[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29994-29996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14989]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-CE-11-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Beech Aircraft Corporation 90, 99, 100,
200, and 1900 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede AD 92-27-10, which
currently requires inspecting the pilot and copilot chairs to ensure
that the locking pins will fully engage in the seat tracks on certain
Beech Aircraft Corporation (Beech) 90, 99, 100, 200, and 1900 series
airplanes, and modifying any chair where any locking pin fails to fully
engage or is misaligned. Reports of pilot and copilot chair locking pin
malfunctions prompted AD 92-27-10. Since issuance of that AD, the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined that additional
airplanes should be affected by the pilot and copilot chair locking
pins inspection and modification (if required), and that the inspection
should be accomplished in accordance with revised procedures. The
proposed action would retain the inspection and modification
requirements of AD 92-27-10; incorporate additional airplanes into the
applicability over that included in AD 92-27-10; and require the
inspection in accordance with revised service information. The actions
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent inadvertent
movement of the pilot or copilot chair, which could result in loss of
control of the airplane if it occurs during a critical flight maneuver.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 16, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-11-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 Beech Aircraft Corporation, 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. 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:
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-11-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. 96-CE-11-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
AD 92-27-10, Amendment 39-8444 (58 FR 5923, January 25, 1993),
currently requires the following on certain Beech Aircraft Corporation
(Beech) 90, 99, 100, 200, and 1900 series
[[Page 29995]]
airplanes: inspecting the pilot and copilot chairs to ensure that the
locking pins will fully engage in the seat tracks, and modifying any
chair where any locking pin fails to fully engage or is misaligned.
Accomplishment of the inspection required by AD 92-27-10 is in
accordance with Beech Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2444, Revision 1, dated
September 1992.
Reports of pilot and copilot chair locking pin malfunctions,
including one instance where the pilot chair slid back from the full
forward position, prompted the FAA to issue AD 92-27-10. Since issuance
of that AD, the FAA has determined that additional airplanes should be
affected by the pilot and copilot chair locking pins inspection and
modification, and that the inspection should be accomplished in
accordance with revised procedures.
Applicable Service Information
The Beech Aircraft Corporation has revised SB No. 2444 to the
Revision II level (dated May 1995). The SB revision updates airplane
serial number effectivity, and incorporates an additional procedure to
Step 5 of the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section.
Evaluation of All Applicable Information
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, including the
referenced SB revision, the FAA has determined that AD action should be
taken to prevent inadvertent movement of the pilot or copilot chair,
which could result in loss of control of the airplane if it happens
during a critical flight maneuver.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Beech 90, 99, 100, 200, and 1900 series
airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would supersede AD
92-27-10 with a new AD that would (1) retain the requirement of
inspecting the pilot and copilot chairs to ensure that the locking pins
will fully engage in the seat tracks, and modifying any chair where any
locking pin fails to fully engage or is misaligned; (2) incorporate
additional airplanes into the applicability over that included in AD
92-27-10; and (3) require the inspection in accordance with Beech SB
No. 2444, Revision II, dated May 1995.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 4,971 airplanes in the U.S. registry would
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1
workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. No parts are
required to accomplish the proposed action. Based on these figures, the
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to
be $298,260. This figure only takes into account the cost of the
inspection and does not take into account the cost of modifying any
pilot or copilot seat where the locking mechanism fails to fully engage
or is misaligned. If a pilot or copilot seat fails to fully engage or
is misaligned, the modification would take approximately 2 workhours
per airplane at an average labor rate of $60 per hour ($120 per
airplane).
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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Airworthiness Directive
(AD) 92-27-10, Amendment 39-8444 (58 FR 5923, January 25, 1993), and by
adding a new AD to read as follows:
Beech Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 96-CE-11-AD. Supersedes AD
92-27-10, Amendment 39-8444.
Applicability: The following model and serial number airplanes,
certificated in any category:
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Models Serial No.
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65-90, 65-A90, B90, C90, and LJ-1 through LJ-1307.
C90A.
65-A90-1 (U-21A)............. LM-1 through LM-63, LM-65, LM-67 through
LM-69, LM-71 through LM-99, and LM- 112
through LM-114.
65-A90-1 (JU-21A)............ LM-64, LM-66, and LM-70.
65-A90-1 (RU-21D)............ LM-100, LM-102 through LM-106, and LM-116
through LM-124.
65-A90-1 (RU-21H)............ LM-101 LM-107, LM-115, LM-125, LM-127, LM-
128, LM-129, LM-132, LM-133, LM- 136, LM-
137, and LM-138.
65-A90-1 (RU-21A)............ LM-108 through LM-111.
65-A90-1 (U-21G)............. LM-126, LM-130, LM-131, LM- 134, LM-135,
and LM-139 through LM-141.
65-A90-2 (RU-21B)............ LS-1, LS-2, and LS-3.
65-A90-3 (RU-21C)............ LT-1 and LT-2.
65-A90-4 (RU-21E)............ LU-1, LU-3, LU-4, LU-7, LU-8, and LU-14.
65-A90-4 (RU-21H)............ LU-2, LU-5, LU-6, LU-9, LU-10 through LU-
13, and LU-15.
E90.......................... LW-1 through LW-347.
H90 (T-44A).................. LL-1 through LL-61.
F90.......................... LA-2 through LA-236.
[[Page 29996]]
99, 99A, A99A, B99, and C99.. U-1 through U-239.
100 and A100................. B-1 through B-94 and B-100 through B-247.
A100 (U-21F)................. B-95 through B-99.
A100-1 (U-21J)............... BB-3, BB-4, and BB-5.
B100......................... BE-1 through BE-137.
200 and B200................. BB-2 and BB-6 through BB-1440.
200C and B200C............... BL-1 through BL-72 and BL-124 through BL-
137.
200CT and B200CT............. BN-1 through BN-4.
200T and B200T............... BT-1 through BT-34.
A200 (C-12A, C-12C).......... BD-1 through BD-30, and BC-1 through BC-
75.
A200 (UC-12B)................ BJ-1 through BJ-66.
A200CT (C-12D)............... BP-1, BP-22, and BP-24 through BP-51.
A200CT(FWD-12D).............. BP-7 through BP-11.
A200CT (RC-12D).............. GR-1 through GR-13.
A200CT (C-12F)............... BP-52 through BP-63.
A200CT (RC-12G).............. FC-1, FC-2, and FC-3.
A200CT (RC-12H).............. GR-14 through GR-19.
A200CT (RC-12K).............. FE-1 through FE-23.
B200C (C-12F)................ BL-73 through BL-112, and BL-118 through
BL-123.
B200C (UC-12F)............... BU-1 through BU-10.
B200C (RC-12F)............... BU-11 and BU-12.
B200C (UC-12M)............... BV-1 through BV-10.
B200C (RC-12M)............... BV-11 and BV-12.
B200CT (FWD-12D)............. FG-1 and FG-2.
B200CT (C-12F)............... BP-64 through BP-71.
1900......................... UA-1, UA-2, and UA-3.
1900C........................ UB-1 through UB-74, and UC-1 through UC-
174.
1900C (C-12)................. UD-1 through UD-6.
1900D........................ UE-1 through UE-17.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 150 hours time-in-
service after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent inadvertent movement of the pilot or copilot chair,
which could result in loss of control of the airplane if it occurs
during a critical flight maneuver, accomplish the following:
(a) Inspect the pilot and copilot chairs to ensure that the
locking pins will fully engage in the seat tracks in accordance with
the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Beech Service Bulletin
(SB) No. 2444, Revision II, dated May 1995. Prior to further flight,
modify any chair where any locking pin fails to fully engage or is
misaligned in accordance with the maintenance manual as specified in
Beech SB No. 2444, Revision II, dated May 1995.
(b) The inspection and modification required by paragraph (a) of
this AD are still mandatory even if the actions were previously
accomplished in accordance with Beech SB No. 2444, dated April 1992,
or Beech SB No. 2444, Revision I, dated September 1992.
(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. Alternative methods of compliance approved
in accordance with AD 92-27-10 (superseded by this action) are not
considered approved as alternative methods of compliance with 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.
(e) 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.
(f) This amendment supersedes AD 92-27-10, Amendment 39-8444.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 4, 1996.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-14989 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
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