[Federal Register: September 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 188)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56859-56861]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28se06-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22974; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-180-AD;
Amendment 39-14774; AD 2006-20-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model
BAe 146 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
certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 airplanes. This
AD requires repetitive inspections to measure the depth of chafing or
scoring in the skin along the full length of the wing-to-fuselage
fairing from forward to aft ends at the contact between the seal and
fuselage, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary.
This AD results from a report of chafing in this area. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct such chafing or scoring, which could
result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.
DATES: This AD becomes effective November 2, 2006.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of November 2,
2006.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, Washington, DC.
Contact British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 13850
Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171, for service information
identified in this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 street address stated in the
ADDRESSES section.
Discussion
The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 airplanes. That
supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 5,
2006 (71 FR 17037). That supplemental NPRM proposed to require
repetitive inspections to measure the depth of chafing or scoring in
the skin along the full length of the wing-to-fuselage fairing from
forward to aft ends at the contact between the seal and fuselage, and
related investigative/corrective actions if necessary.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment we received on
the supplemental NPRM.
Request for Revised Compliance Time
BAE notes that corresponding British airworthiness directive G-
2005-0020, dated July 6, 2005, allows an additional 4,000 flight cycles
before previously inspected airplanes must be reinspected. But
paragraph (f) of the supplemental NPRM would require all airplanes to
be inspected before the airplane accumulates 1,000 total flight cycles,
or within a grace period of 500 flight cycles, without any provision
for an extended compliance time for airplanes previously inspected in
accordance with both BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection
Service Bulletins ISB.53-005, Revision 2, dated February 16, 2005, and
ISB.53-067, Revision 3, dated June 27, 2005. BAE adds that there are no
airplanes in service with fewer than 1,000 total flight cycles.
We infer that the commenter requests that we revise the
supplemental NPRM. We agree. We have revised paragraph (f) to allow the
deferral of certain corrective actions under specific conditions
outlined in the service bulletins, as provided in new paragraph (h) in
this AD.
Additional Changes to Supplemental NPRM
The supplemental NPRM specified that all actions including
corrective actions would be required at the times specified in BAE
Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service Bulletins ISB.53-005
and ISB.53-067. Our intent was to match the specifications of the
service bulletins, which allow deferred corrective action only under
certain conditions. To clarify the required compliance times of this
AD, we have added new paragraph (h) to explicitly require corrective
actions before further flight, except when repair may be deferred under
the specific conditions noted in the service bulletins.
Paragraph (g) of the supplemental NPRM specified making repairs
using a method approved by either the FAA or the Civil Aviation
Authority, which is the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has assumed responsibility
for the airplane model subject to this AD. Therefore, we have revised
paragraph (g) of this AD to specify making repairs using a method
approved by the FAA, the CAA (or its delegated agent), or the EASA (or
its delegated agent).
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators
to comply with this AD.
[[Page 56860]]
Estimated Costs, Per Inspection Cycle
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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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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 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 this 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, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
2006-20-05 BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British
Aerospace Regional Aircraft): Amendment 39-14774. Docket No. FAA-
2005-22974; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-180-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective November 2, 2006.
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 HCM01698A 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
detect and correct such chafing or scoring in this area, which could
result in reduced 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) Inspect, using a dial test indicator, to measure the depth
of any chafing or scoring in the skin along the full length of the
wing-to-fuselage fairing from forward to aft ends at the point of
contact between the seal and fuselage on both sides of the fuselage,
and do applicable related investigative/corrective actions in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of BAE Systems
(Operations) Limited Inspection 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 the inspection before the airplane accumulates 1,000 total flight
cycles, or within 500 flight cycles after the effective date of this
AD, whichever occurs later. Do related investigative/corrective
actions and repeat the inspection to measure the chafing/scoring at
the times specified in the service bulletins, as applicable, except
as required in paragraph (h) of this AD.
Exceptions to and Clarification of Service Bulletin Specifications
(g) Where BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service
Bulletins ISB.53-005, Revision 2, dated February 16, 2004; and
ISB.53-067, Revision 3, dated June 27, 2005; specify to contact the
manufacturer for repair instructions: Before further flight, repair
using a method approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-
116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; the Civil Aviation
Authority (or its delegated agent); or the EASA (or its delegated
agent).
(h) This AD requires corrective actions before further flight,
except where corrective actions may be deferred under specific
conditions in BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service
Bulletins ISB.53-005, Revision 2, dated February 16, 2004; and
ISB.53-067, Revision 3, dated June 27, 2005.
(i) Although BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service
Bulletins ISB.53-005, Revision 2, dated February 16, 2004; and
ISB.53-067, Revision 3, dated June 27, 2005; specify to submit
certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include
that requirement.
Credit for Earlier Accomplishment
(j) 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. The repetitive inspection may
be done within 4,000 flight cycles after the most recent inspections
in accordance with both BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection
Service Bulletins ISB.53-005 and ISB-53-067 (any revision level).
[[Page 56861]]
Table 1.--Credit Service Bulletins
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BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
Inspection Service Bulletin Revision level Date
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ISB.53-005............................... Revision 1.................. April 19, 1985.
ISB.53-067............................... Revision 1.................. February 16, 1990.
Revision 2.................. February 16, 2004.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(k)(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
(l) British airworthiness directive G-2005-0020, dated July 6,
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(m) You must use BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection
Service Bulletin ISB.53-005, Revision 2, dated February 16, 2004;
and BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Inspection Service Bulletin
ISB.53-067, Revision 3, dated June 27, 2005; to perform the actions
that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of these documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and
1 CFR part 51. Contact British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American
Support, 13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171, for a copy of
this service information. You may review copies at the Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 15, 2006.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8231 Filed 9-27-06; 8:45 am]
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