61916 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 207 / Thursday, October 27, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(h)(1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft 

Certification Office, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 

accordance with the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. 

(2) Before using any AMOC approved in 

accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to 

which the AMOC applies, notify the 

appropriate principal inspector in the FAA 

Flight Standards Certificate Holding District 

Office. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 

18, 2005. 

Kevin M. Mullin, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–21438 Filed 10–26–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–22791; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NM–083–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; BAE 

Systems (Operations) Limited Model 

BAe 146–100A and –200A Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 

Model BAe 146–100A and –200A series 

airplanes. This proposed AD would 

require inspecting the nose landing gear 

(NLG) assembly to determine the part 

number of the NLG main fitting 

subassembly. For subject NLG main 

fitting subassemblies, this proposed AD 

would also require determining the total 

number of accumulated landings on a 

subject NLG main fitting subassembly, 

and eventually replacing the NLG 

assembly. This proposed AD results 

from a report indicating that the 

airplane maintenance manual contains 

incorrect safe-life limit information for 

certain NLG assemblies. We are 

proposing this AD to ensure that 

affected NLG fitting subassemblies are 

removed from service before they reach 

their approved safe-life limit. Operating 

with an NLG fitting subassembly that is 

beyond its approved safe-life limit could 

result in failure of the NLG and 

consequent loss of directional control 

on the ground and major structural 

damage to the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 28, 

2005. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD. 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Contact British Aerospace Regional 

Aircraft American Support, 13850 

Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 

20171, for service information identified 

in this proposed AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–1175; 

fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any relevant 

written data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposed AD. Send your 

comments to an address listed in the 

ADDRESSES section. Include the docket 

number ‘‘FAA–2005–22791; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NM–083–AD’’ at the 

beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the proposed AD. We will consider all 

comments received by the closing date 

and may amend the proposed AD in 

light of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed AD. 

Using the search function of that Web 

site, anyone can find and read the 

comments in any of our dockets, 

including the name of the individual 

who sent the comment (or signed the 

comment on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). You may 

review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act 

Statement in the Federal Register 

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78), or you may visit http:// 

dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in 

person at the Docket Management 

Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The Docket 

Management Facility office (telephone 

(800) 647–5227) is located on the plaza 

level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 

street address stated in the ADDRESSES

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after the Docket 

Management System receives them. 

Discussion 

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 

which is the airworthiness authority for 

the United Kingdom, notified us that an 

unsafe condition may exist on all BAE 

Systems (Operations) Limited Model 

BAe 146–100A and –200A series 

airplanes. The CAA advises that Chapter 

5 of the airplane maintenance manual 

(AMM) may contain incorrect safe-life 

limit information for certain nose 

landing gear (NLG) assemblies. 

Operating with an NLG fitting 

subassembly that is beyond its approved 

safe-life limit could lead to fatigue 

cracking of the main fitting of the NLG. 

This condition, if not corrected, could 

result in failure of the NLG and 

consequent loss of directional control 

on the ground and major structural 

damage to the airplane. 

Relevant Service Information 

BAE Systems has issued Service 

Bulletin ISB.32–169, dated October 4, 

2004. The service bulletin describes 

procedures for inspecting the NLG 

assembly to determine the part number 

of the NLG main fitting subassembly. If 

a subassembly having a subject part 

number is installed, the service bulletin 

specifies determining the total 

accumulated landings on the 

subassembly (since it was new or 

overhauled); eventually replacing the 

NLG assembly with a new, serviceable, 

or overhauled NLG assembly; and 

returning the replaced NLG assembly to 

Messier-Dowty or an overhaul facility. 

(For the purposes of this proposed AD, 

a serviceable NLG is one on which the 

part number of the NLG main fitting 

subassembly has been identified and the 

number of landings has been 

determined if necessary.) 

Accomplishing the actions specified in 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 207 / Thursday, October 27, 2005 / Proposed Rules 61917 

the service information is intended to 

adequately address the unsafe 

condition. The CAA mandated the 

service information and issued British 

airworthiness directive G–2005–0001, 

dated January 12, 2005, to ensure the 

continued airworthiness of these 

airplanes in the United Kingdom. 

BAE Systems Service Bulletin ISB.32–

169 refers to Messier-Dowty Service 

Bulletin 146–32–155, dated July 16, 

2004, as an additional source of service 

information for inspecting to determine 

the part number of the NLG main fitting 

subassembly, determining the number 

of accumulated landings on the NLG 

main fitting subassembly, and replacing 

the NLG assembly. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of the Proposed AD 

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 the FAA informed of the situation 

described above. We have examined the 

CAA’s findings, evaluated all pertinent 

information, and determined that we 

need to issue an AD for airplanes of this 

type design that are certificated for 

operation in the United States. 

Therefore, we are proposing this AD, 

which would require accomplishing the 

actions specified in BAE Systems 

Service Bulletin ISB.32–169, described 

previously. 

Costs of Compliance 

This proposed AD would affect about 

18 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 

proposed inspection would take about 1 

work hour per airplane, at an average 

labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based 

on these figures, the estimated cost of 

the proposed AD for U.S. operators is 

$1,170, or $65 per airplane. 

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 have 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 that the 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. 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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this proposed AD and placed it in the 

AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section 

for a location to examine the regulatory 

evaluation. 

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 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 Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 

by adding the following new 

airworthiness directive (AD): 

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 

(Formerly British Aerospace Regional 

Aircraft): Docket No. FAA–2005–22791; 

Directorate Identifier 2005–NM–083–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD action by November 28, 2005. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to all BAE Systems 

(Operations) Limited Model BAe 146–100A 

and –200A series airplanes, certificated in 

any category. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from a report indicating 

that the airplane maintenance manual 

contains incorrect safe-life limit information 

for certain nose landing gear (NLG) 

assemblies. We are issuing this AD to ensure 

that affected NLG fitting subassemblies are 

removed from service before they reach their 

approved safe-life limit. Operating with an 

NLG fitting subassembly that is beyond its 

approved safe-life limit could result in failure 

of the NLG and consequent loss of directional 

control on the ground and major structural 

damage to the airplane. 

Compliance 

(e) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Service Bulletin Reference 

(f) The term ‘‘service bulletin,’’ as used in 

this AD, means the Accomplishment 

Instructions of BAE Systems Service Bulletin 

ISB.32–169, dated October 4, 2004. 

(1) The service bulletin refers to MessierDowty Service Bulletin 146–32–155, dated 

July 16, 2004, as an additional source of 

service information for inspecting to 

determine the part number of the NLG main 

fitting subassembly, determining the number 

of accumulated landings on the NLG main 

fitting subassembly, and replacing the NLG 

assembly. 

(2) Although the service bulletin specifies 

to submit certain information to the 

manufacturer and to return replaced NLG 

assemblies to the manufacturer or other 

overhaul facility, this AD does not require 

that action. 

Inspection To Determine Part Number 

(g) Within 30 days after the effective date 

of this AD: Inspect the nose landing gear 

(NLG) assembly to determine the part 

number of the NLG main fitting subassembly, 

in accordance with the service bulletin. If the 

part number of the NLG main fitting 

subassembly is not listed in paragraph 1.A.(2) 

of the service bulletin: This paragraph 

requires no further action. A review of 

airplane maintenance records is acceptable in 

lieu of this inspection if the part number of 

the NLG main fitting subassembly can be 

conclusively determined from that review. 

Replacement of NLG 

(h) If the part number of the NLG main 

fitting subassembly is listed in paragraph 

1.A.(2) of the service bulletin: Determine the 

total accumulated landings on the 

subassembly (since the subassembly was new 

or overhauled); and replace the NLG with a 

new, serviceable, or overhauled subassembly; 

in accordance with the service bulletin. (For 

the purposes of this AD, a serviceable NLG 

is one on which the NLG main fitting 

61918 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 207 / Thursday, October 27, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

subassembly has been identified, the number 

of landings has been determined, and the 

number of landings does not exceed the 

limits specified in this AD, as applicable.) Do 

the actions specified in this paragraph at the 

applicable time specified in paragraph (h)(1) 

or (h)(2) of this AD, or within 500 landings 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever 

is later. A review of airplane maintenance 

records is acceptable in lieu of this 

inspection if the total accumulated landings 

on the subassembly (since the subassembly 

was new or overhauled) can be conclusively 

determined from that review. 

(1) If the NLG has not been overhauled 

previously: Prior to the accumulation of 

35,000 total landings on the NLG. 

(2) If the NLG has been overhauled 

previously: Within 8,000 landings since the 

most recent overhaul. 

Parts Installation 

(i) After the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install an NLG that is equipped 

with a main fitting subassembly having a part 

number listed in paragraph 1.A.(2) of the 

service bulletin, unless all of the applicable 

actions in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD 

have been done. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(j)(1) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested in accordance with 

the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

(2) Before using any AMOC approved in 

accordance with 14 CFR 39.19 on any 

airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify 

the appropriate principal inspector in the 

FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding 

District Office. 

Related Information 

(k) British airworthiness directive G–2005–

0001, dated January 12, 2005, also addresses 

the subject of this AD. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 

18, 2005. 

Kevin M. Mullin, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–21437 Filed 10–26–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–22792; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NM–084–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; BAE 

Systems (Operations) Limited Model 

Avro 146–RJ Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 

Model Avro 146–RJ airplanes. This 

proposed AD would require reviewing 

the airplane’s maintenance records to 

determine if certain tasks of the Bae146/ 

Avro RJ Maintenance Planning 

Document have been accomplished. 

This proposed AD would also require 

doing repetitive detailed inspections of 

the external fuselage skin adjacent to the 

longeron at rib 0 from frame 29 to frame 

31 and repairing any damage if 

necessary. This proposed AD results 

from issuance of mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information by a foreign 

civil airworthiness authority. We are 

proposing this AD to detect and correct 

cracking of the fuselage skin, which 

could result in structural failure of the 

fuselage. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 28, 

2005. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD. 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Contact British Aerospace Regional 

Aircraft American Support, 13850 

Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 

20171, for service information identified 

in this proposed AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–1175; 

fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any relevant 

written data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposed AD. Include the 

docket number ‘‘FAA–2005–22792; 

Directorate Identifier 2005–NM–084–

AD’’ at the beginning of your comments. 

We specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the proposed AD. We will consider all 

comments received by the closing date 

and may amend the proposed AD in 

light of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed AD. 

Using the search function of that Web 

site, anyone can find and read the 

comments in any of our dockets, 

including the name of the individual 

who sent the comment (or signed the 

comment on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). You may 

review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act 

Statement in the Federal Register 

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78), or you may visit http:// 

dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in 

person at the Docket Management 

Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The Docket 

Management Facility office (telephone 

(800) 647–5227) is located on the plaza 

level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 

street address stated in the ADDRESSES

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after the Docket 

Management System receives them. 

Discussion 

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 

which is the airworthiness authority for 

the United Kingdom, notified us that an 

unsafe condition may exist on all BAE 

Systems (Operations) Limited Model 

Avro 146–RJ airplanes. The CAA 

advises that, to ensure continued 

structural integrity of the fuselage skin, 

it has reduced the initial threshold for 

inspecting the fuselage skin adjacent to 

the longeron at rib 0 between frames 29 

and 31 for cracking. Cracking of the 

fuselage skin, if not detected and 

corrected, could result in structural 

failure of the fuselage. 

Relevant Service Information 

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 

has issued Inspection Service Bulletin 

ISB.53–177, dated June 29, 2004. The 

ISB describes procedures for doing 

repetitive detailed inspections of the 

external fuselage skin adjacent to the 

longeron at rib 0 from frame 29 to frame