[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 74 (Friday, April 17, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19176-19178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10053]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-74-AD; Amendment 39-10469; AD 98-08-20]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; AlliedSignal Aerospace Bendix/King 
Model KSA 470 Autopilot Servo Actuators, Part Numbers 065-0076-10 
Through 065-0076-15

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain AlliedSignal Aerospace Bendix/King Model KSA 470 
autopilot servo actuators, part numbers 065-0076-10 through 065-0076-
15, that are installed on aircraft. This AD requires replacing the 
autopilot servo actuator with a modified actuator. This is the result 
of two reports of the affected autopilot servo actuators containing 
loose roll pins within the servo housing. Loose roll pins could fall 
out, become lodged in the output shaft clutch mechanism, and prevent 
this mechanism from disengaging. The actions specified by this AD are 
intended to prevent such an occurrence, which could result in increased 
effort by the pilot to control the aircraft and possible loss of 
control of the affected flight control axis.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Service information identified in this AD may be obtained 
from AlliedSignal Aerospace, Commercial Avionics Systems, 400 N. Rogers 
Road, Olathe, Kansas 66062-1212. This information may also be examined 
at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-74 AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joel Ligon, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4138; 
facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain AlliedSignal 
Aerospace Bendix/King Model KSA 470 autopilot servo actuators, part 
numbers 065-0076-10 through 065-0076-15, that are installed on aircraft 
was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on December 19, 1997 (62 FR 66565). The NPRM proposed 
to require replacing the autopilot servo actuator with a modified 
actuator. Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the 
NPRM would be in accordance with Bendix/King Service Bulletin No. SB 
KSA 470-3, dated May 1997.
    The NPRM was the result of two reports of the affected autopilot 
servo actuators containing loose roll pins within the servo housing. 
Loose roll pins could fall out, become lodged in the output shaft 
clutch mechanism, and prevent this mechanism from disengaging.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the one comment received. No comments were received on the FAA's 
determination of the cost to the public.

Comment Disposition

    The commenter states that the reference to the Raytheon 350 series 
aircraft in the proposal is incorrect. The commenter explains that the 
Raytheon 350 series is actually a Raytheon 300 series aircraft. The 
commenter requests that the FAA reference these aircraft accordingly.
    The FAA concurs that these aircraft should be referenced as 
Raytheon 300 series instead of Raytheon 350 series. Since the Raytheon 
300 series is already referenced in the AD, the FAA will remove all 
reference to the Raytheon 350 series in the final rule.

The FAA's Determination

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
the change referenced above and minor editorial corrections. The FAA 
has determined that this change and the minor corrections will not 
change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden 
upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 500 of the affected servo actuators could be 
installed on aircraft in the U.S. registry. This replacement will take 
approximately 2 workhours per aircraft to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate

[[Page 19177]]

of approximately $60 an hour. Servo actuators with Mod 3 incorporated 
cost $2,350. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD 
on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,235,000, or $2,470 per 
aircraft. These figures are based on the presumption that no owner/
operator of the affected aircraft has accomplished this replacement.
    AlliedSignal has informed the FAA that costs of the required labor 
and modification of the servo actuators on affected aircraft may be 
recovered under an AlliedSignal conditional warranty program. 
Information regarding warranty claims associated with this action can 
be obtained directly from AlliedSignal at the address included in the 
ADDRESSES section of this AD.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:

98-08-20  AlliedSignal Aerospace: Amendment 39-10469; Docket No. 97-
CE-74-AD.

    Applicability: Bendix/King Model KSA 470 Autopilot Servo 
Actuators; part numbers 065-0076-10 through 065-0076-15; serial 
numbers 0001 through 3081; that are installed on, but not limited 
to, the following aircraft, certificated in any category:

    Note 1: This subject is addressed in AlliedSignal Bendix/King 
Service Bulletin No. SB KSA 470-3, dated May 1997. This service 
bulletin references serial number 3082. Regardless of this 
reference, serial number 3082 is not affected by this AD.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          KSA 470 part                          
                Aircraft                          FD/AP system                 No.               Location       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raytheon 400 Series....................  KFC 400.......................     065-0076-11  Yaw Axis.              
                                                                            065-0076-15  Roll Axis.             
Raytheon 200 Series....................  KFC 400.......................     065-0076-11  Yaw Axis.              
Raytheon 300 Series....................  KFC 400.......................     065-0076-15  Yaw Axis.              
Dassault Falcon 20.....................  KFC 400.......................     065-0076-15  Pitch Axis.            
                                                                            065-0076-15  Roll Axis.             
Fairchild C26A/C26B....................  KFC400........................     065-0076-11  Yaw Axis.              
Fairchild SA227-AC/AT/BC/CC/DC           KFC400........................     065-0076-15  Roll Axis.             
Learjet 31A............................  KFC 3100......................     065-0076-12  Pitch Axis.            
                                                                            065-0076-14  Yaw Axis.              
                                                                            065-0076-15  Roll Axis.             
Lockheed S-2 Tracker...................  KFC 325.......................     065-0076-10  Special.               
Piper 400LS and PA-42-1000.............  KFC 400.......................     065-0076-15  Yaw Axis.              
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    Note 2: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision that has one of the affected 
actuators installed, 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 (d) 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 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent the servo actuator roll pins from becoming loose; 
falling out; becoming lodged in the output shaft clutch mechanism; 
and preventing this mechanism from disengaging, which could result 
in increased effort by the pilot to control the aircraft and 
possible loss of control of the affected flight control axis, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Replace the autopilot servo actuator with an actuator that 
incorporates Mod 3 in accordance with the applicable maintenance 
manual. This modification changes the size of the servo actuator 
roll pin holes to assure that the pins do not become loose and fall 
out.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on aircraft, one of the affected servo actuators that does not 
incorporate Mod 3.
    (c) 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.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance times 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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Wichita ACO.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the documents referred to herein upon request to AlliedSignal 
Aerospace, Technical Publications, Department 65-70, P.O. Box 52170, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170; or may examine these documents at the 
FAA, Central Region, Office

[[Page 19178]]

of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on June 2, 1998.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 8, 1998.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-10053 Filed 4-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U