[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54393-54395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27122]


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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 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 revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
97-15-13 R1, which currently requires installing lubrication fittings 
in the airstair door handle and latch housing mechanisms on certain 
Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D 
airplanes (commonly referred to as Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D 
airplanes). Since issuance of AD 97-15-13 R1, Raytheon has revised the 
applicable service information to correct the reference to the number 
of parts each owner/operator of the affected airplanes should order and 
to change an incorrect reference to a maintenance manual. The proposed 
AD would retain the actions of AD 97-15-13 R1, and would incorporate 
the revised service bulletin into the proposed AD. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to continue 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 December 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional 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,

[[Page 54394]]

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 Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 96-CE-60-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    AD 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131 (62 FR 49426, September 22, 
1997), currently requires installing lubrication fittings in the 
airstair door handle and latch housing mechanisms on certain Raytheon 
Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. Accomplishment of these 
actions are required in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: July, 1996.
    The actions specified by AD 97-15-13 R1 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.
    AD 97-15-13 R1 was the result of reports of the airstair door not 
opening because the door was frozen shut on the above-referenced 
airplanes.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    Since AD 97-15-13 R1 has become effective, Raytheon has issued 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, 
May, 1998. This service bulletin revision corrects the reference to the 
number of parts each owner/operator of the affected airplanes should 
order and changes an incorrect reference to a maintenance manual.

The FAA's Determination

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the subject matter described above, the FAA has 
determined that:

--Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; 
Revision No. 1, May, 1998, should be incorporated into AD 97-15-13 R1; 
and
--AD action should be taken to continue 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 revise AD 97-
15-13 R1. The proposed AD would retain the requirements in AD 97-15-13 
R1 of installing lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle and 
latch housing mechanisms. Accomplishment of the proposed installations 
would be required in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: July, 1996; or Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998.

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 
required installation.
    The proposed AD would require the same actions as AD 97-15-13 R1. 
The only difference is reference to Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998. Therefore, the 
proposed AD imposes no additional cost impact upon U.S. owners/
operators of the affected airplanes than is already required by AD 97-
15-13 R1.

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 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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.

[[Page 54395]]

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131, and by adding a new AD to read as 
follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Company (Type Certificate No. A24CE formerly held 
by the Beech Aircraft Corporation): Docket No. 96-CE-60-AD; Revises 
AD 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Model                             Serial Nos.
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1900..................................  UA-1 through 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-157.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 200 hours time-in-service 
after September 27, 1997 (the effective date of AD 97-15-13 R1), 
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 either:
    (1) Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: July, 
1996; or
    (2) Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 
1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998.
    (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.
    (1) The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Wichita ACO.
    (2) Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance 
with AD 97-15-13 R1 are considered approved as alternative methods 
of compliance for this AD.

    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 
Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106.
    (e) This amendment revises AD 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27122 Filed 10-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U