[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10573-10576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5594]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-92-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company 90, 100, 200, 
and 300 Series 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) 90, 100, 
200, and 300 series airplanes (formerly known as Beech Aircraft 
Corporation 90, 100, 200, and 300 series airplanes). The proposed 
action would require: checking the airplane maintenance records from 
January 1, 1994, up to and including the effective date of the proposed 
AD, for any MIL-H-6000B fuel hose replacements on the affected 
airplanes; inspecting any replaced rubber fuel hose for a spiral or 
diagonal external wrap with a red stripe the length of the hose with 
94519 printed along the stripe; and, replacing any MIL-H-6000B rubber 
fuel hose matching this description with an FAA-approved hose having a 
criss-cross or braided external wrap. This proposed AD is the result of 
a report of a product defect by the manufacturer that could cause fuel 
system blockage and engine stoppage. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent fuel flow interruption, which if 
not corrected, could lead to uncommanded loss of engine power and loss 
of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

[[Page 10574]]

Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-92-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-92-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-92-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    Buckeye Rubber Products, Inc. (Buckeye) discovered and notified the 
FAA and Raytheon that some of its MIL-H-6000B \1/2\-inch to 3-inch 
rubber hoses were manufactured with defects. This type of hose is used 
in the fuel systems of certain Raytheon 90, 100, 200, and 300 series 
airplanes. Raytheon also notified the FAA that it installed some of 
these hoses in the fuel systems of Raytheon Models C90A and B200, and 
B300 series airplanes as original equipment manufactured from January 
1, 1994, and beyond. For airplanes manufactured prior to January 1, 
1994, this rubber hose may have been installed as a replacement hose.
    Raytheon and Buckeye removed some of the hoses from the airplanes 
that have reported fuel system problems, and determined after testing 
that a particular batch of this rubber hose is susceptible to collapse 
when exposed to airplane fuel.
    The tests performed on the rubber hose showed a weak butt joint 
bond and joint separation of an internal seam. Fuel flowing through 
this batch of hose separates the joints and causes delamination of the 
inner tube, collapse of the hose, and fuel flow obstruction.
    These hoses are identified by a 3/8-inch-wide red or orange-red, 
length-wise stripe, with the manufacturer's code, 94519, printed 
periodically along the line in red letters on one side. The hoses have 
a spiral or diagonal outer wrap with a fabric-type texture on the 
rubber surface.

Relevant Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2718, Rev. 1, 
Issued January, 1997; Revised: June, 1997, which specifies procedures 
for replacing all MIL-H-6000B rubber fuel hoses on the affected 
airplanes that were manufactured from January 1, 1994, and after; 
inspecting the affected airplanes that were manufactured prior to 
January 1, 1994, for any MIL-H-6000B rubber fuel hoses that have been 
replaced; and, removing the MIL-H-6000B replacement hoses that have a 
spiral or diagonal exterior wrap and a red or red-orange stripe with 
the manufacturer code, 94519. The Raytheon service bulletin also 
specifies discarding any hose found with this description, and 
replacing the hose with a hose that has a criss-cross or braided type 
of external wrap for all affected airplanes.

The FAA's Determination

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, including the 
above service information, the FAA has determined that AD action should 
be taken to prevent fuel flow interruption, which if not corrected, 
could lead to uncommanded loss of engine power and loss of control of 
the airplane.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop other Raytheon 90, 100, 200, and 300 series airplanes 
of the same type design, the proposed AD would require: replacing all 
of the MIL-H-6000B rubber fuel hose in the affected airplanes that were 
manufactured from January 1, 1994, and after, with an FAA-approved 
rubber fuel hose that has a criss-cross or braided pattern on the 
external wrap. For airplanes manufactured prior to January 1, 1994, the 
proposed AD would require checking the airplane maintenance records 
from January 1, 1994 up to and including the effective date of the 
proposed AD, for any MIL-H-6000B rubber fuel hose replacements; and, if 
a replacement has been made, checking the replacement hose for diagonal 
or spiral wrap that has a 3/8-inch-wide red or orange-red, length-wise 
stripe, with the manufacturer's code, 94519, printed periodically along 
the line in red letters on one side. In the case of the Raytheon Models 
C90A, B200, and B300 series airplanes with this fuel hose installed at 
the factory, the proposed AD would require replacing the fuel hoses 
with FAA-approved MIL-H-6000B fuel hoses that have a criss-cross or 
braided external wrap. Accomplishment of replacement would be in 
accordance with Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2718, 
Rev. I, Issued: January, 1997, Revised: June, 1997.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 4,868 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 
workhour to per airplane to accomplish the proposed initial check, and 
that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts and 
labor cost will be covered under the manufacturer's warranty program if 
the hose is returned to the manufacturer. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $292,080 or $60 per airplane. Since an owner/operator who holds at 
least a private pilot's certificate as authorized by sections 43.7 and 
43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7 and 43.9) can 
accomplish the

[[Page 10575]]

initial check of the airplane maintenance records, the only cost impact 
upon the public is the time it will take the affected airplane owners/
operators of airplanes to check the records. The FAA has not taken into 
account the cost of replacing the hose, since the manufacturer is 
offering warranty credit for the hose replacement.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on the assumption 
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of the 
proposed AD action, and that no operator will accomplish these actions 
in the future if this proposed AD were not adopted.

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-92-AD.

    Applicability: The following model and serial numbered 
airplanes, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: The Models and serial numbers listed in this AD take 
precedence over those listed in Raytheon Aircraft Service Bulletin 
No. 2718, Rev. 1, Issued: January, 1997; Revised: June, 1997.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Models                           Serial numbers             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
65-90........................  LJ-1 through LJ-75, and LJ-77 through LJ-
                                113.                                    
65-A90.......................  LJ-76, LJ-114 through LJ-317, and LJ-    
                                178A.                                   
B90..........................  LJ-318 through LJ-501.                   
C90..........................  LJ-502 through LJ-1062.                  
C90A.........................  LJ-1063 through LJ-1287, LJ-1289 through 
                                LJ-1294, and LJ-1296 through LJ-1299.   
C90B.........................  LJ-1288, LJ-1295, and LJ-1300 through LJ-
                                1445.                                   
E90..........................  LW-1 through LW-347.                     
F90..........................  LA-2 through LA-236.                     
H90..........................  LL-1 through LL-61.                      
100..........................  B-2 through B-89, and B-93.              
A100.........................  B-1, B-90 through B-92, B-94 through B-  
                                204, and B-206 through B-247.           
A100-1 (RU-21J)..............  BB-3 through BB-5.                       
B100.........................  BE-1 through BE-137.                     
200..........................  BB-2, BB-6 through BB-185, BB-187 through
                                BB-202, BB-204 through BB-269, BB-271   
                                through BB-407, BB-409 through BB-468,  
                                BB-470 through BB-488, BB-490 through BB-
                                509, BB-511 through BB-529, BB-531      
                                through BB-550, BB-552 through BB-562,  
                                BB-564 through BB-572, BB-574 through BB-
                                590, BB-592 through BB-608, BB-610      
                                through BB-626, BB-628 through BB-646,  
                                BB-648 through BB-664, BB-735 through BB-
                                792, BB-794 through BB-797, BB-799      
                                through BB-822, BB-824 through BB-828,  
                                BB-830 through BB-853, BB-872, BB-873,  
                                BB-892, BB-893, and BB-912.             
200C.........................  BL-1 through BL-23, and BL-25 through BL-
                                36.                                     
200CT........................  BN-1.                                    
200T.........................  BT-1 through BT-22, and BT-28.           
A200.........................  BC-1 through BC-75, and BD-1 through BD- 
                                30.                                     
A200C........................  BJ-1 through BJ-66.                      
A200CT.......................  BP-1, BP-7 through BP-11, BP-22, BP-24   
                                through BP-63, FC-1 through FC-3, FE-1  
                                through FE-36, and GR-1 through GR-19.  
B200.........................  BB-829, BB-854 through BB-870, BB-874    
                                through BB-891, BB-894, BB-896 through  
                                BB-911, BB-913 through BB-990, BB-992   
                                through BB-1051, BB-1053 through BB-    
                                1092, BB-1094, BB-1095, BB-1099 through 
                                BB-1104, BB-1106 through BB-1116, BB-   
                                1118 through BB-1184, BB-1186 through BB-
                                1263, BB-1265 through BB-1288, BB-1290  
                                through BB-1300, BB-1302 through BB-    
                                1425, BB-1427 through BB-1447, BB-1449, 
                                BB-1450, BB-1452, BB-1453, BB-1455, BB- 
                                1456, and BB-1458 through BB-1536.      
B200C........................  BL-37 through BL-57, BL-61 through BL-   
                                140, BU-1 through BU-10, BV-1 through BV-
                                12, and BW-1 through BW-21.             
B200CT.......................  BN-2 through BN-4, BU-11, BU-12, FG-1,   
                                and FG-2.                               
B200T........................  BT-23 through BT-27, and BT-29 through BT-
                                38.                                     
300..........................  FA-1 through FA-230, and FF-1 through FF-
                                19.                                     
B300.........................  FL-1 through FL-141.                     
B300C........................  FM-1 through FM-9, and FN-1.             
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 10576]]

    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 within the next 200 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent fuel flow interruption, which if not corrected, would 
lead to uncommanded loss of engine power and loss of control of the 
airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) For airplanes manufactured prior to January 1, 1994, 
accomplish the following in accordance with Part II of the 
Accomplishment Instructions section in Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2718, Rev. I, Issued: January, 1997; 
Revised: June, 1997:
    (1) Check the airplane maintenance records for any MIL-H-6000B 
fuel hose replacement from January 1, 1994 up to and including the 
effective date of this AD.
    (2) If the airplane records show that an MIL-H-6000B fuel hose 
has been replaced, prior to further flight, inspect the airplane 
fuel hoses for the 3/8-inch-wide red or orange-red, length-wise 
stripe, with the manufacturer's code, 94519, printed periodically 
along the line in red letters on one side.
    The hoses have a spiral or diagonal outer wrap with a fabric-
type texture on the rubber surface.
    (3) Prior to further flight, replace any fuel hose that matches 
the description in paragraph (a)(2) of this AD with an FAA-approved 
MIL-H-6000B fuel hoses that have a criss-cross or braided external 
wrap.
    (b) An owner/operator holding at least a private pilot 
certificate as authorized by Sec. 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 Sec. 43.9 
of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9) can accomplish 
paragraph (a)(1) required by this AD.
    (c) For Raytheon Model C90A and B200, and B300 series airplanes 
that were manufactured on January 1, 1994 and after, replace the 
MIL-H-6000B fuel hoses in accordance with Part I of the 
Accomplishment Instructions section of Raytheon SB No. 2718, Rev. 1, 
Issued: January 1997, Revised: June, 1997.
    (d) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
a rubber fuel hose having spiral or diagonal external wrap with a 3/
8-inch-wide red or orange-red, length-wise stripe running down the 
side of the hose, with the manufacturer's code, 94519, printed 
periodically along the line in red letters on any of the affected 
airplanes.
    (e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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, 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 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) 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 Regional 
Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 26, 1998.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5594 Filed 3-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U