Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10034-10035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3786]


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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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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