[Federal Register: September 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 179)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 54438-54441]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se06-15]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-25688; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-44-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-
2T, and BN-2T-4R Series (All Individual Models Included in Type A17EU
Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A17E, Revision 16, Dated December 9,
2002) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, and BN-2T-4R series (all
individual models included in Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A17EU,
Revision 16, dated December 9, 2002) airplanes. This proposed AD would
require you to inspect the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and
anchor nuts for damage and wear and replace damaged and/or worn parts
with new, modified parts. If no damaged or worn parts are found during
the proposed inspection, this proposed AD would require you to replace
the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor nuts at a
specified time with new, modified parts. This proposed AD results from
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the
airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. We are proposing this
AD to detect and correct damaged and/or worn horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts, which would result in failure of the
horizontal stabilizer. This failure could result in loss of control.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 16,
2006.
[[Page 54439]]
ADDRESSES: Use of the following addresses to comment 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 20590-0001.
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.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact B-N
Group Ltd., Bembridge Airport, Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom;
telephone: +44 (0) 1983 872511; fax: +44 (0) 1983 873246.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri, 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2006-25688; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-44-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 dat 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 we
receive concerning this proposed AD.
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 all B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T,
and BN-2T-4R series (all individual models included in Type Certificate
Data Sheet (TCDS ) A17EU, Revision 16, dated December 9, 2002)
airplanes. The CAA has received reports of loose horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts.
This condition, if not corrected, could cause the horizontal
stabilizer to fail. This failure could result in loss of control.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed B-N Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited Service
Bulletin number SB 302, Issue 2, dated April 12, 2005.
The service information describes procedures for:
Inspecting the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and
anchor nuts or damage and wear; and
Replacing the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and
anchor nuts with new, modified parts.
Foreign Airworthiness Authority Information
The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
British AD No. G-2004-0014 R1, Effective Date: July 29, 2005, to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
The B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, and BN-2T-4R series
airplanes 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.
Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAA has kept us
informed of the situation described above.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we have examined the CAA's
findings, evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition
described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of
the same type design that are certificated for operation in the United
States.
This proposed AD would require you to inspect the horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor nuts for damage and wear and
replace damaged and/or worn parts with new, modified parts. If no
damaged or worn parts are found during the proposed inspection, this
proposed AD would require you to replace the horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts at a specified time with new, modified
parts.
Differences Between the Foreign Airworthiness Authority AD, the
Service Bulletin, and the Proposed AD
The MCAI British AD No. G-2004-0014 R1, Effective Date: July 29,
2005, and B-N Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited Service Bulletin number
SB 302, Issue 2, dated April 12, 2005, allows 1,000-hour repetitive
inspections of the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor
nuts with the option of installing the new, modified horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts as a terminating action for the repetitive
inspections. This AD does not allow continued repetitive inspections.
The actions required by this AD are consistent with the FAA's aging
commuter aircraft policy, which briefly states that, when a
modification exists that could eliminate or reduce then umber of
required critical inspections, the modification should be incorporated.
This policy is based on the FAA's determination that reliance on
critical repetitive inspections on airplanes utilized in commuter
service carries an unnecessary safety risk when a design change exists
that could eliminate or, in certain instances, reduce the number of
those critical inspections. In determining what inspections are
critical, the FAA considers (1) the safety consequences of the airplane
if the known problem is not detected by the inspection; (2) the
reliability of the inspection such as the probability of not detecting
the known problem; (3) whether the inspection area is difficult to
access; and (4) the possibility of damage to an adjacent structure as a
result of the problem.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 91 airplanes in the
U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:
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Total cost per
Labor cost Parts cost airplane Total cost on U.S. operators
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1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80. Not applicable..... $80 $80 x 91 = $7,280.
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[[Page 54440]]
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed replacements:
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Labor cost Parts cost Total cost per airplane Total cost on U.S. operators
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3 work-hours x $80 per hour = $240....... $1,600 $240 + $1,600 = $1,840........................ $1,840 x 91 = $167,440.
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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 II, 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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227)
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
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 FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
B-N Group Ltd: Docket No. FAA-2006-25688; Directorate Identifier
2006-CE-44-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by October 16, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, and BN-2T-
4R series (all individual models included in Type Certificate Data
Sheet (TCDS) A17EU, Revision 16, dated December 9, 2002) airplanes;
that are certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the
United Kingdom. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damaged
and/or worn horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor nuts,
which could result in failure of the horizontal stabilizer. This
failure could result in loss of control.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
already done:
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Actions Compliance Procedures
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(1) Inspect the horizontal Within the next 50 Follow B-N Britten-
stablilzer attachment bolts hours time-in- Norman Aircraft
and anchor nuts for damage service (TIS) or 2 Limited Service
and wear. months, whichever Bulletin number SB
occurs first, after 302, Issue 2, dated
the effective date April 12, 2005.
of this AD.
(2) If you find any damaged Before further As specified in B-N
or worn horizontal flight after the Britten-Norman
stabilizer attachment bolts inspection required Aircraft Limited
and/or anchor nuts during in paragraph (e)(1) Service Bulletin
the inspection required in of this AD. number SB 302,
paragraph (e)(1) of this Issue 2, dated
AD, replace with new, April 12, 2005. Do
modified horizontal any necessary
stabilizer attachment bolts. replacements
following B-N Group
Ltd. Modification
Leaflet for Mod NB-
M-1787, Issue 1,
dated August 1,
2005.
(3) If you do not find Upon accumulating Follow B-N Group
damaged or worn horizontal 1,000 hours TIS Ltd. Modification
stabilizer attachment bolts after the Leaflet for Mod NB-
and/or anchor nuts during inspection required M-1787, Issue 1,
the inspection required in in paragraph (e)(1) dated August 1,
paragraph (e)(1) of this of this AD. 2005.
AD, replace the horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts
and anchor nuts with new,
modified horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts.
[[Page 54441]]
(4) You may replace the As of the effective Follow B-N Group
horizontal stabilizer date of this AD. Ltd. Modification
attachment bolts and anchor Leaflet for Mod NB-
nuts with the new, modified M-1787, Issue 1,
horizontal stabilizer dated August 1,
attachment bolts at any 2005.
time, but no later than the
applicable times specified
in paragraphs (e)(2) and
(e)(3) of this AD. After
installing the new,
modified horizontal
stabilizer attachment
bolts, no further action is
required.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Albert J. Mercado,
Aerospace Engineer, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room
301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119;
facsimile: (816) 329-4090, has the authority to approve AMOCs for
this AD, if requested using the procedures found in CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(g) MCAI British AD No. G-2004-0014 R1, Effective Date: July 29,
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD. To get copies of the
service information referenced in this AD, contact B-N Group Ltd.,
Bembridge Airport, Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom;
telephone: +44 (0) 1983 872511; fax: +44 (0) 1983 873246. To view
the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room
PL-401, Washington, DC, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
The docket number is Docket No. FAA-2006-25688; Directorate
Identifier 2006-CE-44-AD.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 11, 2006.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-7706 Filed 9-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M