[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 443-445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-44]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-104-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models C90A, 
B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT 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 C90A, B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT 
airplanes. The proposed AD would require installing a filter element in 
the landing gear hand pump suction line. The proposed AD is the result 
of reports of the potential for debris to enter the landing gear hand 
pump and interfere with its operation, which could prevent the nose 
landing gear from being extended manually. Two occurrences were 
reported of nose landing gear collapse after manual extension. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the 
inability to extend the landing gear with the hand pump caused by 
debris entering the landing gear hand pump, which could result in 
passenger injury or damage to the airplane if manual operation of the 
landing gear failed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-104-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. Paul DeVore, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4142; 
facsimile: (316) 946-4407.


[[Page 444]]


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. 98-CE-104-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. 98-CE-104-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received reports of the potential for debris to enter 
the landing gear hand pump and interfere with its operation on certain 
Raytheon Models C90A, B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and 
A200CT airplanes. This could prevent the nose landing gear from being 
properly extended manually. Two occurrences were reported of nose 
landing gear collapse after manual extension.
    This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result 
in the inability to extend the landing gear with the hand pump with 
consequent passenger injury or damage to the airplane if manual 
operation of the landing gear failed.

Relevant Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-3073, Revision 
1, Issued: March, 1998, Revised: July 1998. This service bulletin 
includes procedures for installing a filter element in the landing gear 
hand pump suction line.

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 prevent the inability to 
extend the landing gear with the hand pump caused by debris entering 
the landing gear hand pump. This could result in passenger injury or 
damage to the airplane if manual operation of the landing gear failed.

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 C90A, B200, B200C, B200T, 
B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT airplanes of the same type design, 
the FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require 
installing a filter element in the landing gear hand pump suction line. 
Accomplishment of the proposed action would be required in accordance 
with the service information previously referenced.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 991 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 5 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Raytheon will give 
warranty credit for parts until July 31, 1999. Based on these figures, 
the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated 
to be $297,300, or $300 per airplane.

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 (All type certificates of the affected 
airplanes previously held by the Beech Aircraft Corporation): Docket 
No. 98-CE-104-AD.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Models                           Serial Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C90A.............................  LJ-1063 through LJ-1482.
B200.............................  BB-1158, BB-1167, BB-1193 through BB-
                                    1532, and all serial numbers with
                                    Beech Kit 101-8018 incorporated.
B200C............................  BL-113 through BL-117, BL-124 through
                                    BL-140, and all serial numbers with
                                    Beech Kit 101-8018 incorporated
B200T............................  BT-31 through BT-38, and all serial
                                    numbers with Beech Kit 101-8018
                                    incorporated.
B200CT...........................  BN-2, BN-3, and BN-4 that have Beech
                                    Kit 101-8018 incorporated.
B200CT...........................  FG-1 and FG-2.
300..............................  FA-1 through FA-230.
300..............................  FF-1 through FF-19.
B300.............................  FL-1 through FL-138.
B300C............................  FM-1 through FM-9.
B300C............................  FN-1.

[[Page 445]]

 
A200CT (C-12D)...................  BP-46 through BP-51.
A200CT (C-12F)...................  BP-52 through BP-63.
A200CT (RC-12H)..................  GR-14 through GR-19.
A200CT (RC-12K)..................  FE-1 through FE-9.
A200CT (RC-12N)..................  FE-10 through FE-24.
A200CT (RC-12P)..................  FE-25 through FE-31, FE-33, and FE-
                                    35.
A200CT (RC-12Q)..................  FE-32, FE-34, and FE-36.
B200C (C-12F)....................  BL-73 through BL-112 and BL-118
                                    through BL-123.
B200C (C-12F)....................  BP-64 through BP-71.
B200C (UC-12F)...................  BU-1 through BU-10.
B200CT (RC-12F)..................  BU-11 and BU-12.
B200C (UC-12M)...................  BV-1 through BV-10.
B200C (RC-12M)...................  BV-11 and BV-12.
B200C (C-12R)....................  BW-1 through BW-19.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 200 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent the inability to extend the landing gear with the 
hand pump caused by debris entering the landing gear hand pump, 
which could result in passenger injury or damage to the airplane if 
manual operation of the landing gear failed, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Install a filter element in the landing gear hand pump 
suction line, in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS 
section of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-3073, Revision 
1, Issued: March, 1998, Revised: July 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. 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.

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to the 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 December 28, 1998.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-44 Filed 1-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U