[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 79 (Monday, April 26, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20153-20155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10171]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-104-AD; Amendment 39-11143; AD 99-09-10]
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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models C90A, 
B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT airplanes. 
This AD requires installing a filter element in the landing gear hand 
pump suction line. This 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 this 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: Effective June 7, 1999.

    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of June 7, 1999.

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. 98-CE-104-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. 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 20154]]


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 
Models C90A, B200, B200C, B200T, B200CT, 300, B300, B300C, and A200CT 
airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on January 5, 1999 (64 FR 443). The NPRM proposed to 
require installing a filter element in the landing gear hand pump 
suction line. Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the 
NPRM would be required in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 32-3073, Revision 1, Issued: March, 1998, Revised: July 
1998.
    The NPRM was 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.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or 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 991 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 5 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish this 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 
this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $297,300, or $300 per 
airplane.

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 adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

99-09-10  Raytheon Aircraft Company (All type certificates of the 
affected airplanes previously held by the Beech Aircraft 
Corporation): Amendment 39-11143; 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
A200C T (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
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 20155]]

    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.

    Note 2: The service information referenced in this AD specifies 
800-hour repetitive inspections. This AD does not require these 
inspections.

    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 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 SB 32-3073, 
Revision 1, dated July 1998. This incorporation by reference was 
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies 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 becomes effective on June 7, 1999.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 15, 1999.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-10171 Filed 4-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U