[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43336-43338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21650]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-153-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company 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. The proposed action would 
require modifying the emergency exit doors and installing interior and 
exterior placards on each of the emergency exit doors. Difficulty in 
opening the emergency exit doors prompted the proposed action. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent passengers 
and crew from not being able to open the emergency exit doors during an 
airplane emergency, which could result in passenger and crew injuries.


[[Page 43337]]


DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 12, 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-153-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. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 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. 97-CE-153-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-153-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received reports that the emergency exit doors on the 
Raytheon 1900, 1900C and 1900D series airplanes are difficult for 
passengers and crew to open during an emergency situation. Further 
investigation revealed that the placards placed on the emergency exit 
doors may also be difficult for passengers and crew to read and 
understand in an instance when it is imperative to exit the airplane 
quickly.

Relevant Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2740, Revision 
1, Issued: April, 1997; Revised: June, 1997, which specifies procedures 
for modifying the door handle and lock mechanism. This modification 
would include removing and replacing the emergency exit door mechanism 
pushrods, trimming the existing turnbuckle clevises, and re-rigging the 
emergency doors. The service bulletin also specifies procedures for 
installing new placards on the emergency exit doors that have revised 
wording for better instruction on opening the exit in an emergency. 
This wording is easier to read and understand.

The FAA's Determination

    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 help prevent passengers 
and crew from not being able to open the emergency exit doors during an 
airplane emergency, which could result in passenger and crew injuries.

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 
modifying the emergency exit doors and installing placards on the 
emergency exit doors within the clear view of the passengers and crew. 
Accomplishment of the modification and installation would be required 
in accordance with Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 
2740, Revision 1, Issued: April, 1997; Revised: June, 1997.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 527 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 12 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $1,200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$1,011,840, or $1,920 per airplane.
    The manufacturer has informed the FAA that 94 of the affected 
airplanes are already in compliance with the proposed action. 
Therefore, the estimated total cost impact would be reduced by 
approximately $180,480 from $1,011,840 to $831,360.

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:

[[Page 43338]]

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-153-AD.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Model                             Serial Nos.          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1900..................................  UA-2 and UA-3.                  
1900C.................................  UB-1 through UB-74, and UC-1    
                                         through UC-174.                
1900C (C-12J).........................  UD-1 through UD-6.              
1900D.................................  UE-1 through UE-271.            
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 (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 600 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To help prevent passengers and crew from not being able to open 
the emergency exit doors during an airplane emergency, which could 
result in passenger and crew injuries, accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify the airplane emergency exit doors by removing and 
replacing door mechanism pushrods, trimming the existing turnbuckle 
clevises, and re-rigging the emergency exit doors in accordance with 
PART I of the Accomplishment Instructions section in Raytheon 
Aircraft (Raytheon) Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 2740, 
Revision 1, Issued: April, 1997; Revised: June, 1997.
    (b) Install placards on the interior and exterior of the 
emergency exit doors in accordance with PART II and PART III of the 
Accomplishment Instructions section in Raytheon MSB No. 2740, 
Revision 1, Issued: April, 1997; Revised: June, 1997.
    (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 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.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to the Raytheon 
Aircraft Corporation, 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 August 6, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21650 Filed 8-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U