[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18376-18377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8831]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 91-CE-85-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream Aircraft Limited (Formerly 
British Aerospace, Regional Airlines Limited) Jetstream Models 3101 and 
3201 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Jetstream Aircraft Limited (JAL) 
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The proposed action would require 
modifying the central annunciator panel test button circuit. A report 
of diode failure in this circuit and subsequent inadvertent engine 
shutdown on one of the affected airplanes prompted the proposed action. 
The actions specified in the proposed AD are intended to prevent 
failure of a diode in the central annunciator panel test button 
circuit, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
inadvertent engine shutdown while in flight if the central annunciator 
panel test button is pressed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 9, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 91-CE-85-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at 
this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
holidays excepted.
    Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained 
from Jetstream Aircraft Limited, Manager Product Support, Prestwick 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW Scotland; telephone (44-292) 79888; 
facsimile (44-292) 79703; or Jetstream Aircraft Inc., Librarian, P.O. 
Box 16029, Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC, 20041-6029; 
telephone (703) 406-1161; facsimile (703) 406-1469. This information 
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, 
Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification Service, FAA, 1201 
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426-
6932; facsimile (816) 426-2169.

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 should 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 that summarizes 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 No. 91-CE-85-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, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 91-CE-85-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, has notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on JAL Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. 
The CAA reports that a diode failed in the central annunciator panel 
test button circuit on one of the affected airplanes. This led to 
inadvertent engine failure of one of the engines when the airplane 
operator pressed the central annunciator panel test button.
    JAL has issued Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 80-A-JA 
911045, Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991, which specifies procedures 
for modifying the central annunciator panel test button circuit on 
Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes. The modification (Amendment 
JA 911045) consists of removing diodes from the engine stop circuit and 
configuring a minor wire change.
    In order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes 
in the United Kingdom, the CAA classified Jetstream ASB 80-A-JA 911045, 
Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991, as mandatory. The CAA classifying a 
service document as mandatory is the same for airplanes registered in 
the United Kingdom as the FAA issuing an AD for airplanes registered in 
the United States.
    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 or develop in other JAL Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes 
of the same type design, the proposed AD would require modifying the 
central annunciator panel test button circuit by removing diodes from 
the engine stop circuit and configuring a minor wiring change. The 
proposed actions would be accomplished in accordance with Jetstream ASB 
80-A-JA 911045, Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991.
    The FAA estimates that 260 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take 
[[Page 18377]] approximately 2 workhours per airplane to accomplish the 
proposed modification, and that the average labor rate is approximately 
$60 an hour. JAL will provide parts at no cost to the owner/operator. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $31,200. This figure is based on the 
assumption that no affected owner/operator has incorporated the 
proposed modification.
    JAL has informed the FAA that 2 modification kits have been 
distributed to affected airplane owners/operators. Assuming that each 
of these modification kits has been incorporated on an affected 
airplane, then the proposed cost impact upon U.S. operators would be 
reduced $240 (2 workhours  x  $60 per hour  x  2 airplanes) from 
$31,200 to $30,960. The FAA also believes that numerous owners/
operators of the affected airplanes have accomplished the modification 
using 22AWA cable and terminal tags instead of obtaining parts from the 
manufacturer, as is provided for in the proposed AD. This would further 
reduce the cost impact of the proposed AD upon U.S. operators of the 
affected airplanes. The FAA has no way of determining how many 
airplanes have accomplished the proposed modification utilizing the 
22AWA cable and terminal tags alternative.
    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 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) 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 has been placed 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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:

Jetstream Aircraft Limited: Docket No. 91-CE-85-AD.

    Applicability: Jetstream Model 3101 airplanes, all serial 
numbers, and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes, serial numbers 790 
through 950, 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 (d) 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 addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any aircraft from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required within the next 200 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent failure of a diode in the central annunciator panel 
test button circuit, which, if not detected and corrected, could 
result in inadvertent engine shutdown while in flight if the central 
annunciator panel test button is pressed, accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify the central annunciator panel test button circuit 
(Amendment JA 911045) by removing diodes from the engine stop 
circuit and configuring a minor wiring change in accordance with 
PART 2 of the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Jetstream Alert 
Service Bulletin 80-A-JA 911045, Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991.
    (b) As noted in Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 80-A-JA 911045, 
Revision 1, dated November 1, 1991, terminals may be linked using 22 
AWA cable and terminal tags, provided the following is accomplished:
    (1) For airplanes without roof panel plug breaks, identify the 
cables as WQ69 and WQ70.
    (2) For airplanes with roof panel plug breaks, identify the 
cables as WQ71 and WQ72.
    (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.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), Europe, Africa, Middle East office, FAA, c/o American 
Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. The request should be forwarded 
through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add 
comments and then send it to the Manager, Brussels ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Brussels ACO.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the documents referred to herein upon request to Jetstream Aircraft 
Limited, Manager Product Support, Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 
2RW Scotland; or Jetstream Aircraft Inc., Librarian, P.O. Box 16029, 
Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC, 20041-6029; or may 
examine these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 27, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-8831 Filed 4-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U