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

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 12, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 74464-74466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20952]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25920; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-137-AD; 
Amendment 39-14851; AD 2006-25-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, 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 Model Avro 146-RJ 
airplanes. This AD requires calculating the current life of each lift 
spoiler jack, and eventually replacing each lift spoiler jack. This AD 
results from a review of all system components as part of the life-
extension program for the affected airplanes that indicated the fatigue 
life limit of certain lift spoiler jacks cannot be extended from the 
current life limit. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
lift spoiler jack, and consequent increased drag and uncommanded roll 
inputs, which could reduce the flightcrew's ability to control the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 16, 2007.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 16, 
2007.

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: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 
227-1175; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (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 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to all BAE Systems 
(Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2006 
(71 FR 56903). That NPRM proposed to require calculating the current 
life of each lift spoiler jack, and eventually replacing each lift 
spoiler jack.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the 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

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.-
                  Action                     Work hours     Average labor              Parts                 Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                            rate per hour                                    airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Determine the life of each lift spoiler                 1             $80  None.........................             $80              53          $4,240
 jack.
Replace each lift spoiler jack (6 per                   6              80  $102,000.....................         102,480              53       5,431,440
 airplane).
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[[Page 74465]]

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):

2006-25-10 BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Formerly British 
Aerospace Regional Aircraft): Amendment 39-14851. Docket No. FAA-
2006-25920; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-137-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective January 16, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the airplanes specified in paragraphs 
(c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category, having 
lift spoiler jacks with part number (P/N) P308-45-0002, P308-45-
0102, or P308-45-0202.
    (1) All BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146-100A, -
200A, and -300A series airplanes.
    (2) All Model Avro 146-RJ70A, 146-RJ85A, and 146-RJ100A 
airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a review of all system components as 
part of the life-extension program for the affected airplanes that 
indicated the fatigue life of certain lift spoiler jacks cannot be 
extended from the current life limit. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the lift spoiler jack, and consequent increased 
drag and uncommanded roll inputs, which could reduce the 
flightcrew's ability to control the airplane.

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.

Calculating the Life Limit

    (f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD: 
Calculate the current life of each lift spoiler jack in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of BAE Systems (Operations) 
Limited Modification Service Bulletin ISB.27-178, dated January 14, 
2005.

    Note 1: BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service 
Bulletin ISB.27-178 refers to the service information listed in 
Table 1 of this AD as additional sources of service information for 
the actions in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this AD.


           Table 1.--Additional Sources of Service Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Is an additional source of
        This service document--             service information for--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited         Replacing lift spoiler jacks
 Modification Service Bulletin SB.27-     having P/N P308-45-0002 and -
 179-70675A, dated January 19, 2005.      0102.
BAE Systems (Operations) Limited         Calculating the theoretical
 Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.05-      life when complete utilization
 005, Revision 1, dated June 9, 2005.     records do not exist.
Smiths Service Newsletter P308-27-003,   Resolving anomalies with the P/
 dated March 12, 2004.                    Ns.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Replacement

    (g) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD or 
before the accumulation of 55,000 total flight cycles on the lift 
spoiler jack, whichever occurs later: Replace each P/N P308-45-0002, 
P308-45-0102, or P308-45-0202 lift spoiler jack with a serviceable 
unit, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of BAE 
Systems (Operations) Limited Modification Service Bulletin ISB.27-
178, dated January 14, 2005. Thereafter, replace each lift spoiler 
jack with a serviceable unit at intervals not to exceed 55,000 
flight cycles.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(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

    (i) European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directive 
2006-0138, dated May 23, 2006, also addresses the subject of this 
AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Modification 
Service Bulletin ISB.27-178, dated January 14, 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 this document in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

[[Page 74466]]

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 December 1, 2006.
Kevin M. Mullin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-20952 Filed 12-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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