[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 250 (Friday, December 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-32160]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD]

 

Airworthiness Directives; Beech Aircraft Corporation Model F90, 
and 99, 100, and 200 Series 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 Beech Aircraft Corporation (Beech) 
Model F90, and 99, 100, and 200 series airplanes. The proposed action 
would require installing a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor 
control panel assembly. A report where excessive current flow caused 
the electrical landing gear motor and wiring to catch fire on a Beech 
Model 200 airplane prompted the proposed action. The actions specified 
by the proposed AD are intended to prevent excessive current flow 
through the electrical landing gear motor, which, if not corrected, 
could cause an airplane fire.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 94-CE-24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    Information that relates to this AD may be obtained from the Beech 
Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. This 
information may also be examined at the FAA at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dale A. Vassalli, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4132; 
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. 94-CE-24-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 Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received a report where excessive current flow caused 
the electrical landing gear motor and wiring to catch fire on a Beech 
Model 200 airplane. Investigation revealed that the right main landing 
gear actuator assembly jammed, causing the actuator to slow or stall 
the landing gear motor. This caused the motor to use excessive current, 
which caused smoke to fill the cockpit and cabin.
    Other incidents where the landing gear motor used excessive current 
have been reported; however, in these incidents, airplane safety was 
not an issue.
    Beech has issued Service Bulletin No. 2035, Issued: February 1985; 
Revised: August 1990, which specifies procedures for preparing the 
airplane for the installation of a circuit breaker on the landing gear 
motor control panel assembly of certain Beech Model F90, and 99, 100, 
and 200 series airplanes. The instructions included with the following 
kits specify instructions for installing this circuit breaker: 101-
3069-1 S, 101-3069-3 S, 101-3069-5 S, and 101-3133-1 S.
    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has 
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent excessive current 
flow through the electrical landing gear motor, which, if not 
corrected, could result in an airplane fire.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Beech Model F90, and 99, 100, and 200 series 
airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require 
installing a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor control panel 
assembly. The proposed action would be accomplished in accordance with 
Beech SB No. 2035, Issued: February 1985; Revised August 1990; and the 
instructions to the applicable Landing Gear Motor Circuit Breaker 
Installation Kit (specified above).
    The FAA estimates that 2,297 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6 
workhours (varies between 2 to 6 workhours depending on the airplane 
model) per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The cost per parts 
varies by airplane model; however, for purposes of this proposed AD, 
$1,000 is utilized. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of 
the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $3,137,702. This 
figure is based on the assumption that no U.S. operator of the affected 
airplanes has accomplished the proposed installation.
    Beech has informed the FAA that approximately 2,100 installation 
kits have been sold. Assuming that each of these kits is installed on 
one of the affected airplanes, the proposed cost impact on U.S. 
operators would be reduced by $2,868,600 from $3,137,702 to $369,102.
    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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

Beech Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD.

    Applicability: The following Model and serial number airplanes, 
certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Models                           Serial Numbers           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
F90..............................  LA-2 through LA-225 equipped with    
                                    mechanical landing gear.            
99, 99A, A99A, and B99...........  U-1 through U-49 equipped with       
                                    mechanical landing gear and U-51    
                                    through U-164 equipped with         
                                    mechanical landing gear.            
100 and A100.....................  B-1 through B-247.                   
B100.............................  BE-2 through BE-137 with either a    
                                    part number (P/N) 115-380002-3 or P/
                                    N 115-380002-5 landing gear motor   
                                    installed.                          
200 and B200.....................  BB-2, BB-6 through BB-1157, BB-1159  
                                    through BB-1166, and BB-1168 through
                                    BB-1192.                            
200C and B200C...................  BL-1 through BL-72.                  
200T and B200T...................  BT-1 through BT-30.                  
200CT and B200CT.................  BN-1 through BN-4                    
A-100-1 (U-21J)..................  BB-3, BB-4, and BB-5.                
A200 (C-12A/C)...................  BC-1 through BC-75 and BD-1 through  
                                    BD-30.                              
A200C (UC-12B)...................  BJ-1 through BJ-66.                  
A200CT (C-12D)...................  BP-1, BP-22, and BP-24 through BP-45.
A200CT (FWC-12D).................  BP-7 through BP11                    
A200CT (RC-12D)..................  GR-1 through GR-13.                  
A200CT (RC-12G)..................  FC-1, FC-2, and FC-3.                
A200CT (RC-12H)..................  GR-14 through GR-19.                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent excessive current flow through the electrical landing 
gear motor, which, if not corrected, could result in an airplane 
fire, accomplish the following:
    (a) Install a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor control 
panel assembly by accomplishing the following:
    (1) Prepare the airplane by completing the ACCOMPLISHMENT 
INSTRUCTIONS section of Beech Service Bulletin No. 2035, Issued: 
February 1985; Revised: August 1990.
    (2) Incorporate one of the following Landing Gear Motor Circuit 
Breaker Installation Kits, as applicable, in accordance with the 
instructions provided with the kits:
    (i) 101-3069-1 S for Models 200, B200, 200C, B200C, 200T, B200T, 
200CT, B200CT, A200 (C-12A/C), and A200C (UC-12B);
    (ii) 101-3069-3 S for Models 100, A100, B100, and A100-1 (U-
21J);
    (iii) 101-3069-5 S for Models F90, 99, 99A, A99A, and B99; and
    (iv) 101-3133-1 S for Models A200 (C-12A/C), A200CT (C-12D), 
A200CT (FWC-12D), A200CT (RC-12D), A200CT (RC-12G), and A200CT (RC-
12H).
    (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 
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent 
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Wichita 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: 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 document referred to herein upon request to the Beech Aircraft 
Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; or may examine 
this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 23, 1994.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-32160 Filed 12-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P