Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models C90A, B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 79 (Monday, April 26, 1999)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 20153-20155] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-10171]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-104-AD; Amendment 39-11143; AD 99-09-10] RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models C90A, B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models C90A, B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT airplanes. This AD requires installing a filter element in the landing gear hand pump suction line. This AD is the result of reports of the potential for debris to enter the landing gear hand pump and interfere with its operation, which could prevent the nose landing gear from being extended manually. Two occurrences were reported of nose landing gear collapse after manual extension. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the inability to extend the landing gear with the hand pump caused by debris entering the landing gear hand pump, which could result in passenger injury or damage to the airplane if manual operation of the landing gear failed.

DATES: Effective June 7, 1999.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of June 7, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained from the Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201- 0085. This information may also be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-104-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul DeVore, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid- Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4142; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Raytheon Models C90A, B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on January 5, 1999 (64 FR 443). The NPRM proposed to require installing a filter element in the landing gear hand pump suction line. Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the NPRM would be required in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-3073, Revision 1, Issued: March, 1998, Revised: July 1998. The NPRM was the result of reports of the potential for debris to enter the landing gear hand pump and interfere with its operation, which could prevent the nose landing gear from being extended manually. Two occurrences were reported of nose landing gear collapse after manual extension. Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination

After careful review of all available information related to the subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 991 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 5 workhours per airplane to accomplish this action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Raytheon will give warranty credit for parts until July 31, 1999. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $297,300, or $300 per airplane.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein will 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 final rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this action is contained 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, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:

99-09-10 Raytheon Aircraft Company (All type certificates of the affected airplanes previously held by the Beech Aircraft Corporation): Amendment 39-11143; Docket No. 98-CE-104-AD.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Models Serial numbers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ C90A......................... LJ-1063 through LJ-1482 B200......................... BB-1158, BB-1167, BB-1193 through BB- 1532, and all serial numbers with Beech Kit 101-8018 incorporated B200C........................ BL-113 through BL-117, BL-124 through BL- 140, and all serial numbers with Beech Kit 101-8018 incorporated B200T........................ BT-31 through BT-38, and all serial numbers with Beech Kit 101-8018 incorporated B200CT....................... BN-2, BN-3, and BN-4 that have Beech Kit 101-8018 incorporated B200CT....................... FG-1 and FG-2 300.......................... FA-1 through FA-230 300.......................... FF-1 through FF-19 B300......................... FL-1 through FL-138 B300C........................ FM-1 through FM-9 B300C........................ FN-1 A200C T (C-12D).............. BP-46 through BP-51 A200CT (C-12F)............... BP-52 through BP-63 A200CT (RC-12H).............. GR-14 through GR-19 A200CT (RC-12K).............. FE-1 through FE-9 A200CT (RC-12N).............. FE-10 through FE-24 A200CT (RC-12P).............. FE-25 through FE-31, FE-33, and FE-35 A200CT (RC-12Q).............. FE-32, FE-34, and FE-36 B200C (C-12F)................ BL-73 through BL-112 and BL-118 through BL-123 B200C (C-12F)................ BP-64 through BP-71 B200C (UC-12F)............... BU-1 through BU-10 B200CT (RC-12F).............. BU-11 and BU-12 B200C (UC-12M)............... BV-1 through BV-10 B200C (RC-12M)............... BV-11 and BV-12 B200C (C-12R)................ BW-1 through BW-19 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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 200 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

Note 2: The service information referenced in this AD specifies 800-hour repetitive inspections. This AD does not require these inspections.

To prevent the inability to extend the landing gear with the hand pump caused by debris entering the landing gear hand pump, which could result in passenger injury or damage to the airplane if manual operation of the landing gear failed, accomplish the following: (a) Install a filter element in the landing gear hand pump suction line, in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-3073, Revision 1, Issued: March, 1998, Revised: July 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. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Wichita ACO.

Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Wichita ACO.

(d) The installation required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-3073, Revision 1, dated July 1998. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC. (e) This amendment becomes effective on June 7, 1999.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 15, 1999. Michael Gallagher, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 99-10171 Filed 4-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-U