Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 1900D Airplanes (formerly known as Beech Aircraft Corporation Models 1900D Airplanes)

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 1998)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 5327-5328] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-2422]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD] RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 1900D Airplanes (formerly known as Beech Aircraft Corporation Models 1900D Airplanes)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Model 1900D airplanes. The proposed action would require modifying the airplane by incorporating Raytheon Kit No. P129-5200-1, ``Ground Fine Switch Installation Kit''. The proposed AD is the result of design analysis during certification of 5.5 degree approach landings of the Model 1900D airplanes. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent very hard landings which could result in structural damage to the airplane and possible passenger injury.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201- 0085; telephone (800) 625-7043. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Randy Griffith, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, Room 100, 1801 Airport Rd., Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4145; facsimile (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments received. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The FAA has been notified that certain Raytheon Model 1900D airplanes have a design defect involving the ground fine switch, which controls the ground idle low pitch stop system in the propeller control system. The

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manufacturer discovered this problem during 5.5 degree approach landing certification tests. Raytheon has since developed a modification to the ground idle low pitch stop system that will improve the ground fine switch rigging and test capability for the propeller control system. Without this modification, a misrigged or loose ground fine switch may cause the blades of both propellers to move to the ground fine position during landing when the power levers are moved to the flight idle position. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in a hard landing with damage to the airplane and possible personal injury to passengers.

Relevant Service Information

Raytheon has issued Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2714, Issued: June, 1997 which specifies modifying the ground idle low pitch stop system and the ground fine switch by installing Raytheon Kit No. P129-5200-1 in accordance with the Kit Instructions.

FAA's Determination

After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available information related to the incidents described above including the referenced service information, the FAA has determined that AD action should be taken to prevent very hard landings, which could result in structural damage to the airplane and possible passenger injury.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop in certain Raytheon Model 1900D airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require incorporating Raytheon Kit No. P129-5200-1.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 271 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Raytheon is providing the kit and labor at no cost to the owner/operators under their Warranty Credit program for 12 months after the last day of the month that the manufacturer's service bulletin was issued. If there were no warranty on the parts and labor to accomplish the proposed action, the cost for U.S. operators is estimated to be $65,040 or $240 per airplane. This figure is based on the assumption that no affected operators have accomplished the proposed action.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein would 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 proposal would 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) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD. Applicability: Model 1900D airplanes (serial numbers UE-1 through UE-271), 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 request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required within the next 800 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished. To prevent very hard landings, which could result in structural damage to the airplane and possible passenger injury, accomplish the following: (a) Modify the ground idle low pitch stop system on the airplane by incorporating Raytheon ``Ground Fine Switch Installation Kit'' No. P129-5200-1 in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section of Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2714, Issued: June, 1997. (b) 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. (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, Room 100, 1801 Airport Rd., Wichita, Kansas 67209. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office. (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of the documents referred to herein upon request to Raytheon Aircraft Company, P. O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; or may examine these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 23, 1998. Marvin R. Nuss, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 98-2422 Filed 1-30-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-U