Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 7, 1995 / Rules and Regulations 12413

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on

February 15, 1995.

James C. Jones,

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 95–4545 Filed 3–6–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94–NM–157–AD; Amendment

39–9158; AD 95–04–06]

Airworthiness Directives; British

Aerospace Model Avro 146–RJ Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to all British Aerospace

Model Avro 146–RJ series airplanes,

that requires inspections to detect

cracking of the upper main fitting of the

nose landing gear (NLG), and

replacement or repair of cracked parts.

This amendment is prompted by reports

of cracking of the upper main fitting of

the NLG. The actions specified by this

AD are intended to prevent failure of the

main fitting, which could lead to

collapse of the NLG during landing.

DATES: Effective on April 6, 1995.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of April 6,

1995.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from British Aerospace Holdings, Inc.,

Avro International Aerospace Division,

P.O. Box 16039, Dulles International

Airport, Washington DC 20041–6039.

This information may be examined at

the Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate,

Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington; or at the Office of

the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

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) 227–1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to all British

Aerospace Model Avro 146–RJ series

airplanes was published in the Federal

Register on November 7, 1994 (59 FR

55380). That action proposed to require

repetitive eddy current or ultra high

sensitivity penetrant inspections, and

replacement or repair of cracked parts.

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the

single comment received.

The commenter supports the

proposed rule.

As a result of recent communications

with the Air Transport Association

(ATA) of America, the FAA has learned

that, in general, some operators may

misunderstand the legal effect of AD’s

on airplanes that are identified in the

applicability provision of the AD, but

that have been altered or repaired in the

area addressed by the AD. The FAA

points out that all airplanes identified in

the applicability provision of an AD are

legally subject to the AD. If an airplane

has been altered or repaired in the

affected area in such a way as to affect

compliance with the AD, the owner or

operator is required to obtain FAA

approval for an alternative method of

compliance with the AD, in accordance

with the paragraph of each AD that

provides for such approvals. A note has

been added to this final rule to clarify

this requirement.

After careful review of the available

data, including the comments noted

above, the FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule with the change

previously described. The FAA has

determined that this change will neither

increase the economic burden on any

operator nor increase the scope of the

AD.

The FAA estimates that 3 airplanes of

U.S. registry will be affected by this AD,

that it will take approximately 2.5 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

required actions, and that the average

labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based

on these figures, the total cost impact of

the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to

be $450, or $150 per airplane.

The total cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the requirements of this AD action, and

that no operator would accomplish

those actions in the future if this AD

were not adopted.

The regulations adopted herein will

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 final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this 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)

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 final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 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. App. 1354(a), 1421

and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); and 14 CFR

11.89.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

95–04–06 British Aerospace Regional

Aircraft Limited, Avro International

Aerospace Division (Formerly British

Aerospace, plc; British Aerospace

Commercial Aircraft, Limited):

Amendment 39–9158. Docket 94–NM–

157–AD.

Applicability: All Model Avro 146–RJ

series airplanes, 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 (c) 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
12414 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 7, 1995 / Rules and Regulations

request should include an assessment of the

effect of the changed configuration on the

unsafe condition 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 prevent the failure of the main fitting,

which could lead to collapse of the nose land

gear (NLG) during landing, accomplish the

following:

(a) For airplanes on which NLG part

number 200876001 or 200876003 has been

installed:

(1) Prior to the accumulation of 4,000 total

landings or within 30 days after the effective

date of this AD, whichever occurs later,

conduct an eddy current or ultra high

sensitivity penetrant inspection of the NLG,

in accordance with British Aerospace Service

Bulletin S.B. 32–131, Revision 2, dated July

10, 1993. Repeat the inspection thereafter at

intervals not to exceed 4,000 landings.

(2) If cracking is detected during any

inspection required by this paragraph, prior

to further flight, replace the currently

installed NLG with a new or serviceable unit,

or repair the crack, in accordance with a

method approved by the Manager,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. After

replacement or repair, repeat the inspection

at intervals not to exceed 4,000 landings.

(b) For airplanes on which NLG part

number 200876002, 200876004, or

201138002 has been installed:

(1) Prior to the accumulation of 16,000

total landings or within 30 days after the

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs

later, conduct an eddy current or ultra

sensitivity penetrant inspection of the NLG,

in accordance with British Aerospace Service

Bulletin S.B. 32–131, Revision 2, dated July

10, 1993. Repeat the inspection thereafter at

intervals not to exceed 8,000 landings.

(2) If cracking is detected during any

inspection required by this paragraph, prior

to further flight, replace the currently

installed NLG with a new or serviceable unit,

or repair the crack, in accordance with a

method approved by the Manager,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. After

replacement or repair, repeat the inspection

at intervals not to exceed 8,000 landings.

(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,

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.

(d) 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.

(e) The inspections shall be done in

accordance with British Aerospace Service

Bulletin S.B. 32–131, Revision 2, dated July

10, 1993, which contains the following

effective pages:

Page No.

Revision

level

shown on

page–

Date shown on

page

1 ................... 2 ............... July 10, 1993.

2–4– ............. 1 .............. Nov. 12, 1992.

Appendix A–

1 1–4.

Original– .. Dec. 6, 1991.

The replacement and repair shall be done in

accordance with a method approved by the

Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM–113,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. This

incorporation by reference was approved by

the Director of the Federal Register in

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

part 51. Copies may be obtained from British

Aerospace Holdings, Inc., Avro International

Aerospace Division, P.O. Box 16039, Dulles

International Airport, Washington DC 20041–

6039. Copies may be inspected at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on

April 6, 1995.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February

15, 1995.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 95–4254 Filed 3–6–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 92–ANE–11; Amendment 39–

9151; AD 95–03–15]

Airworthiness Directives; Textron

Lycoming ALF502R Series Turbofan

Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to Textron Lycoming

ALF502R series turbofan engines, that

reduces the service life for the No. 2

stage turbine disk, reduces the service

lives for No. 1 and No. 3 through No. 7

stage compressor rotor disks, and

requires a scheduled removal of these

disks from service. This amendment is

prompted by reports of cracks in disks

returned from the field and in disks

tested by the manufacturer. The actions

specified by this AD are intended to

prevent disk failure resulting in a

possible uncontained engine failure.

DATES: Effective on May 8, 1995.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of May 8,

1995.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from AlliedSignal Engines, 550 Main

Street, Stratford, CT 06497. This

information may be examined at the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),

New England Region, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington,

MA; or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,

suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Eugene Triozzi, Aerospace Engineer,

Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine

and Propeller Directorate, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA

01803–5299; telephone (617) 238–7148,

fax (617) 238–7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to Textron Lycoming

ALF502R series turbofan engines was

published in the Federal Register on

March 16, 1993 (58 FR 14185). That

action proposed to reduce the service

life for the No. 2 stage turbine disk,

reduce the service lives for No. 1 and

No. 3 through No. 7 stage compressor

rotor disks, and require a scheduled

removal of these disks from service in

accordance with Textron Lycoming

Service Bulletin (SB) ALF502R 72–281,

dated February 7, 1992.

The compliance section of this final

rule has been revised to specify the

reduced service lives for each affected

disk, to clarify that the reduced service

lives are the new life limits.

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. No

comments were received on the

proposal or the FAA’s determination of

the cost to the public. The FAA has

determined that air safety and the

public interest require the adoption of

the rule with the changes described

previously.

On October 28, 1994, AlliedSignal

Inc. purchased the turbine engine

product line of Textron Lycoming, but

as of this date the anticipated name

change on the type certificate for the

ALF502R series engines has not

occurred.

There are approximately 700 Textron

Lycoming ALF502R series turbofan