[Federal Register: November 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 219)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 69286-69288]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no05-10]
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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.
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[[Page 69286]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22974; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-180-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model
BAe 146 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 certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 airplanes.
This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections to measure the
depth of chafing or scoring in the skin along the full length of the
fairing from forward to aft ends at the contact between the seal and
fuselage, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary.
This proposed AD results from a report of chafing in this area. We are
proposing this AD to ensure the structural integrity of the fuselage.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 15,
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: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2005-
22974; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-180-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 certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146
airplanes. The CAA advises that chafing has been reported along the
skin along the full length of the fairing from forward to aft ends at
the point of contact between the seal and fuselage. Subsequent review
of the existing inspection program for this type of damage resulted in
changes to the program. Such damage, if not corrected, could result in
reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.
Relevant Service Information
The manufacturer issued BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Service
Bulletins ISB.53-005, Revision 2, dated February 16, 2004, and ISB.53-
067, Revision 3, dated June 27, 2005. They describe procedures for
repetitive inspections, using a dial test indicator, to measure the
depth of chafing or scoring in the skin along the full length of the
fairing from forward to aft ends at the points of contact between the
seal and fuselage. The following table identifies the inspection areas
described in the service bulletins.
Inspection Areas
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Use Service Bulletin-- For-- To inspect between--
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ISB.53-067............................. Model BAe 146-100A series Frames 25 and 36.
airplanes.
Model BAe 146-200A series Frames 25 and 34.
airplanes.
[[Page 69287]]
Model BAe 146-300A series Frames 25 and 33C.
airplanes.
ISB.53-005............................. All affected airplanes.... Frames 23 and 25.
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The related investigative/corrective actions described in the
service bulletins depend on the amount of chafing damage found:
For chafing damage within certain limits, the service
bulletins describe procedures for blending the damage, and measuring
the skin thickness and depth of the blended area and the thickness of
the adjacent skin above the blended area.
For deeper chafing damage (including damage remaining
after blending), the service bulletins specify reinspecting affected
areas within 2,000 or 4,000 flight cycles, depending on the amount of
chafing found. The service bulletin allows operators to defer repair of
this amount of chafing for up to 1,000 flight cycles, if operators
reinspect affected areas within 250 flight cycles and contact the
manufacturer for a repair plan.
For the deepest chafing damage, the service bulletins
recommend contacting the manufacturer for an immediate repair plan.
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-
2005-0020, dated July 6, 2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of
these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
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 the
actions specified in the service information described previously,
except as discussed below.
Difference Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information
The service bulletins specify to contact the manufacturer for
instructions on repairing 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, for this proposed AD,
a repair we or the CAA approve would be acceptable for compliance with
this proposed AD.
Clarification of Repetitive Inspection Interval
The British airworthiness directive, at paragraph C), specifies to
repeat the inspections within 4,000-flight-cycle intervals. Under
certain conditions, the corresponding interval in Inspection Service
Bulletin ISB.53-005 is 2,000 flight cycles. We have determined that a
2,000-flight-cycle interval, under those conditions, is necessary to
ensure an acceptable level of safety. The British airworthiness
directive does not specify the conditions warranting the reduced
repetitive interval, but it does refer to the service bulletin for
instructions for corrective action. Our requirements correspond to the
service bulletin specifications.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this proposed AD.
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Number of U.S.-
Action Work hours Average labor Parts Cost per registered Fleet cost
rate per hour airplane airplanes
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Inspection (ISB.53-005).................. 2 $65 None......................... $130 35 $4,550
Inspection (ISB.53-067).................. 4 65 None......................... 260 35 9,100
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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.
[[Page 69288]]
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-2005-22974; Directorate
Identifier 2005-NM-180-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by December
15, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model
BAe 146-100A, -200A, and -300A series airplanes, certificated in any
category, on which Modification HCM00301A or B has been done, and on
which Modification HCM0169A has not been done.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of chafing along the seal/
fuselage contact area under the wing-to-fuselage fairing access
panels on both sides of the fuselage. We are issuing this AD to
ensure the structural integrity 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.
Inspection
(f) Before the airplane accumulates 1,000 total flight cycles,
or within 500 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later: Inspect, using a dial test indicator, to
measure the depth of any chafing or scoring in the skin along the
full length of the fairing from forward to aft ends at the point of
contact between the seal and fuselage on both sides of the fuselage.
Do applicable related investigative/corrective actions in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations)
Limited Service Bulletins ISB.53-005, Revision 2, dated February 16,
2004, and ISB.53-067, Revision 3, dated June 27, 2005, except as
required by paragraph (g) of this AD. Do related investigative/
corrective actions and repeat the inspection to measure the chafing/
scoring at the times specified in the service bulletins, as
applicable.
Exceptions to Service Bulletin Specifications
(g) Where the service bulletins referenced in this AD specify to
contact the manufacturer for repair instructions: Before further
flight, repair using a method approved by either the Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA;
or the Civil Aviation Authority (or its delegated agent).
(h) Although the service bulletins referenced in this AD specify
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not
include that requirement.
Credit for Earlier Accomplishment
(i) Inspections and applicable investigative and corrective
actions done before the effective date of this AD are acceptable for
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD if done
in accordance with one of the service bulletin versions identified
in Table 1 of this AD, as applicable.
Table 1.--Credit Service Bulletins
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BAE Systems (Operations) limited
service bulletin Revision level Date
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ISB.53-005............................. Original.................. August 15, 1984.
Revision 1................ April 19, 1984.
ISB.53-067............................. Original.................. December 23, 1987.
Revision 1................ February 16, 1990.
Revision 2................ February 16, 2004.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(j)(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 Sec.
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
(k) British airworthiness directive G-2005-0020, dated July 6,
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 7, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-22587 Filed 11-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U