Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Proposed Rules 30103

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:

McDonnell Douglas: Docket 99–NM–287–

AD.

Applicability: Model DC–9–10, –20, –30,

–40, and –50 series airplanes; and C–9

(military) airplanes, as listed in McDonnell

Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC9–24A171,

Revision 01, dated September 21, 1999;

certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, 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 (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 internal overheating and arcing

of circuit breakers and airplane wiring due to

long-term use and breakdown of internal

components of the circuit breakers, which

could result in smoke and fire in the flight

compartment and main cabin, accomplish

the following:

Inspection and Replacement, If Necessary

(a) Within 18 months after the effective

date of this AD: Perform a one-time general

visual inspection of circuit breakers to

determine the manufacturer of the circuit

breaker, in accordance with McDonnell

Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC9–24A171,

Revision 01, dated September 21, 1999.

Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a

general visual inspection is defined as ‘‘A

visual examination of an interior or exterior

area, installation, or assembly to detect

obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This

level of inspection is made under normally

available lighting conditions such as

daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight, and may require removal or opening of

access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or

platforms may be required to gain proximity

to the area being checked.’’

(1) If no Wood Electric Corporation or

Wood Electric Division of Potter Brumfield

Corporation circuit breaker is found, no

further action is required by this AD.

(2) If any Wood Electric Corporation or

Wood Electric Division of Potter Brumfield

Corporation circuit breaker is found, prior to

further flight, replace the circuit breaker with

a new circuit breaker in accordance with the

service bulletin.

Spares

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person shall install, on any airplane, a circuit

breaker having a part number listed in

paragraph 1.A.2., ‘‘Spares Affected,’’ of

McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin

DC9–24A171, Revision 01, dated September

21, 1999.

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, Los

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),

FAA. Operators shall submit their requests

through an appropriate FAA Principal

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Los Angeles ACO.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

Special Flight Permit

(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.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 25,

2001.

Vi L. Lipski,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–14002 Filed 6–4–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001–NM–06–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; BAe

Systems (Operations) Limited Model

BAe 146 and 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

certain BAe Systems (Operations)

Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146–

RJ series airplanes. This proposal would

require identifying the discharge valves

and cabin pressure controllers, and

replacing them with new parts if

necessary. This action is necessary to

prevent the installation of incorrect

pressurization discharge valves and

cabin pressure controllers, which could

subject the airframe to excess stress and

adversely affect the airframe fatigue life.

This action is intended to address the

identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

July 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001–NM–

06–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 be

submitted via fax to (425) 227–1232.

Comments may also be sent via the

Internet using the following address: 9–

anm–nprmcomment@faa.gov.

Comments sent via fax or the Internet

must contain ‘‘Docket No. 2001–NM–

06–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: Dan

Rodina, Aerospace Engineer,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2125;

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

30104 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Proposed Rules

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 action 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 action

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 2001–NM–06–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.

2001–NM–06–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

certain BAe Systems (Operations)

Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146–

RJ series airplanes. The CAA advises of

two reports indicating that incorrect

front and/or rear pressurization

discharge valves were found installed

on some affected airplanes. In addition,

it is possible that some operators may

have installed incorrect flight deckmounted cabin pressure controllers.

Because of pressurization problems

associated with use of the incorrect

discharge valves and cabin pressure

controllers, the airframe may be subject

to excess stress. This condition, if not

corrected, could adversely affect the

airframe fatigue life.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

The manufacturer has issued

Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.21–148,

Revision 1, dated February 6, 2001,

which describes procedures for

identifying the part numbers of the front

and rear pressurization discharge valves

and the cabin pressure controllers, and

replacing any incorrect part with a new,

correct part. For airplanes installed with

certain auto-pressurization equipment

(installed during BAe Systems

Modification HCM50258A), the service

bulletin recommends limiting the

airplane ceiling until the incorrect parts

can be replaced. 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 003–11–2000 to

ensure 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

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.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 20 airplanes

of U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 3 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

inspection, and that the average labor

rate is $60 per work hour. Based on

these figures, the cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $3,600, or $180 per

airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is 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 proposed AD were not adopted. The

cost impact figures discussed in AD

rulemaking actions represent only the

time necessary to perform the specific

actions actually required by the AD.

These figures typically do not include

incidental costs, such as the time

required to gain access and close up,

planning time, or time necessitated by

other administrative actions.

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:

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Proposed Rules 30105

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:

BAe Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly

British Aerospace Regional Aircraft):

Docket 2001–NM–06–AD.

Applicability: Model BAe 146 and Avro

146–RJ series airplanes, certificated in any

category, as listed in BAe Systems

(Operations) Limited Inspection Service

Bulletin ISB.21–148, Revision 1, dated

February 6, 2001.

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 the installation of incorrect

pressurization discharge valves and cabin

pressure controllers, which could subject the

airframe to excess stress and adversely affect

the airframe fatigue life, accomplish the

following:

Parts Identification

(a) As specified in paragraph (a)(1) or

(a)(2), as applicable, of this AD: Identify the

part numbers of the pressurization discharge

valves and cabin pressure controllers to

determine if any installed part is incorrect, as

defined by and in accordance with BAe

Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection

Service Bulletin ISB.21–148, Revision 1,

dated February 6, 2001.

(1) For airplanes post-Modification

HCM50258A: Identify the part numbers

within 30 days after the effective date of this

AD; and, if any part is incorrect, limit the

airplane ceiling to 31,000 feet until the

incorrect part is replaced, as specified by

paragraph (b) of this AD.

(2) For airplanes pre-Modification

HCM50258A: Identify the part numbers

within 6 months after the effective date of

this AD.

Corrective Action

(b) For any incorrect part identified in

accordance with paragraph (a) of this AD:

Within 500 flight cycles thereafter, replace it

with a new, correct part, in accordance with

BAe Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection

Service Bulletin ISB.21–148, Revision 1,

dated February 6, 2001. Prior to further flight

thereafter, perform a structural inspection

and accomplish applicable corrective actions,

in accordance with a method approved by

the Manager, International Branch, ANM–

116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or

the The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation

Civile (DGAC) (or its delegated agent).

Note 2: Accomplishment of the actions

specified in this AD in accordance with BAe

Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection

Service Bulletin ISB.21–148, dated November

17, 2000, is also acceptable for compliance

with the requirements of 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 003–11–

2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 30,

2001.

Vi L. Lipski,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–14046 Filed 6–4–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–378–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 707 and 720 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

certain Boeing Model 707 and 720 series

airplanes. This proposal would require

a preventive modification of the front

spar fitting on the outboard engine

nacelle. This action is necessary to

prevent fatigue cracking of the front spar

fitting on the outboard engine nacelle,

which could reduce the structural

integrity of the nacelle, and result in

separation of the engine from the

airplane. This action is intended to

address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

July 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

378–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 be

submitted via fax to (425) 227–1232.

Comments may also be sent via the

Internet using the following address: 9-

anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments

sent via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 2000–NM–378–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

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group,

P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington

98124–2207. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Duong Tran, Aerospace Engineer,

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA,

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(425) 227–2773; fax (425) 227–1181.

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 action 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