[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 31, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47376-47377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22534]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-56-AD; Amendment 39-11281; AD 99-18-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
C90A, B200, B300, and 1900D Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to all Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Beech Models C90A, 
B200, B300, and 1900D airplanes. This AD requires replacing the landing 
gear hand pump for airplanes that had a pump within a certain serial 
number range installed at manufacture; and prohibits the future 
installation of any of these pumps on all of the affected airplanes. 
This AD is the result of information from the manufacturer of improper 
machining of the pump housing on certain landing gear emergency hand 
pumps on the affected airplanes. This resulted in an insufficient 
groove depth to retain a snap ring, which retains the check valve in 
its proper position within the housing. The actions specified in this 
AD are intended to detect any improperly machined landing gear 
emergency hand pumps, which, if not removed from service, could result 
in the inability to properly lower and lock the landing gear in the 
event of failure of the primary retraction/extension system.

DATES: Effective September 27, 1999.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before October 27, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-56-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-56-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA has received information from the Raytheon Aircraft 
Corporation (Raytheon) of improper machining of the pump housing on 
landing gear emergency hand pumps, part number 101-388007-3, serial 
numbers 2702 through 2833; that are installed on certain Raytheon Beech 
Models C90A, B200, B300, and 1900D airplanes. This resulted in an 
insufficient groove depth to retain a snap ring, which retains the 
check valve in its proper position within the housing. These landing 
gear emergency hand pumps may have been installed at manufacture on 
airplanes within the following serial number range:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Model                            Serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C90A.............................  LJ-1526 through LJ-1550.
B200.............................  BB-1628 through BB-1659.
B300.............................  FL-213 through FL-237.
1900D............................  UE-346 through UE-356, UE-358, and UE-
                                    367.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Continuing to utilize these pumps in service could result in the 
inability to properly lower and lock the landing gear in the event of 
failure of the primary retraction/extension system.

The FAA's Determination

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

--These improperly machined landing gear emergency hand pumps should be 
removed from service; and
--AD action should be taken to prevent the above-referenced condition 
from occurring.

Explanation of the Provisions of the AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Raytheon Beech Models C90A, B200, B300, and 
1900D airplanes of the same type design, the FAA is taking AD action. 
This AD requires replacing the landing gear hand pump for airplanes 
that had a pump within a certain serial number range installed at 
manufacture; and prohibits the future installation of any of these 
pumps on all of the affected airplanes.

Determination of the Effective Date of the AD

    Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for public 
prior comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not 
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 will be considered, 
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual 
information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is 
extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and 
determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the 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 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 99-CE-56-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

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,

[[Page 47377]]

it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient 
federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action 
involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that 
this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will 
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is 
not required). A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules 
Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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:

99-18-15  Raytheon Aircraft Company (All type certificates of the 
affected airplanes previously held by the Beech Aircraft 
Corporation): Amendment 39-11281; Docket No. 99-CE-56-AD.

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

          Replacement Requirements of Paragraph (a) of this AD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Model                            Serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C90A.............................  LJ-1526 through LJ-1550.
B200.............................  BB-1628 through BB-1659.
B300.............................  FL-213 through FL-237.
1900D............................  UE-346 through UE-356, UE-358, and UE-
                                    367.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Installation Requirements of Paragraph (b) of this AD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Model                            Serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C90A.............................  All serial numbers.
B200.............................  All serial numbers.
B300.............................  All serial numbers.
1900D............................  All serial numbers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 (e) 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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To detect any improperly machined landing gear emergency hand 
pumps, which, if not removed from service, could result in the 
inability to properly lower and lock the landing gear in the event 
of failure of the primary retraction/extension system, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) For the airplanes referenced in the Replacement Requirements 
of Paragraph (a) of this AD portion of the Applicability section of 
this AD: Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, replace any landing gear emergency hand 
pump, part number 101-388007-3, that incorporates a serial number in 
the range of 2702 through 2833.

    Note 2: This AD allows the aircraft owner or pilot to check the 
maintenance records to determine whether the landing gear emergency 
hand pump, part number 101-388007-3, has been replaced with one 
outside the serial number range of 2702 through 2833. See paragraph 
(c) of this AD for authorization.

    (b) For the airplanes referenced in the Installation 
Requirements of Paragraph (b) of this AD portion of the 
Applicability section of this AD: As of the effective date of this 
AD, no person may install a landing gear emergency hand pump, part 
number 101-388007-3, that incorporates a serial number in the range 
of 2702 through 2833.
    (c) The owner/operator holding at least a private pilot 
certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) may check the maintenance records to 
determine whether the landing gear emergency hand pump, part number 
101-388007-3, that is installed incorporates a serial number outside 
the range of 2702 through 2833. If, by checking the maintenance 
records, it can be positively shown that an actuator with a serial 
number outside of the range of 2702 through 2833 is installed, the 
requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD do not apply and the owner/
operator must make an entry into the aircraft records showing 
compliance with this portion of the AD in accordance with section 
43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
    (d) 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.
    (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance times 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.

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on September 27, 1999.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 23, 1999.
Terry L. Chasteen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-22534 Filed 8-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U