[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51060-51062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24884]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-43-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Corporation (Formerly 
Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 1900D Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Raytheon Aircraft Corporation 
(Raytheon) Model 1900D airplanes. The proposed action would require 
replacing the right-hand exhaust stack for both the left and right 
engines. The proposed action results from reports of wing skin damage 
(with associated fuel seepage) and cabin window damage caused by the 
heat of the right-hand exhaust stacks on the affected airplanes. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent wing skin 
de-bonding or warping of the cabin windows because of the heat 
generated by the engines' right-hand exhaust stacks.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 20, 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-43-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments

[[Page 51061]]

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 Raytheon 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. Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 
946-4146; 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-43-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-43-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received several reports of wing skin damage (with 
associated fuel seepage) and cabin window damage on Raytheon Model 
1900D airplanes. Investigation reveals that the heat from the right-
hand exhaust stacks is causing the damage to the wing skin and cabin 
windows.
    Raytheon has developed new right-hand stacks for the left and right 
engines for certain Model 1900D airplanes. These replacement stacks are 
designed with a 25-degree tilt, and, when installed, should prevent 
heat damage to the wings, fuselage, and cabin windows.

Applicable Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Service Bulletin No. 2686, dated June 1996, 
which introduces Kit No. 129-9013-1. This kit includes all the parts 
and instructions necessary to install the new right-hand exhaust stacks 
for the left and right engines.

The FAA's Determination

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, including the 
referenced service information, the FAA has determined that AD action 
should be taken to prevent wing skin de-bonding or warping of the cabin 
windows because of the heat generated by the engines' right-hand 
exhaust stacks.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Raytheon Model 1900D airplanes of the same 
type design, the proposed AD would require replacing the right-hand 
exhaust stack for both the left and right engines. Accomplishment of 
the proposed replacement would be in accordance with the instructions 
to Raytheon Kit No. 129-9013-1, as referenced in Raytheon Service 
Bulletin No. 2686, dated June 1996.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 199 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts will be provided 
at no cost to the owners/operators of the affected airplanes until June 
1997 (after that the cost will be $6,452). Based on these figures and 
utilizing the assumption that all owners/operators of the affected 
airplanes will obtain parts prior to June 1997, the total cost impact 
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $119,400. This 
figure is based on the assumption that no owner/operator of the 
affected airplanes has accomplished the proposed replacement. The FAA 
knows of no affected airplane owner/operator that has already 
accomplished the proposed action.

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 
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 a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Corporation (formerly Beech Aircraft Corporation): 
Docket No. 96-CE-43-AD.

    Applicability: Model 1900D airplanes (serial numbers UE-1 
through UE-225), certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability

[[Page 51062]]

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 (c) 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 1,000 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent wing skin de-bonding or warping of the cabin windows 
because of the heat generated by the engines' right-hand exhaust 
stacks, accomplish the following:
    (a) Replace the right-hand exhaust stack for both the left and 
right engines in accordance with the instructions included in 
Raytheon Aircraft Kit No. 129-9013-1, as referenced in Raytheon 
Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 2686, dated June 1996.
    (b) 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.
    (c) 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.

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the documents referred to herein upon request to the Raytheon 
Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; or 
may examine these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 20, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24884 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U