[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 247 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67505-67506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32437]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-34-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models E33, 
F33, G33, E33A, F33A, E33C, F33C, C35, D35, E35, F35, G35, H35, J35, 
K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, V35TC, V35ATC, V35BTC, 36, 
A36, A36TC, B36TC, 50, B50, C50, 95-55, 95A55, 95B55, 95C55, D55, E55, 
56TC, A56TC, 58, 58TC, 95, B95, B95A, D95A, and E95 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 Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models 
E33, F33, G33, E33A, F33A, E33C, F33C, C35, D35, E35, F35, G35, H35, 
J35, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, V35TC, V35ATC, V35BTC, 
36, A36, A36TC, B36TC, 50, B50, C50, 95-55, 95A55, 95B55, 95C55, D55, 
E55, 56TC, A56TC, 58, 58TC, 95, B95, B95A, D95A, and E95 airplanes. The 
proposed action would require checking the interior cabin door handle 
and the interior utility door handle for proper locking, and if the 
handles do not lock, re-installing the door handles correctly for the 
lock to engage. Reports of the interior utility and interior cabin door 
handles opening without depressing the lock release button prompted the 
proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended 
to prevent unintentional opening of the interior cabin side door and 
the interior utility door while in flight, which if not detected and 
corrected, could result in injury to passengers.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 21, 1997.

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-34-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 Raytheon Aircraft Company, 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. Larry Engler, FAA, Wichita 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4122; 
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-34-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-34-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Events Leading to the Proposed Action

    Reports received from nine owners/operators of Raytheon Models E33, 
F33, G33, E33A, F33A, E33C, F33C, C35, D35, E35, F35, G35, H35, J35, 
K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, V35TC, V35ATC, V35BTC, 36, 
A36, A36TC, B36TC, 50, B50, C50, 95-55, 95A55, 95B55, 95C55, D55, E55, 
56TC, A56TC, 58, 58TC, 95, B95, B95A, D95A, and E95 airplanes show that 
the interior side cabin door and utility door may open unintentionally 
because the door handle's lock release button may not catch due to 
improper installation. If this problem is not discovered and corrected, 
a passenger or crew member could lean his/her hand down on the 
supposedly locked door handle and the door would open without warning.

Related Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Service Bulletin No. 2693, Issued May 1996 
which specifies inspecting the airplane's interior side cabin door and 
utility door handles for locking and proper installation.

Explanation of the Provision of the Proposed Action

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has 
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent unintentional 
opening of the interior cabin side door and the interior utility door 
while in flight, which if not detected and corrected, could result in 
injury to passengers.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Raytheon Models E33, F33, G33, E33A, F33A, 
E33C, F33C, C35, D35, E35, F35, G35, H35, J35, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, 
V35, V35A, V35B, V35TC, V35ATC, V35BTC, 36, A36, A36TC, B36TC, 50, B50, 
C50, 95-55, 95A55, 95B55, 95C55, D55, E55, 56TC, A56TC, 58, 58TC, 95, 
B95, B95A, D95A, and E95 airplanes of the same type design, the 
proposed AD would require a certified pilot checking the interior side 
cabin door handle and the utility door handle for correct locking 
operation of the handle. If the handle opens the door without pushing 
the handle's lock release button, prior to further flight, the proposed 
AD would require a licensed airframe mechanic to correct the door lock 
by removing the handle, and installing the handle so that

[[Page 67506]]

the handle lock release button locks the door.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 19,000 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $2,280,000. The FAA has no way to determine the number 
of owners/operators with affected airplanes who have not inspected or 
re-installed the door handles.

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 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:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. 96-CE-34-AD.

    Applicability: Models E33, F33, G33, E33A, F33A, E33C, F33C, 
C35, D35, E35, F35, G35, H35, J35, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, 
V35A, V35B, V35TC, V35ATC, V35BTC, 36, A36, A36TC, B36TC, 50, B50, 
C50, 95-55, 95A55, 95B55, 95C55, D55, E55, 56TC, A56TC, 58, 58TC, 
95, B95, B95A, D95A, and E95 Airplanes (all serial numbers), 
certificated in any category.

    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 (g) 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 50 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) or at the door handle removal, whichever occurs first, after 
the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent unintentional opening of the interior cabin side door 
and the interior utility door while in flight, which if not detected 
and corrected, could result in injury to passengers or loss of 
control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Check the interior side cabin door handle and the utility 
door handle for correct locking operation of the handle in 
accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Raytheon 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2693, Issued May, 1996.
    (b) The check required in paragraph (a) of this AD may be 
performed by the owner/operator holding at least a private pilot 
certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and must be entered into the aircraft 
records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with section 
43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.11).
    (c) If the door handle is locked and will only unlock by 
depressing the handle door lock release button, then no further 
action is necessary.
    (d) If the handle opens the door without depressing the handle's 
lock release button, prior to further flight, correct the door lock 
by removing the handle, and installing the handle so that the handle 
lock release button locks the door in accordance with the 
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section in Raytheon SB No. 2693, Issued 
May, 1996.
    (e) The action required in paragraph
    (d) of this AD must be accomplished by a licensed airframe 
mechanic.
    (f) 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.
    (g) 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 
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 Aircraft Certification Office.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

    (h) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to Raytheon Aircraft 
Company, 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 13, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Office.
[FR Doc. 96-32437 Filed 12-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U