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

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 78 (Monday, April 25, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21137-21139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8096]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20078; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-210-AD; 
Amendment 39-14068; AD 2005-08-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model 
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 Avro 146-RJ series airplanes. 
This AD requires an inspection of the Thales Avionics distance bearing 
indicator (DBI) to determine part number (P/N)

[[Page 21138]]

and serial number (S/N), and replacement of the affected DBI with a new 
or modified DBI. This AD is prompted by a report of defective 
electrical insulators in DBIs. We are issuing this AD to prevent a 
short circuit in the DBI due to defective electrical insulation, which 
could potentially cause a loss of primary navigation instruments (such 
as airspeed indicator, altimeter, and global positioning system (GPS) 
information).

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 31, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of May 
31, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American Support, 13850 Mclearen 
Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171.

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-2005-20078; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-210-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2125; 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 Avro 146-RJ 
series airplanes. That action, published in the Federal Register on 
January 19, 2005 (70 FR 2987), proposed to require an inspection of the 
Thales Avionics distance bearing indicator (DBI) to determine part 
number (P/N) and serial number (S/N), and replacement of the affected 
DBI with a new or modified DBI.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been submitted on the proposed 
AD or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Clarification of Changes to Proposed AD

    In addition to other minor editorial changes to the AD, additional 
clarifications have been made.
    The requirements of new paragraph (g) (``Parts Installation'') in 
this final rule apply to all affected airplanes. Therefore, we revised 
paragraph (f)(1) of the AD to properly limit those provisions (no 
further action) to paragraph (f).
    We revised paragraphs (f)(2) and (g) to clarify that the DBI 
replacement is conditional on a finding of certain part/serial numbers. 
We combined paragraph (f)(2) and (g), and redesignated the subsequent 
paragraphs accordingly.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data 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

    This AD will affect about 54 airplanes of U.S. registry. The 
required actions will take about 1 work hour per airplane, at an 
average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts will cost about 
$728 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD 
for U.S. operators is $42,822, or $793 per airplane.

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. 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):

2005-08-16 BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British 
Aerospace Regional Aircraft): Amendment 39-14068. Docket No. FAA-
2005-20078; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-210-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective May 31, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 
Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of defective electrical 
insulators in distance bearing indicators (DBI). We are issuing this 
AD to prevent a short circuit in the DBI due to defective electrical 
insulation, which could potentially cause a loss of primary

[[Page 21139]]

navigation instruments (such as airspeed indicator, altimeter, and 
global positioning system (GPS) information).

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.

Part Number Inspection

    (f) Within four months after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect the Thales Avionics DBI to determine whether a part number 
(P/N) and serial number (S/N) listed in the Effectivity of BAE 
Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service Bulletin SB.34-
371-70671A, dated September 19, 2003, is installed. Instead of an 
inspection of the DBI, a review of airplane maintenance records is 
acceptable if the P/N and the S/N of the DBI can be positively 
determined from that review.
    (1) If the DBI P/N and S/N do not match those listed in the 
service bulletin, no further action is required by this paragraph.
    (2) If the DBI P/N and S/N do match those listed in the service 
bulletin, within four months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the DBI in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of the service bulletin. The replacement part must be either a new 
DBI having P/N 63543-280-1 and a S/N not listed in the service 
bulletin, or a new DBI having P/N 63543-280-2.

Parts Installation

    (g) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
DBI with a P/N and S/N listed in the Effectivity of BAE Systems 
(Operations) Limited Modification Service Bulletin SB.34-371-70671A, 
dated September 19, 2003, on any airplane unless the DBI has been 
modified in accordance with paragraph (f)(2) of this AD.

No Reporting

    (h) Although the service bulletin references a reporting 
requirement in paragraph 2.C.2, ``Documentation,'' that reporting is 
not required by this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) 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.

Related Information

    (j) British airworthiness directive G-2004-0006, dated March 2, 
2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Modification 
Service Bulletin SB.34-371-70671A, dated September 19, 2003, 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. To get copies of the service 
information, contact British Aerospace Regional Aircraft American 
Support, 13850 Mclearen Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171. To view the 
AD docket, contact the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif 
Building, Washington, DC. To review copies of the service 
information, contact 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 April 14, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-8096 Filed 4-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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