[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 3, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10237-10238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5177]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-123-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 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) 
Model 1900D airplanes that are equipped with the electric elevator trim 
option. The proposed AD would require installing electric elevator trim 
servo covers. The proposed AD is the result of reports of the affected 
airplanes leaving the factory without electric elevator trim servo 
covers installed. If the covers are not installed, moisture could 
freeze on parts of the electric actuator. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the electric elevator 
trim and difficulty operating the manual elevator trim caused by 
moisture freezing on parts of the electric actuator installation, which 
would result in the pilot having to apply constant pressure to the 
control wheel during flight.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 30, 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-123-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, PO Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 625-7043 or (316) 676-4556. This information 
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Todd Dixon, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4152; 
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. 98-CE-123-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-123-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received reports of certain Raytheon Model 1900D 
airplanes leaving the factory without electric elevator trim servo 
covers installed. This condition could be present on those airplanes 
without the Collins APS-65H Autopilot system that incorporate the 
optional electric motor-driven actuator installation for elevator trim 
control.
    Without these electric elevator trim servo covers installed, 
moisture could freeze on parts of the electric actuator installation 
and cause failure of the electric elevator trim and difficulty 
operating the manual elevator trim. This would result in the pilot 
having to apply constant pressure to the control wheel during flight.

Relevant Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3080, Issued: 
October, 1998, and Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3080, Revision 1, 
Issued December, 1998, which specify installing elevator trim servo 
covers on certain Raytheon Model 1900D airplanes that incorporate the 
electric elevator trim option. The procedures for accomplishing this 
installation are included in the instructions to Raytheon Kit No. 129-
5035-1.

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 above-
referenced condition from existing or developing on the affected 
airplanes.

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 Model 1900D airplanes of the same 
type design that are equipped with the electric elevator trim option, 
the FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require 
installing electric elevator trim servo covers. Accomplishment of the 
proposed installation would be required in accordance with the 
instructions to Raytheon Kit No. 129-5035-1, as referenced in Raytheon 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3080, Issued: October, 1998, and 
Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3080, Revision 1, Issued: 
December, 1998.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 205 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 installation, and 
that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Raytheon will 
provide parts free of charge under warranty credit. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $61,500.
    Raytheon will also give warranty credit for labor until October 31, 
1999.

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

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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 (Type Certificate No. A24CE formerly held 
by the Beech Aircraft Corporation): Docket No. 98-CE-123-AD.

    Applicability: Model 1900D airplanes, serial numbers UE-1 
through UE-246, certificated in any category, that incorporate the 
electric elevator trim option.

    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 600 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent failure of the electric elevator trim and difficulty 
operating the manual elevator trim caused by moisture freezing on 
parts of the electric actuator installation, which would result in 
the pilot having to apply constant pressure to the control wheel 
during flight, accomplish the following:
    (a) Install electric elevator trim servo covers in accordance 
with the instructions in Kit No. 129-5035-1, as referenced in 
Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3080, Issued: October, 
1998, and Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3080, Revision 
1, Issued: December, 1998.

    Note 2: The compliance time of this AD takes precedence over the 
compliance time specified in Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 
27-3080, Revision 1, Issued: December, 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 3: 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 Corporation, 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 24, 1999.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-5177 Filed 3-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U