Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace HP137 Mk1 and Jetstream Series 200 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 231 (Thursday, November 30, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71237-71239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29938]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-73-AD; Amendment 39-12006; AD 2000-23-33]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace HP137 Mk1 and 
Jetstream Series 200 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to all British Aerospace HP137 Mk1 and Jetstream series 200 
airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect the vertical stabilizer skin 
for disbonding, corrosion, cracks, and loose rivets, and repair any 
vertical stabilizer skin where discrepancies are found. This AD is the 
result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 
by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the vertical 
stabilizer caused by disbonding, corrosion, cracks, or loose rivets in 
the stabilizer skin. Such failure could lead to aircraft 
controllability problems.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on January 12, 2001.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
January 12, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International 
Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 2RW, Scotland; telephone: (01292) 479888; 
facsimile: (01292) 479703. You may examine this information at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-73-AD, 901 Locust, 
Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on all British Aerospace HP137 Mk1 and 
Jetstream series 200 airplanes. The CAA reports instances of 
delamination and corrosion of the vertical stabilizer skin. Such damage 
resulted in cracks around the rivet holes.

What Are the Consequences If the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    If not detected and corrected, a damaged vertical stabilizer skin 
could lead to failure of the vertical stabilizer with consequent 
airplane controllability problems.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to all 
British Aerospace HP137 Mk1 and Jetstream series 200 airplanes. This 
proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on September 26, 2000 (65 FR 57748). The NPRM 
proposed to require you to inspect the vertical stabilizer skin for 
disbonding, corrosion, cracks, and loose

[[Page 71238]]

rivets, and repair any vertical stabilizer skin where discrepancies are 
found.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    Interested persons were afforded an opportunity to participate in 
the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposed 
rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. We determined that these minor 
corrections:

--Will not change the meaning of the AD; and
--wWll not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 85 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the inspection:

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane    airplane  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $300..  No parts required for    $300 per airplane......  $300  x  85 = $25,500.
                                        the inspection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the 
caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2000-23-33  British Aerospace: Amendment 39-12006; Docket No. 99-CE-
73-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
HP137 Mk1 and Jetstream series 200 airplanes, all serial numbers, 
that are certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent failure of the vertical stabilizer 
caused by disbonding, corrosion, cracks, or loose rivets in the 
stabilizer skin. Such failure could lead to aircraft controllability 
problems.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

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               Action                           Compliance time                          Procedures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the right and left hand  Within the next 60 calendar days       In accordance with the
 side of the vertical stabilizer      after January 12, 2001 (the            ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section
 skin for disbonding, corrosion,      effective date of this AD).            of British Aerospace Jetstream
 cracks, and loose rivets.                                                   Alter Service Bulletin 55-A-JA-
                                                                             990640, Issued: September 1, 1999.
(2) Repair any vertical stabilizer   Prior to further flight after the      Use the procedures in the
 skin where a discrepancy is found.   inspection.                            maintenance manual if the
                                                                             discrepancies are within the limits
                                                                             specified in the maintenance
                                                                             manual. Use an FAA-approved repair
                                                                             scheme obtained from British
                                                                             Aerospace at the address specified
                                                                             in paragraph (h) of this AD if the
                                                                             discrepancies are outside the
                                                                             limits specified in the maintenance
                                                                             manual.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1: British Aerospace Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 55-A-
JA-990640, Issued: September 1, 1999, specifies reporting the 
results of the inspections to British Aerospace Regional Aircraft. 
The FAA highly recommends that each owner/operator submit this 
information. British Aerospace and the British CAA will use this 
information to determine whether repetitive inspections are 
necessary, and, if so, at what intervals. The FAA will evaluate the 
information from the British CAA and may initiate further rulemaking 
action to propose a repetitive inspection requirement.

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:

[[Page 71239]]

    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, approves your 
alternative. Submit your request through an FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

    Note 2: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, 
or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For 
airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the 
performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/
operator must request approval for an alternative method of 
compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of this AD. The request 
should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, 
alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; 
and, if you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Doug Rudolph, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with British Aerospace Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 55-A-JA-
990640, Issued: September 1, 1999. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved this incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get copies from British Aerospace 
Regional Aircraft, Prestwick International Airport, Ayrshire, KA9 
2RW, Scotland. You can look at copies at the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, 
Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on January 12, 2001.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in British Aerospace 
Jetstream Alert Service Bulletin 55-A-JA-990640, Issued: September 
1, 1999. This service bulletin is classified as mandatory by the 
United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 14, 2000.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-29938 Filed 11-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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