[Federal Register: October 27, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 207)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 61918-61920]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc05-10]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22792; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-084-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model
Avro 146-RJ Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes.
This proposed AD would require reviewing the airplane's maintenance
records to determine if certain tasks of the Bae146/Avro RJ Maintenance
Planning Document have been accomplished. This proposed AD would also
require doing repetitive detailed inspections of the external fuselage
skin adjacent to the longeron at rib 0 from frame 29 to frame 31 and
repairing any damage if necessary. This proposed AD results from
issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign
civil airworthiness authority. We are proposing this AD to detect and
correct cracking of the fuselage skin, which could result in structural
failure of the fuselage.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 28,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 13850
Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171, for service information
identified in this proposed AD.
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
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Include the docket number ``FAA-
2005-22792; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-084-AD'' at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System
receives them.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness
authority for the United Kingdom, notified us that an unsafe condition
may exist on all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model Avro 146-RJ
airplanes. The CAA advises that, to ensure continued structural
integrity of the fuselage skin, it has reduced the initial threshold
for inspecting the fuselage skin adjacent to the longeron at rib 0
between frames 29 and 31 for cracking. Cracking of the fuselage skin,
if not detected and corrected, could result in structural failure of
the fuselage.
Relevant Service Information
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited has issued Inspection Service
Bulletin ISB.53-177, dated June 29, 2004. The ISB describes procedures
for doing repetitive detailed inspections of the external fuselage skin
adjacent to the longeron at rib 0 from frame 29 to frame
[[Page 61919]]
31; repairing any damage if found; and contacting the manufacturer if
damage is beyond the repair limits. Accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe
condition. The CAA mandated the service information and issued British
airworthiness directive G-2005-0009, dated March 9, 2005, to ensure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
The ISB refers to the following service information as additional
sources of service information:
Supplemental Structural Inspection 53-20-138 of the
Maintenance Review Board Report, Revision 10, dated May 2004, for
inspecting the external fuselage skin.
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Structural Repair Manual
(SRM) for repairing certain damage.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
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. We have examined the CAA's
findings, evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we
need to issue an AD for airplanes of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information
described previously, except as discussed under ``Difference Between
the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.''
Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin
The service bulletin specifies to contact the manufacturer for
instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but this proposed AD
would require repairing those conditions using a method that we or the
CAA (or its delegated agent) approve. 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 we or the CAA approve would be
acceptable for compliance with this proposed AD.
Clarification of Inspection Terminology
The ``detailed visual inspection'' specified in British
airworthiness directive G-2005-0009, dated March 9, 2005, and BAE
Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.53-177,
dated June 29, 2004, is referred to as a ``detailed inspection'' in
this proposed AD. We have included the definition for a detailed
inspection in a note in the proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this proposed AD.
Estimated Costs
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Number of
Average Cost per U.S.-
Action Work hours labor rate Parts airplane registered Fleet cost
per hour airplanes
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Records examination......... 1 $65 None......... $65 36 $2,340.
Repetitive detailed 4 65 None......... 260 36 $9,360, per
inspection. inspection
cycle.
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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 have 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 that the 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. See the
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British Aerospace
Regional Aircraft): Docket No. FAA-2005-22792; Directorate
Identifier 2005-NM-084-AD.
[[Page 61920]]
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November
28, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
Model Avro 146-RJ70A, 146-RJ85A, and 146-RJ100A airplanes,
certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from issuance of mandatory continuing
airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness
authority. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of
the fuselage skin, which could result in structural failure of the
fuselage.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Maintenance Records Check
(f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, review
the airplane's maintenance records to determine if Tasks 532038-DVI-
10000-1 and -2 of the Bae146/Avro RJ Maintenance Planning Document
have been accomplished before the effective date of this AD. If
review of the airplane's maintenance records cannot conclusively
determine that Tasks 532038-DVI-10000-1 and -2 have been
accomplished, do the detailed inspection specified in paragraph (g)
of this AD at the applicable compliance time specified in paragraph
(g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD. If review of the airplane's maintenance
records can conclusively determine that Tasks 532038-DVI-10000-1 and
-2 have been accomplished, do the detailed inspection specified in
paragraph (g) of this AD at the compliance time specified in
paragraph (g)(3) of this AD.
Detailed Inspection and Corrective Action
(g) At the applicable compliance time specified in paragraph
(g)(1), (g)(2), or (g)(3) of this AD, do a detailed inspection of
the external fuselage skin adjacent to the longeron at rib 0 from
frame 29 to frame 31, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service
Bulletin ISB.53-177, dated June 29, 2004. If any damage is found
during any inspection required by this AD, before further flight,
repair in accordance with the service bulletin; except where the
service bulletin specifies to repair with an approved BAE Systems
repair scheme, before further flight, repair the damage according to
a method approved by either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-
116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate; or the Civil Aviation
Authority (or its delegated agent).
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is:
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning
and elaborate procedures may be required.''
Note 2: BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service
Bulletin ISB.53-177, dated June 29, 2004, refers to Supplemental
Structural Inspection 53-20-138 of the Maintenance Review Board
Report, Revision 10, dated May 2004, as an additional source of
service information for inspecting the external fuselage skin. The
service bulletin also refers to BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
Structural Repair Manual (SRM) as an additional source of service
information for repairing certain damage.
(1) For airplanes on which Tasks 532038-DVI-10000-1 and -2 of
the Bae146/Avro RJ Maintenance Planning Document have not been
accomplished but that have accumulated 22,000 total flight cycles or
less as of the effective date of this AD: Inspect before
accumulating 22,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months after the
effective date of this AD, whichever is later. Thereafter repeat the
detailed inspection at intervals not to exceed 12,000 flight cycles.
(2) For airplanes on which Tasks 532038-DVI-10000-1 and -2 of
the Bae146/Avro RJ Maintenance Planning Document have not been
accomplished but that have accumulated more than 22,000 total flight
cycles as of the effective date of this AD: Inspect before
accumulating 24,000 total flight cycles or within 6 months after the
effective date of this AD, whichever is first. Thereafter repeat the
detailed inspection at intervals not to exceed 12,000 flight cycles.
(3) For airplanes on which Tasks 532038-DVI-10000-1 and -2 of
the Bae146/Avro RJ Maintenance Planning Document have been
accomplished before the effective date of this AD: Inspect within
12,000 flight cycles after the most recent inspection. Thereafter
repeat the detailed inspection at intervals not to exceed 12,000
flight cycles.
No Reporting Requirement
(h) Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD
does not include that requirement.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14
CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with 14 CFR
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Related Information
(j) British airworthiness directive G-2005-0009, dated March 9,
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 18, 2005.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-21436 Filed 10-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P