[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 20, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42997-42999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21122]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-CE-41-AD; Amendment 39-9720; AD 96-15-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Corporation Model
1900D Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment
adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 96-15-01, which was sent
previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Raytheon Aircraft
Corporation (formerly Beech) Model 1900D airplanes. This AD requires
immediately pulling and banding the circuit breakers leading to the
windshield heat control on both the pilot and co-pilot sides, inserting
a copy of the priority letter AD into the Limitations section of the
Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), and fabricating and installing a placard
instructing the pilot to avoid flight into known icing conditions.
Reports of smoke and fire in the cockpit on two Beech Model 1900D
airplanes caused by a high resistence short circuit condition in the
heated windshield wiring prompted the action. The actions specified by
this AD are intended to prevent smoke and fire
[[Page 42998]]
around the forward edge of the glare shield in the cockpit, which could
result in loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: Effective September 19, 1996, to all persons except those to
whom it was made immediately effective by priority letter AD 96-15-01,
issued July 10, 1996, which contained the requirements of this
amendment.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before October 21, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 96-CE-41-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Information related to this AD may
be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harvey E. Nero, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas, 67209; telephone (316)
946-4137, facsimile (316) 946-4407.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has received reports of smoke and
fire in the cockpit of two Beech Model 1900D airplanes. The reports
indicate that a high resistence short circuit situation was created by
the braid wire that is attached to the low heat power terminal block
mounted on the pilot and co-pilot windshields, which led to arcing and
substantial amounts of heat, causing smoke and fire in the cockpit.
This condition, if not corrected, will result in a fire in the cockpit
and possible loss of control of the airplane.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Beech Model 1900D airplanes of the same type
design, the FAA issued priority letter AD 96-15-01 to prevent smoke and
fire around the forward edge of the glare shield in the cockpit and
loss of control of the airplane.
The AD requires immediately pulling and banding the circuit
breakers leading to the windshield heat control on both the pilot and
co-pilot sides. The affected circuit breakers are the LEFT WSHLD,
CONTROL and PWR circuit breakers located on the circuit breaker panel
on the co-pilot's side (Zone 246) and the CO-PILOT WSHLD ANTI-ICE
circuit breaker located on the aft side of the forward pressure
bulkhead above the co-pilot left rudder pedal (Zone 222). This AD also
requires inserting a copy of this priority letter AD into the
Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), fabricating a
placard that says ``FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS IS PROHIBITED,''
using letters at least 0.10-inch in height, and installing this placard
within the pilot's clear view on the instrument panel. This is
considered to be an interim action until final action is identified, at
which time the FAA may consider further rulemaking.
Since it was found that immediate corrective action was required,
notice and opportunity for prior public comment thereon were
impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and good cause
existed to make the AD effective immediately by individual letters
issued on July 10, 1996 to all known U.S. owners and operators of Beech
Model 1900D airplanes. These conditions still exist, and the AD is
hereby published in the Federal Register as an amendment to section
39.13 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 39.13) to make it
effective as to all persons.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 will be considered,
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual
information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is
extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and
determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might
suggest a need to modify the 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
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 96-CE-41-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
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.
The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe
condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action''
under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this
action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined
that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, may
be obtained from 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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
96-15-01. Raytheon Aircraft Corporation (Raytheon): Amendment 39-
9720; Docket No. 96-CE-41-AD.
Applicability: Model 1900D airplanes (serial numbers UE-1
through UE-239), certificated in any category, with either
windshield part number 114-384020-1 or 114-384020-2 installed.
Note 1: The pilot windshield and co-pilot windshield may not
have the same windshield configuration. The actions of this AD are
only required on those windshields
[[Page 42999]]
incorporating part number 114-384020-1 or 114-384020-2.
Note 2: 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 (f) 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 prior to further flight after the
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished, except to
those operators receiving this action by priority letter issued July
10, 1996, which made these actions effective immediately upon
receipt.
To prevent smoke and fire around the forward edge of the glare
shield in the cockpit, accomplish the following:
(a) Pull and band the circuit breakers leading to the windshield
heat control on both the pilot and the co-pilot sides. The affected
circuit breakers are the LEFT WSHLD, CONTROL and PWR circuit
breakers located on the circuit breaker panel on the co-pilot's side
(Zone 246) and the CO-PILOT WSHLD ANTI-ICE circuit breaker located
on the aft side of the forward pressure bulkhead above the co-pilot
left rudder pedal (Zone 222).
(b) If either the pilot or co-pilot windshield heat is disabled,
then this action (de-activation of the circuit breaker) prohibits
flight into known icing conditions.
(c) A copy of this priority letter AD must be placed in the
Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).
(d) Fabricate a placard with the following words in letters at
least 0.10-inch in height and install this placard within the
pilot's clear view of the instrument panel: ``FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING
CONDITIONS IS PROHIBITED.''
(e) 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.
(f) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office,
1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas,
67209.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.
(g) Information related to this airworthiness directive may be
examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
(h) This amendment (39-9720) becomes effective on September 19,
1996, to all persons except those persons to whom it was made
immediately effective by priority letter AD 96-15-01, issued July
10, 1996, which contained the requirements of this amendment.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 13, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-21122 Filed 8-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U