[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 242 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65036-65038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30644]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-NM-128-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Model 4101 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Jetstream Model 4101 
airplanes. This proposal would require an inspection to verify the 
proper position of ``door open'' placards on the inside of the main 
entrance door, and replacement with new placards appropriately 
positioned, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a report that 
the ``door open'' placards on the inside of the main entrance door, as 
currently installed, may not be visible to passengers or flightcrew 
when the door handle is in the open position. The actions specified by 
the proposed AD are intended to ensure that certain placards on the 
inside of the main entrance door are clearly visible and perform their 
intended function in the event of an emergency evacuation.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 23, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-128-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Jetstream Aircraft, Inc., P.O. Box 16029, Dulles 
International Airport, Washington, DC 20041-6029. This information may 
be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Schroeder, Aerospace Engineer, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 
227-2148; fax (206) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such 

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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 notice may be changed in light of the comments 
received.
    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 notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 95-NM-128-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-103, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 95-NM-128-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    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 certain Jetstream Model 4101 airplanes. 
The CAA advises that the ``door open'' placards on the inside of the 
main entrance door may not be properly installed (that is, aligned with 
the door handle when it is in the ``open'' position), as required by 
section 25.811 (e) of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 25.811), 
``Emergency exit marking.'' The placards are currently installed at 
imprecise locations, since the type design data was not explicit in 
defining the installation locations. Therefore, these placards may not 
be visible to the passengers or flightcrew during an emergency 
evacuation, and consequently, do not fulfill the intent of the 
regulations, which is to ensure that these placards are visible and 
properly aligned with the door handle when it is in the ``open'' 
position. This condition, if not corrected, could delay or impede the 
evacuation of passengers during an emergency.
    Jetstream has issued Service Bulletin J41-11-007, dated May 10, 
1995, which describes procedures for a one-time visual inspection to 
verify the proper position of certain placards on the inside of the 
main entrance door, and removal of the placard and installation of a 
new placard, if necessary. The CAA classified this service bulletin as 
mandatory in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in the United Kingdom.
    This airplane model is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is 
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. 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. -
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist on other airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would 
require a one-time visual inspection to verify the proper position of 
certain placards on the inside of the main entrance door, and removal 
of the placard and installation of a new placard, if necessary. The 
actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the 
service bulletin described previously. -
    The FAA estimates that 25 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work 
hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would be 
supplied by the manufacturer at no cost to the operators. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $1,500, or $60 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 AD were not adopted.
    The regulations proposed herein would 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, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    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:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.


39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Jetstream Aircraft Limited: Docket 95-NM-128-AD.

    Applicability: Model 4101 airplanes, constructors numbers 41004 
through 41046 inclusive; 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 use the authority 
provided in paragraph (b) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition 

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addressed by this AD. In no case does the presence of any modification, 
alteration, or repair remove any airplane from the applicability of 
this AD.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To ensure that certain placards on the inside of the main 
entrance door are clearly visible and properly aligned, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Within 4 months after the effective date of this AD, perform 
a one-time visual inspection to verify the proper position of the 
door open placards on the inside of the main entrance door, in 
accordance with Jetstream Service Bulletin J41-11-007, dated May 10, 
1995. If any placard is found to be improperly positioned, prior to 
further flight, remove the placard and install a new placard in the 
specified position, in accordance with the service bulletin.
    (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 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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 11, 1995.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-30644 Filed 12-15-95; 8:45 am]
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