Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 1998)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 54393-54395] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-27122]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-60-AD] RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes to revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-15-13 R1, which currently requires installing lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle and latch housing mechanisms on certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes (commonly referred to as Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes). Since issuance of AD 97-15-13 R1, Raytheon has revised the applicable service information to correct the reference to the number of parts each owner/operator of the affected airplanes should order and to change an incorrect reference to a maintenance manual. The proposed AD would retain the actions of AD 97-15-13 R1, and would incorporate the revised service bulletin into the proposed AD. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to continue to prevent moisture from accumulating and freezing in the airstair door handle and latch housing, which could result in the door freezing shut and passengers not being able to evacuate the airplane in an emergency situation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-60-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 the Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201- 0085. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace Safety Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road,

[[Page 54394]]

Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946- 4124; 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. 96-CE-60-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. 96-CE-60-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

AD 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131 (62 FR 49426, September 22, 1997), currently requires installing lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle and latch housing mechanisms on certain Raytheon Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. Accomplishment of these actions are required in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: July, 1996. The actions specified by AD 97-15-13 R1 are intended to prevent moisture from accumulating and freezing in the airstair door handle and latch housing, which could result in the door freezing shut and passengers not being able to evacuate the airplane in an emergency situation. AD 97-15-13 R1 was the result of reports of the airstair door not opening because the door was frozen shut on the above-referenced airplanes.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

Since AD 97-15-13 R1 has become effective, Raytheon has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998. This service bulletin revision corrects the reference to the number of parts each owner/operator of the affected airplanes should order and changes an incorrect reference to a maintenance manual.

The FAA's Determination

After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available information related to the subject matter described above, the FAA has determined that:

--Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998, should be incorporated into AD 97-15-13 R1; and --AD action should be taken to continue to prevent moisture from accumulating and freezing in the airstair door handle and latch housing, which could result in the door freezing shut and passengers not being able to evacuate the airplane in an emergency situation.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop in other Raytheon Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would revise AD 97- 15-13 R1. The proposed AD would retain the requirements in AD 97-15-13 R1 of installing lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle and latch housing mechanisms. Accomplishment of the proposed installations would be required in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: July, 1996; or Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 408 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 14 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed installation, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $50 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $363,120, or $890 per airplane. This figure is based on the presumption that no owner/operator of the affected airplanes has accomplished the required installation. The proposed AD would require the same actions as AD 97-15-13 R1. The only difference is reference to Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998. Therefore, the proposed AD imposes no additional cost impact upon U.S. owners/ operators of the affected airplanes than is already required by AD 97- 15-13 R1.

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 14 CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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.

[[Page 54395]]

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131, and by adding a new AD to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Company (Type Certificate No. A24CE formerly held by the Beech Aircraft Corporation): Docket No. 96-CE-60-AD; Revises AD 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131.

Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Model Serial Nos. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1900.................................. UA-1 through UA-3. 1900C................................. UB-1 through UB-74, and UC-1 through UC-174. 1900C (C-12J)......................... UD-1 through UD-6. 1900D................................. UE-1 through UE-157. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (d) 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 200 hours time-in-service after September 27, 1997 (the effective date of AD 97-15-13 R1), unless already accomplished. To prevent moisture from accumulating and freezing in the airstair door handle and latch housing, which could result in the door freezing shut and passengers not being able to evacuate the airplane in an emergency situation, accomplish the following: (a) Install lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle and latch housing mechanisms in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of either: (1) Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: July, 1996; or (2) Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998. (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 (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209. (1) The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Wichita ACO. (2) Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance with AD 97-15-13 R1 are considered approved as alternative methods of compliance for this AD.

Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Wichita ACO.

(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of the documents referred to herein upon request to the 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. (e) This amendment revises AD 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 1998. Michael Gallagher, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 98-27122 Filed 10-8-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-U