AD 2017-15-06 Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Airplanes

Models named: HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, 3101, Jetstream Model 3201. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200 and 3101, and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

Unless already done, do the following actions listed in paragraphs (f)(1) through (3) of this AD: (1) Within the compliance times listed in paragraph (f)(1)(i) or (ii) of this AD, as applicable, inspect the MLG for cracks following Appendix 1 of British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200 Service Bulletin 32-JA960142, Revision No. 4, October 21, 2016; or Heroux Devtek Service Bulletin 32-56, Revision 4, dated August 16, 2016, as specified in British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200 Service Bulletin 32-JA960142, Revision No. 4, October 21, 2016. (i) For airplanes that have been inspected following AD 97-10-05: Do the initial inspection within 1,200 flight cycles (FC) after the last inspection required by AD 97-10-05 and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,200 FC. (ii) For airplanes that have not been inspected following AD 97-10-05: Do the initial inspection within 8,000 FC after installation of the MLG or within the next 100 FC after August 31, 2017 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,200 FC. (2) If any cracks are found during any of the inspections required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, replace the MLG with an airworthy part following British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200 Service Bulletin 32-JA960142, Revision No. 4, October 21, 2016. (3) The compliance times in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) and (ii) of this AD are presented in FC (landings). If the total FC have not been kept, multiply the total number of airplane hours time-in-service (TIS) by 0.75 to calculate the FC. For the purposes of this AD: (i) 100 hours TIS × .75 = 75 FC; and (ii) 1,000 hours TIS × .75 = 750 FC.

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: 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 cracks in the main landing gear (MLG) fitting at the pintle to cylinder interface, which could cause failure of the MLG during takeoff and landing. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the main landing gear (MLG), which could lead to structural failure of the MLG and could result in loss of control during takeoffs and landings.

This AD replaces AD 97-10-05; Amendment 39-10017 (62 FR 28318; May 23, 1997) (“AD 97-10-05”).