Airworthiness directives: Dornier,
[Federal Register: March 12, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 48)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11762-11764]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12mr03-16]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2001-NM-319-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dornier Model 328-300 Series Airplanes Equipped with Certain Pratt & Whitney PW306B Engine Nacelles
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Dornier Model 328-300 series airplanes. This proposal would require performing a check of the airplane maintenance records; inspecting the engine nacelle anti-ice tube for leaks, if necessary; and modifying, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent an uncommanded engine shutdown in a critical phase of flight due to leakage of air from a loose clamp on the anti- ice tubing joint. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
DATES: Comments must be received by April 11, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-319-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 9-anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must
contain ``Docket No. 2001-NM-319-AD'' in the subject line and need not be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be obtained from Fairchild Dornier, Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, P.O. Box 1103, D-82230 Wessling, Germany. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.
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:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in light of the comments received.
Submit comments using the following format:
[sbull] Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a request to change the compliance time and a request to change the service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
[sbull] For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed AD is being requested.
[sbull] Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each request.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
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Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket Number 2001-NM-319-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-NM-319-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056.
Discussion
The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Dornier Model 328-300 series airplanes equipped with certain Pratt & Whitney PW306B engine nacelles. The LBA advises that an engine flamed out and an in-flight engine shutdown occurred during an airplane rollback event. The event was caused by a P3 air leak from a loose clamp on the anti-ice tubing joint; the leak allowed air to blow directly on the P3 transducer. This leak resulted in a corrupt P3 signal, which, in turn, caused the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) to ramp down fuel flow, resulting in engine shutdown. Such leakage of air, if not corrected, could result in an uncommanded engine shutdown in a critical phase of flight.
Explanation of Relevant Service Information
Dornier has issued Service Bulletin SB-328J-71-107, Revision 1, dated July 4, 2001. The service bulletin describes procedures for performing a visual inspection of the anti-ice tubing in the engine nacelle at the joint between the anti-ice tubing adapter and duct, and also between the joint of the anti-ice shutoff valve and the same duct, to detect any air leakage at the joints. For airplanes on which leakage is found, the service bulletin describes procedures for modifying the clamps at the joints. The modification involves inspecting the flange faces for distortion and flatness; ensuring that the clamp bolt faces away from the P3 transducer; ensuring that the opening of the clamp faces away from the fan casing; and replacing certain ducts, if necessary. The service bulletin refers to Dornier Service Information SI-328J-75-033, dated July 31, 2001, as an additional source of service information for accomplishing the modification on certain airplanes.
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued German airworthiness directive 2001-296, dated October 18, 2001, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Germany.
FAA's Conclusions
This airplane model is manufactured in Germany and is type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LBA has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the LBA, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would require performing a check of the airplane maintenance records, and accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously if necessary.
Clarification of Inspection Type
Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment Instructions of Dornier Service Bulletin SB-328J-71-107, Revision 1, dated July 4, 2001, calls for a visual inspection, the proposed AD would require a detailed inspection per Note 2 of the proposal.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 48 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work hour per airplane to accomplish the proposed records check, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $2,880, or $60 per airplane.
The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time necessitated by other administrative actions.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would 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 proposal would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, 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 draft regulatory 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, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
-
The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
-
Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH: Docket 2001-NM-319-AD.
Applicability: Model 328-300 series airplanes equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW306B engine nacelles, from engine nacelle serial number DR0001 up to and including
[[Page 11764]]
serial number DR0051, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, 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 (d) 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 the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.
To prevent an uncommanded engine shutdown in a critical phase of flight due to leakage of air from a loose clamp on the anti-ice tubing joint, accomplish the following:
Records Check
(a) Within 45 days after the effective date of this AD, perform a check of the airplane maintenance records to determine if the airplane has had an engine change or if maintenance work has been carried out on the nacelle anti-ice system prior to the effective date of this AD. If records verify that the airplane has not had an engine change, or that no maintenance work has been carried out on the nacelle anti-ice system, no further action is required by this AD.
Inspection
(b) For airplanes on which an engine change has been accomplished or on which maintenance work has been carried out on the nacelle anti-ice system prior to the effective date of this AD: Within 45 days after the effective date of this AD, perform a detailed inspection of the anti-ice tubing in the engine nacelle at the joint between the anti-ice tubing adapter and duct, and also between the joint of the anti-ice shutoff valve and the same duct, to detect any air leakage at the joints, as specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Dornier Service Bulletin SB-328J-71- 107, Revision 1, dated July 4, 2001. If no leakage is detected, no further action is required by this AD.
Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is defined as: ``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.''
Modification
(c) If air leakage is found during the detailed inspection required by paragraph (b) of this AD, before further flight, modify the joint by doing the applicable actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of Dornier Service Bulletin SB-328J-71- 107, Revision 1, dated July 4, 2001.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.
1Special Flight Permits
(e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in German airworthiness directive 2001-296, dated October 18, 2001.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 5, 2003. Ali Bahrami, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-5858 Filed 3-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
