[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4206-4208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2106]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-60-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company (Formerly 
Beech Aircraft Corporation) Models 1900, 1900C, and 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 Company (Raytheon) 
Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes (formerly referred to as Beech 
Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes). The proposed AD would require 
installing lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle and latch 
housing mechanisms. The proposed AD results from reports of the 
airstair door

[[Page 4207]]

not opening because the door was frozen shut. The actions specified by 
the proposed AD are intended to prevent moisture from accumulating and 
freezing in the airstair door handle and latch housing, which could 
result in the door freezing shut and passengers not being able to 
evacuate the airplane in an emergency situation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 7, 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-60-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 the 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. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 
946-4124; 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-60-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-60-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received numerous reports of the airstair door not 
opening because the door was frozen shut on Raytheon Models 1900, 
1900C, and 1900D airplanes (formerly referred to as Beech Models 1900, 
1900C, and 1900D airplanes). Under the current configuration of these 
airplanes, moisture accumulates and freezes in the airstair door handle 
and latch housings, resulting in the door freezing shut. This 
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in passengers 
not being able to evacuate the airplane in an emergency situation.

Applicable Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2572, dated 
July, 1996, which includes procedures for installing lubrication 
fittings in the airstair door handle and latch housing mechanisms on 
certain Raytheon Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes.

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 moisture from accumulating and freezing in 
the airstair door handle and latch housing, which could result in the 
door freezing shut and passengers not being able to evacuate the 
airplane in an emergency situation.

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 Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D 
airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require 
installing lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle and latch 
housing mechanisms. Accomplishment of the proposed installation would 
be in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2572, 
dated July, 1996.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 408 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 14 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed installation, and 
that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $50 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $363,120 
or $890 per airplane. This figure is based on the presumption that no 
owner/operator of the affected airplanes has accomplished the proposed 
installation.
    Raytheon has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to 
equip approximately 36 of the affected airplanes. Presuming that each 
set of parts has been incorporated on one of the affected airplanes, 
the cost impact of the proposed AD upon U.S. operators of the affected 
airplanes would be reduced $32,040 from $363,120 to $331,080.

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

[[Page 4208]]

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 Company (formerly Beech Aircraft Corporation): 
Docket No. 96-CE-60-AD.

    Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, 
certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Model                             Serial Nos.           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1900.................................  UA-1 through UA-3.               
1900C................................  UB-1 through UB-74, and UC-1     
                                        through UC-174.                 
1900D................................  UE-1 through UE-157.             
1900D (C-12J)........................  UD-1 through UD-6.               
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 (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 200 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent moisture from accumulating and freezing in the 
airstair door handle and latch housing, which could result in the 
door freezing shut and passengers not being able to evacuate the 
airplane in an emergency situation, accomplish the following:
    (a) Install lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle and 
latch housing mechanisms in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT 
INSTRUCTIONS section of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 
2572, dated July, 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 Company, 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 January 21, 1997.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-2106 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P