 

combination and phase of flight, can 

produce a limited flight parameter 

beyond the nominal design limit value. 

c. The airplane must be responsive to 

intentional dynamic maneuvering to 

within a suitable range of the parameter 

limit. Dynamic characteristics such as 

damping and overshoot must also be 

appropriate for the flight maneuver and 

limit parameter in question. 

d. When simultaneous envelope 

limiting is engaged, adverse coupling or 

adverse priority must not result. 

2. Failure States: Electronic flight 

control system failures (including 

sensor) must not result in a condition 

where a parameter is limited to such a 

reduced value that safe and controllable 

maneuvering is no longer available. The 

crew must be alerted by suitable means 

if any change in envelope limiting or 

maneuverability is produced by single 

or multiple failures of the electronic 

flight control system not shown to be 

extremely improbable. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 29, 2013. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–29487 Filed 12–10–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–1026; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–173–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; BAE 

Systems (Operations) Limited 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE 

SYSTEMS (OPERATIONS) LIMITED 

Model BAe 146 series airplanes and 

Model Avro 146–RJ series airplanes. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

reports of cracking of the main fitting of 

the nose landing gear (NLG). This 

proposed AD would require revising the 

maintenance program by incorporating a 

new safe-life limitation for the NLG 

main fitting. We are proposing this AD 

to prevent collapse of the NLG, which 

could lead to degradation of direction 

control on the ground or an uncommanded turn to the left and a 

consequent loss of control of the 

airplane on the ground, possibly 

resulting in damage to the airplane and 

injury to occupants. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 27, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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 proposed 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/index.htm. 

You may view this referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov; or in person at 

the Docket Operations office between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this proposed AD, 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 Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; telephone 425–227–1175; 

fax 425–227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2013–1026; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NM–173–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD 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 proposed AD. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2012–0191R1, 

dated November 6, 2012 (referred to 

after this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for the specified products. The MCAI 

states: 

Several occurrences of the aeroplane’s 

Nose Landing Gear (NLG) Main Fitting 

cracking have been reported. Subsequently in 

different cases, NLG Main Fitting crack lead 

to collapsed NLG, locked NLG steering and 

an aeroplane’s un-commanded steering to the 

left. 

Cracks in the NLG Bell Housing are not 

detectable with the NLG fitted to the 

aeroplane and are difficult to detect during 

overhaul without substantial disassembly of 

the gear. 

This condition, if not corrected, could lead 

to degradation of directional control on the 

ground or an un-commanded turn to the left 

and a consequent loss of control of the 

aeroplane on the ground, possibly resulting 

in damage to the aeroplane and injury to 

occupants. 

Prompted by these findings, BAE Systems 

(Operations) Ltd issued Inspection Service 

Bulletin (ISB) 32–186 (hereafter referred to as 

the ISB) to introduce a new safe life of 16,000 

flight cycles (FC) for certain NLG main 

fittings, having a Part Number (P/N) as 

identified in Paragraph 1A, tables 1, 2 and 3 

of the ISB. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
75290 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 11, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

To correct this unsafe condition, EASA 

issued AD 2012–0191R1 to require 

implementation of the new safe-life 

limitation for the affected NLG main fittings 

and replacement of fittings that have already 

exceeded the new limit. 

Since that [EASA] AD was issued, it was 

found that clarification is necessary regarding 

the existing NLG main fitting life limits. 

Consequently, this [EASA] AD is revised by 

adding a Note to clarify that the current life 

limits, as specified in the applicable Aircraft 

Maintenance Manual (AMM), remain valid 

and should be applied, pending compliance 

with this AD. 

You may examine the MCAI in the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating it in Docket No. FAA– 

2013–1026. 

Relevant Service Information 

BAE SYSTEMS (OPERATIONS) 

LIMITED has issued Subject 05–10–15, 

‘‘Aircraft Equipment Airworthiness 

Limitations,’’ of Chapter 05, ‘‘Time 

Limits/Maintenance Checks,’’ of the 

BAE Systems BAe 146 Series/AVRO 

146–RJ Series Aircraft Maintenance 

Manual, Revision 108, dated September 

15, 2012; and BAE SYSTEMS 

(OPERATIONS) LIMITED Inspection 

Service Bulletin ISB.32–186, dated 

April 12, 2012. The actions described in 

this service information are intended to 

correct the unsafe condition identified 

in the MCAI. 

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. 

This proposed AD requires revisions 

to certain operator maintenance 

documents to include new actions (e.g., 

inspections) and Critical Design 

Configuration Control Limitations 

(CDCCLs). Compliance with these 

actions and CDCCLs is required by 14 

CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have 

been previously modified, altered, or 

repaired in the areas addressed by this 

proposed AD, the operator may not be 

able to accomplish the actions described 

in the revisions. In this situation, to 

comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the 

operator must request approval for an 

alternative method of compliance 

according to paragraph (j) of this 

proposed AD. The request should 

include a description of changes to the 

required inspections that will ensure the 

continued operational safety of the 

airplane. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the MCAI or Service Information 

This proposed AD differs from the 

MCAI and/or service information as 

follows: Although the MCAI specifies 

replacement thresholds for the affected 

NLG fittings, this proposed AD does not 

specify these thresholds as they are 

addressed by the maintenance program 

and contained in the safe-life limitations 

of the NLG main fitting, as specified in 

Chapter 05, ‘‘Time Limits/Maintenance 

Checks,’’ of the BAE Systems BAe 146 

Series/AVRO 146–RJ Series Aircraft 

Maintenance Manual, Revision 108, 

dated September 15, 2012. 

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

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Revise maintenance program 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ......................................... $0 $85 $340 

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. 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited: Docket 

No. FAA–2013–1026; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–173–AD. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 11, 2013 / Proposed Rules 75291 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by January 27, 

2014. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all BAE SYSTEMS 

(OPERATIONS) LIMITED Model BAe 146– 

100A, –200A, and –300A airplanes; and 

Model Avro 146–RJ70A, 146–RJ85A, and 

146–RJ100A airplanes; certificated in any 

category; all models, all serial numbers. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 32, Landing Gear. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

cracking of the main fitting of the nose 

landing gear (NLG). We are issuing this AD 

to prevent collapse of the NLG, which could 

lead to degradation of direction control on 

the ground or an un-commanded turn to the 

left and a consequent loss of control of the 

airplane on the ground, possibly resulting in 

damage to the airplane and injury to 

occupants. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Revise Maintenance or Inspection 

Program 

Within 30 days after the effective date of 

this AD: Revise the maintenance or 

inspection program to incorporate a new 

safe-life limitation of the NLG main fitting, as 

specified by BAE Systems BAe 146 Series/

AVRO 146–RJ Series Aircraft Maintenance 

Manual, Revision 108, dated September 15, 

2012. Comply with all applicable 

instructions and airworthiness limitations 

included in BAE Systems BAe 146 Series/

AVRO 146–RJ Series Aircraft Maintenance 

Manual, Revision 108, dated September 15, 

2012. The initial compliance times for doing 

the actions is at the applicable times 

specified in BAE Systems BAe 146 Series/

AVRO 146–RJ Series Aircraft Maintenance 

Manual, Revision 108, dated September 15, 

2012, or within 30 days after the effective 

date of this AD, whichever is later. 

(h) No Alternative Actions, Intervals, and/or 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCLs) 

After accomplishing the revision required 

by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative 

actions (e.g., inspections), intervals, or 

CDCCLs may be used unless the actions, 

intervals, or CDCCLs are approved as an 

alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. 

(i) Parts Installation Limitation 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install an NLG main fitting, 

having a part number identified in paragraph 

1.A., Tables 1., 2., and 3. of BAE SYSTEMS 

(OPERATIONS) LIMITED Inspection Service 

Bulletin ISB.32–186, dated April 12, 2012, 

unless it is in compliance with the 

requirements of this AD. 

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1175; fax 425–227–1149. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116- 

AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using 

any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the local flight 

standards district office/certificate holding 

district office. The AMOC approval letter 

must specifically reference this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer, use these actions if they are 

FAA-approved. Corrective actions are 

considered FAA-approved if they were 

approved by the State of Design Authority (or 

its delegated agent, or the design approval 

holder with a State of Design Authority’s 

design organization approval). For a repair 

method to be approved, the repair approval 

must specifically refer to this AD. You are 

required to ensure the product is airworthy 

before it is returned to service. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2012–0191R1, dated 

November 6, 2012, for related information. 

This MCAI may be found in the AD docket 

on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. 

(2) 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/index.htm. You may review 

copies of this service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 29, 2013. 

John P. Piccola, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–29514 Filed 12–10–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–1025; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–NM–096–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, 

Inc. Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC–8–102, 

–103, and –106 airplanes; and DHC–8– 

200 and DHC–8–300 series airplanes. 

This proposed AD was prompted by a 

report of a beta warning horn (BWH) 

system failing to activate when the beta 

mode was triggered. This proposed AD 

would require modifying the BWH 

microswitch installation. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent the 

inadvertent activation of ground beta 

mode during flight, which could lead to 

engine overspeed, engine damage or 

failure, and consequent reduced 

controllability of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 27, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Bombardier, 

Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 

Garratt Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario 

M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone 416–375– 

4000; fax 416–375–4539; email 

thd.qseries@aero.bombardier.com; 

Internet http://www.bombardier.com. 

You may view this referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS