[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1276-1278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-483]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-33-AD; Amendment 39-9474; AD 95-26-14]


Airworthiness Directives; Beech Aircraft Corporation Model 1900D 
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) Model 1900D airplanes. 
This action will require inspecting the cabin partition to ensure that 
a right-hand forward partition bracket exists on certain airplanes, 
installing this bracket if it does not exist, and improving the right-
hand forward partition installation on all affected airplanes. The 
actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent cabin partition 
failure because of a structural deficiency in the bracket or if the 
bracket is not installed, which, if not detected and corrected, could 
cause passenger injury if the partition could not withstand the load 
incurred with the baggage compartment loaded to its 250-pound limit.

DATES: Effective January 31, 1996.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of January 31, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies 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 Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 94-CE-33-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. Steve Potter, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4124; 
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 Beech Model 1900D airplanes was published in the Federal Register on 
April 17, 1995 (60 FR 19172). The action proposed to require inspecting 
the right-hand forward partition on certain serial number airplanes to 

[[Page 1277]]
ensure that the partition bracket exists, installing this bracket if it 
does not exist, and incorporating a structural improvement to the 
right-hand forward partition on all affected airplanes. Accomplishment 
of the proposed action will be in accordance with Kit Drawing No. 129-
5007, as referenced in Beech Service Bulletin No. 2556, Revision 1, 
dated February 1995.
    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. 
Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA realized that it inadvertently 
miscalculated the cost impact upon the public, specifically the number 
of airplanes affected and the number of workhours necessary to 
accomplish the actions. The final rule has been revised to incorporate 
these updated cost figures. The FAA does not believe that these changes 
will adversely affect this AD action.
    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 83 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by the required inspection and possible installation and 91 
airplanes worldwide will be affected by the required modification. The 
required inspection and possible installation will take approximately 6 
workhours per airplane to accomplish and the required modification will 
take approximately 4 workhours to accomplish, with a labor rate of $60 
an hour. Parts for the required modification cost approximately $650 
per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD 
on U.S. operators is estimated to be $103,750. This figure is based on 
the assumption that no owner/operator of the affected airplanes has 
accomplished the modification and no airplane has a right-hand forward 
partition bracket installed and would need one installed.
    Beech has informed the FAA that it has distributed parts (Kit No. 
129-5007-1 S) to accommodate approximately 58 of the affected 
airplanes. Assuming that each of these distributed kits is incorporated 
on one of the affected airplanes, the cost of this AD would be further 
reduced by $72,500 from $103,750 to $31,250.
    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 USC 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:

AD NO. 95-26-14 Beech Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-9474; 
Docket No. 94-CE-33-AD.
    Applicability: Model 1900D airplanes, serial numbers UE-2 
through UE-92, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability revision, 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 400 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent cabin partition failure because of a structural 
deficiency, which, if not detected and corrected, could cause 
passenger injury if the partition could not withstand the load 
incurred with the baggage compartment loaded to its 250-pound limit, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) For airplanes incorporating one of the following serial 
numbers: UE-2 through UE-68, UE-70 through UE-72, or UE-74 through 
UE-77, inspect the cabin partition to ensure that a right-hand 
partition bracket, part number (P/N) 129-530043-79, exists. If this 
bracket does not exist, prior to further flight, install this 
bracket with P/N MS27039-1-09 screws and P/N AN960PD10 washers in 
accordance with Kit Drawing No. 129-5007 as referenced in Beech 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2556, Revision 1, dated February 1995.
    (b) For all affected serial numbers (UE-2 through UE-92), 
improve the right-hand forward partition installation in accordance 
with Kit Drawing No. 129-5007, as referenced in Beech SB No. 2556, 
Revision 1, dated February 1995.
    (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 
(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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Wichita ACO.

    (e) The installation and modification required by this AD shall 
be done in accordance with Kit Drawing No. 129-5007, as referenced 
in Beech Service Bulletin No. 2556, Revision 1, dated February 1995. 
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 Beech Aircraft Corporation, P.O. 
Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. Copies may be inspected at the 
FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of 
the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 7th Floor, 
suite 700, Washington, DC. 

[[Page 1278]]

    (f) This amendment (39-9474) becomes effective on January 31, 
1996.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 20, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-483 Filed 1-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U