AD 2015-16-06 Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Airplanes

Models named: 3201. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, that are: (1) Certificated in any category; and (2) Modified in service following BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd Service Bulletin (SB) 05- JM8229.

Unless already done, do the following actions as specified in paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(3) of this AD: (1) Before accumulating a total of 53,950 flight cycles (FC) on the airplane or within the next 50 FC after September 21, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 14,300 FC, accomplish an eddy current (EC) and an x-ray inspection of the wing main spar around rib 36 following the instructions of British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200 Service Bulletin 57-JA140140, Original Issue, dated June 26, 2014. For the purposes of this AD, owner/operators who do not track total FC must multiply the total number of airplane hours time-in-service (TIS) by 0.75 to calculate the cycles. (2) If any crack or corrosion is found during any inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, contact BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd for FAA-approved repair instructions approved specifically for this AD and accomplish those instructions. You can find contact information for BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd in paragraph (i)(3) of this AD. Use the Operator Report Form and follow the instructions in British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200 Service Bulletin 57-JA140140, Original Issue, dated: June 26, 2014. (3) Repair of an airplane as required in paragraph (f)(2) of this AD does not terminate the repetitive inspections required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD for that airplane, unless the approved repair instructions state otherwise.

The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov . Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service. (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as the in-service special detailed inspection technique required for the Jetstream 3200's life extension program was delayed; consequently, the in-service special detailed inspection (SDI) technique is not formally part of the life extension program and may therefore not be accomplished as intended. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the wing main spar, which could result in structural failure of the wing with consequent loss of control.

None.