Document ID: FAA-2011-0911-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited Model 4101 Airplanes
Posted Date: 2011-08-31T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54139-54141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22224]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 169 / Wednesday, August 31, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 54139]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0911; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-248-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited Model 
4101 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as:

    A door failure mode has been reported by an operator.
    Investigation has shown that the passenger/crew entry door pin-
guide plates can fail prior to the expected fatigue life. A 
metallurgical examination of the failed component (lower guide 
plate) concluded that the occurred failure was due to exfoliation 
corrosion.
    The current inspection regime is not adequate to identify early 
stages of this corrosion.
    This condition, if not corrected, can lead to the sudden 
depressurisation of the aeroplane and consequently may injure the 
occupants.
* * * * *

The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the 
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 17, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-40, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact BAE 
SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited, Customer Information Department, 
Prestwick International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland, United 
Kingdom; telephone +44 1292 675207; fax +44 1292 675704; e-mail 
RApublications@baesystems.com; Internet http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/RegionalAircraft/index.htm. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-0911; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-248-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2010-0179, dated August 30, 2010 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    A door failure mode has been reported by an operator.
    Investigation has shown that the passenger/crew entry door pin-
guide plates can fail prior to the expected fatigue life. A 
metallurgical examination of the failed component (lower guide 
plate) concluded that the occurred failure was due to exfoliation 
corrosion.
    The current inspection regime is not adequate to identify early 
stages of this corrosion.
    This condition, if not corrected, can lead to the sudden 
depressurisation of the aeroplane and consequently may injure the 
occupants.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
immediate and periodic ultrasonic inspections [for a split caused by 
exfoliation corrosion] of the door pin guides and the accomplishment 
of the relevant corrective actions [replacing the affected 
guideplates] as necessary.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited has issued Service Bulletin J41-
52-064, dated September 15, 2009. The actions described in this service 
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in 
the MCAI.

[[Page 54140]]

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition 
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 2 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it would take about 2 work-hours per product to comply with the basic 
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed 
AD on U.S. operators to be $340, or $170 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 2 work-hours and require parts costing $525, for a cost of 
$1,050 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need these actions.

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 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 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. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited: Docket No. FAA-2011-0911; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-248-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by October 17, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited 
Model 4101 airplanes; certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52: Doors.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    A door failure mode has been reported by an operator.
    Investigation has shown that the passenger/crew entry door pin-
guide plates can fail prior to the expected fatigue life. A 
metallurgical examination of the failed component (lower guide 
plate) concluded that the occurred failure was due to exfoliation 
corrosion.
    The current inspection regime is not adequate to identify early 
stages of this corrosion.
    This condition, if not corrected, can lead to the sudden 
depressurisation of the aeroplane and consequently may injure the 
occupants.
* * * * *

Compliance

    (f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Actions

    (g) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, do an 
ultrasonic inspection of the passenger/crew door upper and lower 
guide plates for a split caused by exfoliation corrosion, in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of BAE SYSTEMS 
(Operations) Limited Service Bulletin J41-52-064, dated September 
15, 2009. Repeat the ultrasonic inspection, thereafter, at intervals 
not to exceed 48 Months.
    (h) If a split caused by exfoliation corrosion of an area of 
78mm[sup2] (0.12 in.[sup2]) or greater is found during any 
ultrasonic inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD: Before 
further flight, replace any affected guide plates with a serviceable 
guide plate, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin J41-52-064, dated 
September 15, 2009.

FAA AD Differences

    Note 1: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (i) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your

[[Page 54141]]

request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards 
District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to 
the International Branch, send it to ATTN: Todd Thompson, Aerospace 
Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-
3356; telephone (425) 227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149. Information may 
be e-mailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using any 
approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or 
lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight 
standards district office/certificate holding district office. The 
AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

Related Information

    (j) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2010-0179, dated August 30, 2010; and BAE SYSTEMS 
(Operations) Limited Service Bulletin J41-52-064, dated September 
15, 2009; for related information.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 23, 2011.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-22224 Filed 8-30-11; 8:45 am]
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