[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41537-41539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20291]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-NM-167-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Beech (Raytheon) Model BAe 125 Series 
1000A and Model Hawker 1000 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Beech (Raytheon) Model BAe 
series 1000A and Model Hawker 1000 airplanes. This proposal would 
require modifications of the thrust reversers. This proposal is 
prompted by a review of the certification analysis of the thrust 
reversers and by testing of the thrust reversers, which indicated that 
additional design features are necessary to prevent failure of the 
driver link and the inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during 
flight. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during flight, 
which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 17, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-NM-167-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Raytheon Aircraft Company, Manager Service Engineering, 
Hawker Customer Support Department, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 
227-2797; fax (206) 227-1149.

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 shall 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 summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this

[[Page 41538]]

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 Number 95-NM-167-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, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 95-NM-167-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Beech (Raytheon) Model BAe 125 
series 1000A and Model Hawker 1000 airplanes. The CAA advises that the 
manufacturer of the thrust reversers has conducted a review of the 
certification analysis of the thrust reversers, and has tested the 
thrust reversers installed on these airplanes in service. As a result 
of this analysis and testing, the manufacturer has found that 
additional design features are necessary in order to prevent:
    1. the failure of the driver link and
    2. the inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during flight.
    Inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during flight, if not 
corrected, could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Raytheon, the original airframe manufacturer, has issued Hawker 
Service Bulletin SB.78-14-3691A,B&E, dated June 21, 1995, which 
describes procedures for modifications of the thrust reversers 
(specified as Modifications 253691 Part A, Part B, and Part E), as 
follows:
    Accomplishment of Modifications 253691 Part A and Part B entails 
installing an electrical connector at each engine pylon firewall and 
changing certain wiring. Accomplishment of these modifications adds an 
unlock indication for the secondary locks using the existing thrust 
reverser UNLCK annunciator.
    Accomplishment of Modification 253691 Part E involves installing 
upper and lower secondary locks, upper and lower secondary lock 
microswitches, and associated electrical wiring assemblies to the 
engine pylon firewall.
    The Hawker service bulletin references Rohr Service Bulletin PW300 
78-8, dated June 21, 1995, as an additional source of information for 
accomplishment of the modification.
    The CAA classified the Hawker service bulletin as mandatory in 
order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the 
United Kingdom.

FAA's Conclusions

    This airplane model is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is 
type certificated for operation in the United States under the 
provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant 
to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAA has kept the FAA 
informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the 
findings of the CAA, reviewed all available information, and determined 
that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design, the 
proposed AD would require modifications of the thrust reversers. The 
actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the 
Hawker service bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 23 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 110 work 
hours per airplane (excluding time to gain access and functional 
testing) to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would be provided by the 
manufacturer at no cost to operators. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$151,800, or $6,600 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted.

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 proposed 
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 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.

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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

    Beech Aircraft Corporation (Formerly deHavilland; Hawker 
Siddeley; British Aerospace, plc; Raytheon Corporate Jets, Inc.): 
Docket 95-NM-167-AD.

    Applicability: Model BAe series 1000A and Model Hawker 1000 
airplanes; as identified in Hawker Service Bulletin SB.78-14-
3691A,B&E, dated June 21, 1995; certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise 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

[[Page 41539]]

alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) 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.
    Note 2: Beech (Raytheon) Model BAe 125 series 1000B airplanes 
are similar in design to the airplanes that are subject to the 
requirements of this AD and, therefore, also may be subject to the 
unsafe condition addressed by this AD. However, as of the effective 
date of this AD, those models are not type certificated for 
operation in the United States. Airworthiness authorities of 
countries in which the Model BAe 125 series 1000B airplanes are 
approved for operation should consider adopting corrective action, 
applicable to those models, that is similar to the corrective action 
required by this AD.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during 
flight, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD, modify 
the thrust reversers by accomplishing Modifications 253691 Part A, 
Part B, and Part E, in accordance with Hawker Service Bulletin 
SB.78-14-3691A,B&E, dated June 21, 1995.

    Note 3: The Hawker service bulletin references Rohr Service 
Bulletin PW300 78-8, dated June 21, 1995, as an additional source of 
service information for accomplishment of Modification 253691 Part 
E.

    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Standardization Branch, ANM-113, 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their 
requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, 
Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    Note 4: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Standardization Branch, ANM-113.

    (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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 2, 1996.
Gary L. Killion,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-20291 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P