AD 95-15-07

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to British Aerospace Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series airplanes, that currently requires structural inspections and repairs or replacements, as necessary. This amendment requires additional inspections of certain Structural Significant Items (SSI) and expansion of the inspection area for certain other SSI's. This amendment is prompted by the results of a structural integrity audit, which indicated that in order to maintain the structural integrity of these airplanes as they approach or exceed the manufacturer's original fatigue design life goal, certain SSI's need to be inspected. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure continuing structural integrity of these airplanes.

Final rule

95-15-07 BRITISH AEROSPACE AIRBUS LIMITED (Formerly British Aerospace Commercial Aircraft Limited, British Aerospace Aircraft Group): Amendment 39-9310. Docket 94-NM- 183-AD. Supersedes AD 87-24-06 R1, Amendment 39-6037.
Applicability: Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series airplanes, 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 use the authority provided in paragraph (f) of this AD to request approval from the FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current configuration eliminates the unsafe condition; or different actions necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To ensure continuing structural integrity of the airplane, accomplish the following:

(a) Within 6 months after November 3, 1988 (the effective date of AD 87-24-06 R1, amendment 39-6037), incorporate a revision into the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program which requires inspections, repairs, and replacements, as necessary, in accordance with Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3 of British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 3, dated March 19, 1987. The revision to the maintenance inspection program must include procedures to notify the manufacturer when Structural Significant Items (SSI) are found cracked or otherwise significantly deteriorated. [Information collection requirements contained in this regulation have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.] The inspection thresholds, repetitive intervals, and inspection techniques are listed in the alert service bulletin.

(b) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, replace the revision of the FAA- approved maintenance inspection program required by paragraph (a) of this AD, with a revision which requires inspections, repairs, and replacements, as necessary, in accordance with Table 1 (except Maintenance Planning Guide Reference Numbers 52-10-6R and 53-10-29R), Table 2, and Table 3 of British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 4, dated January 28, 1993. The revision to the maintenance inspection program must include procedures to notify the manufacturer when SSI's are found cracked or otherwise significantly deteriorated. [Information collection requirements contained in this regulation have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.] The inspection thresholds, repetitive intervals, and inspection techniques are listed in the alert service bulletin.

NOTE 2: Maintenance Planning Guide (MPG) Reference Numbers 52-10-6R and 53-10-29R, listed in Table 1 of British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 4, dated January 28, 1993, are excluded from the requirements of this AD for the following reasons:

MPG Reference Number
Reason

52-10-6R
Required by AD 87-21-06, amendment 39-5744
53-10-29R
Will be addressed in a separate rulemaking action

(c) Within one year after November 3, 1988 (the effective date of AD 87-24-06 R1, amendment 39-6037), or prior to the accumulation of the number of landings listed in the landing threshold indicated in British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 3, dated March 19, 1987, whichever occurs later, and thereafter, at intervals not to exceed the number of landings specified in the alert service bulletin, accomplish the inspections, repairs, and replacements, as necessary, of the SSI's identified in Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3 of that service bulletin.

(d) Within one year after the effective date of this AD, or prior to the accumulation of the number of landings listed in the landing threshold indicated in British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 4, dated January 28, 1993, whichever occurs later, and thereafter, at intervals not to exceed the number of landings specified in the alert service bulletin, accomplish the inspections, repairs, and replacements, as necessary, of the SSI's identified in Table 1 (except Maintenance Planning Guide Reference Numbers 52-10-6R and 53-10-29R), Table 2, and Table 3 of the alert service bulletin.

NOTE 3: For operators that have accomplished this inspection previously in accordance with the requirements of AD 87-24-06 R1, amendment 39-6037: This paragraph requires that the next scheduled inspection for that SSI be performed within the repetitive interval specified for that SSI in the alert service bulletin after the last inspection performed in accordance with the requirements of AD 87-24-06 R1 for that SSI.

(e) For any cracked structure detected during any inspection required by this AD, prior to further flight, accomplish either paragraph (e)(1), (e)(2), or (e)(3) of this AD.

(1) Replace the cracked part with a serviceable part of the same part number, in accordance with the Airplane Maintenance Manual. Or

(2) Repair the cracked structure in accordance with the Structural Repair Manual, listed in the service bulletin. Or

(3) Repair in accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate.

(f) 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, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

NOTE 4: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

(g) 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.

(h) The inspections, repairs, and replacements shall be done in accordance with British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 3, dated March 19, 1987; or British Aerospace BAC 1-11 Alert Service Bulletin 51-A-PM5830, Issue 4, dated January 28, 1993; as applicable. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from British Aerospace, Airbus Limited, P.O. Box 77, Bristol BS99 7AR, England. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(i) This amendment becomes effective on August 30, 1995.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 87-24-06 R1, amendment 39-6037 (53 FR 37993, September 29, 1988), which is applicable to British Aerospace Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series airplanes, was published in the Federal Register on April 17, 1995 (60 FR 19179). The action proposed to require a revision of the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program to include additional structural inspections of certain Structural Significant Items (SSI), expansion of the inspection area for certain other SSI's, and repair or replacement of cracked parts; and establishes a life limit for the engine mount/attachment structure on certain airplanes.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public. The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

The FAA estimates that 31 airplanes of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 158 work hours per airplane to accomplish the actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $293,880, or $9,480 per airplane, per inspection cycle.

The total cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects 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, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from 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, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, theFederal 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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

39.13 - [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing amendment 39-6037 (53 FR 37993, September 29, 1988), and by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD), amendment 39-9310, to read as follows: