AD NUMBER: 2017-19-22

PRODUCT: British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Jetstream Series 3101 and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes.

ACTION: Final Rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-07-09 for the aircraft listed above.

This AD results from 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 both the need for newly added inspections for corrosion, which includes the door hinges/supporting structure and attachment bolts for the main spar joint and engine support, and inadequate existing instructions for inspection for corrosion for several areas including the rudder hinge location on the vertical stabilizer.

COST: The FAA estimates this AD will affect 42 products of U.S. registry. They also estimate that it would take about 100 work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD.

The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $357,000, or $8,500 per product.

The scope of damage found in the required inspection could vary significantly from airplane to airplane. Therefore, there is no way of determining how much damage may be found on each airplane or the cost to repair damaged parts on each airplane or the number of airplanes that may require repair.

DATES: This AD is effective October 30, 2017.

FMI: AD