[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