[Federal Register: March 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 40)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10034-10035]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02mr05-5]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-18678; Directorate Identifier 2001-NM-312-AD;
Amendment 39-13991; AD 2005-05-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model
BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series
airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of the
center and rear fuselage skin including all the lap joints at stringers
2, 10, 19, and 30, and repair if necessary. This AD is prompted by
evidence of cracking due to fatigue along the edges of certain chemi-
etched pockets in the rear fuselage upper skin. We are issuing this AD
to prevent a possible sudden loss of cabin pressure and consequent
injury to passengers and flightcrew.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 6, 2005.
The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April
6, 2005.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 13850 Mclearen
Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. You can examine this information at the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on
the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go
to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any
final disposition. You can 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 U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401,
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-18678; the directorate
identifier for this docket is 2001-NM-312-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: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39
with an AD for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and
Avro 146-RJ series airplanes. The proposed AD was published as a
supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal
Register on December 16, 2004 (69 FR 75275). The supplemental NPRM
proposed to require repetitive detailed inspections of the center and
rear fuselage skin including all the lap joints at stringers 2, 10, 19,
and 30, and repair if necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. No comments have been submitted on the
supplemental NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
This AD will affect about 55 airplanes of U.S. registry. The
required actions will take about 4 work hours per airplane, at an
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the
estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $14,300, or $260 per
airplane, per inspection cycle.
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 AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
(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) 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
[[Page 10035]]
this AD. 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, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2005-05-03 BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British
Aerospace Regional Aircraft): Amendment 39-13991. Docket No. FAA-
2004-18678; Directorate Identifier 2001-NM-312-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective April 6, 2005.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes, certificated in any
category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD was prompted by evidence of cracking due to fatigue
along the edges of certain chemi-etched pockets in the rear fuselage
upper skin. We are issuing this AD to prevent a possible sudden loss
of cabin pressure and consequent injury to passengers and
flightcrew.
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 and Repair
(f) Within the applicable compliance times specified in
paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, perform a detailed inspection
to detect cracking of the center and rear fuselage skin, including
all the lap joints at stringers 2, 10, 19, and 30, in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations)
Limited Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.53-164, dated July 10, 2001.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is:
``An intensive visual examination of a specific structural area,
system, installation, or assembly to detect damage, failure, or
irregularity. Available lighting is normally supplemented with a
direct source of good lighting at intensity deemed appropriate by
the inspector. Inspection aids such as mirror, magnifying lenses,
etc., may be used. Surface cleaning and elaborate access procedures
may be required.''
(1) For Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes: Inspect before the
accumulation of 10,000 total landings, or within 2,000 landings
after the effective date of this AD, whichever is later.
(i) For areas where no crack is found, repeat the inspection at
intervals not to exceed 4,000 landings.
(ii) For areas where any crack is found, before further flight,
perform repairs in accordance with a method approved by the Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA;
or the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) (or its delegated agent). No
further inspection of any repaired area is required by this AD.
(2) For Model BAe 146 series airplanes: Inspect before the
accumulation of 16,000 total landings, or within 4,000 landings
after the effective date of this AD, whichever is later.
(i) For areas where no crack is found, repeat the inspection at
intervals not to exceed 8,000 landings.
(ii) For areas where any crack is found, before further flight,
perform repairs in accordance with a method approved by the Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116; or the CAA (or its delegated agent).
No further inspection of any repaired area is required by this AD.
No Reporting Requirement
(g) Although the referenced service bulletin specifies to submit
Appendix 1 of the service bulletin with certain information to the
manufacturer, this AD does not require that action.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h) The Manager, 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection
Service Bulletin ISB.53-164, dated July 10, 2001, to perform the
actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies
otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approves the
incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. For copies of the service
information, contact British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American
Support, 13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. For
information on the availability of this material at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or
go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
You may view the AD docket at the
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 17, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3786 Filed 3-1-05; 8:45 am]
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