[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 73 (Friday, April 16, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18806-18808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9250]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-60-AD; Amendment 39-11129; AD 97-15-13 R2]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
1900, 1900C, and 1900D Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment revises 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) 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. This AD 
retains the actions of AD 97-15-13 R1, and incorporates the revised 
service bulletin into the AD. The actions specified by this 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.


[[Page 18807]]


DATES: Effective May 28, 1999.
    The incorporation by reference of Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998, as 
listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal 
Register as of May 28, 1999.
    The incorporation by reference of Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: July, 1996, as listed in the regulations was 
previously approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of 
September 22, 1997 (62 FR 49426).

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from the Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085. This information may also be examined at 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; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 
800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 
946-4124; 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 Raytheon 
Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes was published in the 
Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on October 
9, 1998 (63 FR 54393). The NPRM proposed to revise AD 97-15-13 R1, 
Amendment 39-10131 (62 FR 49426, September 22, 1997), by incorporating 
updated service information into the AD. AD 97-15-13 R1 currently 
requires installing lubrication fittings in the airstair door handle 
and latch housing mechanisms on certain Raytheon Beech Models 1900, 
1900C, and 1900D airplanes.
    Accomplishment of the actions of AD 97-15-13 R1 is required in 
accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: 
July, 1996.
    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.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. One comment was received in favor of 
the NPRM and no comments were received on the FAA's determination of 
the cost to the public.

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 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these 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 408 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 14 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish the 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 this 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.
    This AD requires 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, this 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 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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131, and by adding a new AD to read as 
follows:

97-15-13 R2  Raytheon Aircraft Company (Type Certificate No. A24CE 
formerly held by the Beech Aircraft Corporation): Amendment 39-
11129; Docket No. 96-CE-60-AD; Revises AD 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-
10131.

    Applicability: The following Beech 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 (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 
after September 27,

[[Page 18808]]

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.

    Note 2: Only Part II of the Accomplishment Instructions section 
of the service information referenced above applies to the affected 
Beech Model 1900D airplanes.

    (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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Wichita ACO.

    (d) The installation required by this AD shall be done 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.
    (1) The incorporation by reference of Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB.2572, Issued: July, 1996; Revision No. 1, May, 1998, was 
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) The incorporation by reference of Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 2572, Issued: July, 1996, was previously approved by 
the Director of the Federal Register as of September 22, 1997 (62 FR 
49426).
    (3) Copies of the service bulletins may be obtained from the 
Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. 
Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment revises AD 97-15-13 R1, Amendment 39-10131.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on May 28, 1999.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 6, 1999.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-9250 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P