[Federal Register: January 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 2)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 289-291]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja04-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2001-NM-317-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model
Avro 146-RJ Series Airplanes; and BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
Model BAe 146 Series 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 BAE Systems (Operations)
Limited Model Avro 146-RJ and Model BAe 146 series airplanes. This
proposal would require a test to determine the torque setting for the
collar cap screw of the differential box for the nose landing gear, and
follow-on actions. This action is necessary to prevent uncommanded
inputs to the nosewheel steering, which could result in reduced
controllability of the airplane during takeoff and landing. This action
is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by February 4, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-317-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. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232.
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address:
9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2001-NM-317-AD'' in the subject line and need not
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or
ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support,
13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. This information may be
examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW., Renton, Washington.
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
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 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 action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
[sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
[sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed
AD is being requested.
[sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each
request.
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 action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2001-NM-317-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-114, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 2001-NM-317-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington
98055-4056.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness
authority for the United Kingdom, notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model
Avro 146-RJ and Model BAe 146 series airplanes. The CAA advises that
there have been twenty incidents of uncommanded inputs to the nosewheel
steering. These incidents involved five different nose landing gears
and six different airplanes. Investigation determined that, on all the
gears involved in incidents, the torque setting for the collar cap
screw of the differential box was significantly lower than the original
design standard. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to
uncommanded inputs to the nosewheel steering, which could result in
reduced controllability of the airplane during takeoff and landing.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited has issued Service Bulletin
ISB.32-168, dated August 6, 2001, which describes procedures for a
check to determine the torque setting for the collar cap screw of the
differential box, and follow-on actions. The follow-on actions involve
torquing the collar cap screw to a
[[Page 290]]
specified limit and performing a functional test of the nosewheel.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The CAA
classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued British
Airworthiness Directive 004-08-2001, to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin ISB.32-168
references Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 146-32-154, dated August 3,
2001, as an additional source of service information for accomplishment
of the detailed inspection and follow-on actions.
FAA's Conclusions
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. 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.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered
in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of
the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously,
except as discussed below.
Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Messier-Dowty Service
Bulletin
Although the Messier-Dowty service bulletin specifies to report
inspection results to the manufacturer, this proposed AD does not
require that action.
Difference Between the Proposed AD and the BAE Service Bulletin
Although the BAE service bulletin specifies that operators may
contact the manufacturer for disposition if the steering mechanism will
not return to the neutral position following a functional test, this
proposed AD would require operators to repair this condition per a
method approved by either the FAA or the CAA (or its delegated agent).
In light of the type of repair that would be required to address the
unsafe condition, and consistent with existing bilateral airworthiness
agreements, we have determined that, for this proposed AD, a repair
approved by either the FAA or the CAA would be acceptable for
compliance with this proposed AD.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 55 airplanes of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 work
hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$7,150, or $130 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 cost impact figures
discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to
perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures
typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to
gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other
administrative actions.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
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), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Bae Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British Aerospace
Regional Aircraft): Docket 2001-NM-317-AD.
Applicability: Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes; and Model BAe
146 series airplanes; equipped with a nose landing gear having a
part number listed under paragraph 1.A.(1) of BAE Systems
(Operations) Limited Service Bulletin ISB.32-168, dated August 6,
2001; certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent uncommanded inputs to the nosewheel steering, which
could result in reduced controllability of the airplane during
takeoff and landing, accomplish the following:
Note 1: BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin
ISB.32-168, dated August 6, 2001, references Messier-Dowty Service
Bulletin 146-32-154, dated August 3, 2001, as an additional source
of service information for accomplishment of the detailed inspection
and follow-on actions. Although the Messier-Dowty service bulletin
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD
does not include such a requirement.
Torque Test and Follow-on Actions
(a) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD: Perform
a torque test of the collar cap screw of the differential box for
the nose landing gear, and do all applicable follow-on actions
before further flight in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin
ISB.32-168, dated August 6, 2001.
(b) If the steering mechanism will not return to the neutral
position following the functional test in paragraph 2.C. of the
Accomplishment Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
Service Bulletin ISB.32-168, dated August 6, 2001, before further
flight: Repair per a method approved by either the Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate;
or the CAA (or its delegated agent).
[[Page 291]]
Parts Installation
(c) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install
on any airplane a nose landing gear assembly unless the torque test
and follow-on actions have been accomplished in accordance with the
paragraph 2.B. of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service Bulletin
ISB.32-168, dated August 6, 2001.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(d) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, International
Branch, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, is authorized to
approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in British
airworthiness directive 004-08-2001.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 29, 2003.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-50 Filed 1-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P