[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 24, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54414-54415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26106]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-23-AD; Amendment 39-9410; AD 95-22-03]


Airworthiness Directives; Beech Aircraft Corporation Models 60 
and A60 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 Beech Aircraft Corporation (Beech) Models 60 and A60 
airplanes. This action requires incorporating flight manual supplement 
revisions into the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) that would specify a 
minimum airspeed for operating the affected airplanes in icing 
conditions. Reports of several incidents and accidents on the affected 
airplanes related to flight in icing conditions prompted the proposed 
action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent loss of control of the airplane because of the airplane 
traveling too slowly in icing conditions.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 12, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from Beech Aircraft Corporation, 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 Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-23-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bennett L. Sorensen, Flight Test 
Pilot, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, 
Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4165; facsimile 
(316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply 
to certain Beech Models 60 and A60 airplanes was published in the 
Federal Register on June 5, 1995 (60 FR 29513). The proposed action 
requires incorporating flight manual supplement revisions into the 
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) that would specify a minimum airspeed for 
operating the affected airplanes in icing conditions. Accomplishment of 
the proposed action would be in accordance with Beech Model 60 and A60 
Pilot's Operating Handbook/Airplane Flight Manual (POH/AFM) supplement 
``FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS'', Revised: January, 1995, part 
number (P/N) 60-590001-17.
    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.
    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.
    The FAA estimates that 243 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take less than 1 workhour 
per airplane to accomplish the proposed action. Since an owner/operator 
who holds a private pilot's certificate as authorized by sections 43.7 
and 43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7 and 43.11) 
can accomplish this action, the only cost impact upon the public is the 
time it takes to incorporate these AFM supplement revisions.
    The compliance time of the AD is presented in calendar time instead 
of hours time-in-service. Although the unsafe condition develops as a 
result of 

[[Page 54415]]
airplane usage, it cannot develop unless the airplane travels too 
slowly in icing conditions. Therefore, to ensure that all owners/
operators of the affected airplanes incorporate the minimum airspeed in 
icing conditions flight manual supplement revisions in a reasonable 
amount of time, the compliance time is based on calendar time.
    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, 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), 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

95-22-03  Beech Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-9410; Docket No. 
95-CE-23-AD.

    Applicability: Models 60 and A60 airplanes (all serial numbers), 
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 (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 60 calendar days after the 
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent loss of control of the airplane because of the 
airplane traveling too slowly in icing conditions, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Incorporate Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) supplement ``FLIGHT 
IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS'', Revised: January 1995, part number (P/
N) 60-590001-17, into the AFM, P/N 60-590000-5 or P/N 60-590000-11, 
as applicable.
    (b) Incorporating the AFM supplement ``FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING 
CONDITIONS'', Revised: January 1995, part number (P/N) 60-590001-17, 
as required by this AD may be performed by the owner/operator 
holding at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by 
section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and 
must be entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with 
this AD in accordance with section 43.11 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 43.11).
    (c) 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.
    (d) 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, 1801 
Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas. 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.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the AFM revision referred to herein upon request to Beech Aircraft 
Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; or may examine 
these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106.
    (f) This amendment (39-9410) becomes effective on December 12, 
1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 12, 1995.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 95-26106 Filed 10-23-95; 8:45 am]
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