[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5327-5328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2422]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 1900D 
Airplanes (formerly known as Beech Aircraft Corporation Models 1900D 
Airplanes)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) 
Model 1900D airplanes. The proposed action would require modifying the 
airplane by incorporating Raytheon Kit No. P129-5200-1, ``Ground Fine 
Switch Installation Kit''. The proposed AD is the result of design 
analysis during certification of 5.5 degree approach landings of the 
Model 1900D airplanes. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent very hard landings which could result in structural 
damage to the airplane and possible passenger injury.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-86-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; telephone (800) 625-7043. This information also may be examined 
at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Randy Griffith, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, Room 100, 1801 Airport 
Rd., Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4145; 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. 97-CE-86-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 Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has been notified that certain Raytheon Model 1900D 
airplanes have a design defect involving the ground fine switch, which 
controls the ground idle low pitch stop system in the propeller control 
system. The

[[Page 5328]]

manufacturer discovered this problem during 5.5 degree approach landing 
certification tests. Raytheon has since developed a modification to the 
ground idle low pitch stop system that will improve the ground fine 
switch rigging and test capability for the propeller control system. 
Without this modification, a misrigged or loose ground fine switch may 
cause the blades of both propellers to move to the ground fine position 
during landing when the power levers are moved to the flight idle 
position. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in a hard 
landing with damage to the airplane and possible personal injury to 
passengers.

Relevant Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 
No. 2714, Issued: June, 1997 which specifies modifying the ground idle 
low pitch stop system and the ground fine switch by installing Raytheon 
Kit No. P129-5200-1 in accordance with the Kit Instructions.

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 very hard landings, which could result in 
structural damage to the airplane and possible passenger injury.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in certain Raytheon Model 1900D airplanes of the same 
type design, the proposed AD would require incorporating Raytheon Kit 
No. P129-5200-1.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 271 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Raytheon is providing 
the kit and labor at no cost to the owner/operators under their 
Warranty Credit program for 12 months after the last day of the month 
that the manufacturer's service bulletin was issued. If there were no 
warranty on the parts and labor to accomplish the proposed action, the 
cost for U.S. operators is estimated to be $65,040 or $240 per 
airplane. This figure is based on the assumption that no affected 
operators have 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 Company: Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD.
    Applicability: Model 1900D airplanes (serial numbers UE-1 
through UE-271), 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 (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 800 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent very hard landings, which could result in structural 
damage to the airplane and possible passenger injury, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Modify the ground idle low pitch stop system on the airplane 
by incorporating Raytheon ``Ground Fine Switch Installation Kit'' 
No. P129-5200-1 in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
section of Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2714, 
Issued: June, 1997.
    (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, Room 
100, 1801 Airport Rd., 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.
    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of the 
documents referred to herein upon request to Raytheon Aircraft Company, 
P. O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; or may examine these 
documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 23, 1998.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2422 Filed 1-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U