Airworthiness Directives; BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 Airplanes and Model Avro 146-RJ Airplanes

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to Model BAe 146 airplanes and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures. This new AD requires incorporating new and more restrictive life limits for certain items and for certain inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures. This AD also requires revising the airworthiness limitations to include critical design configuration control limitations for the fuel system. This AD results from issuance of a later revision to the airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to ensure that fatigue cracking of certain structural elements is detected and corrected, and to prevent ignition sources in the fuel tanks; fatigue cracking of certain structural elements could adversely affect the structural integrity of these airplanes.