[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 8, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48402-48404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20001]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-03-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Model Hawker 800A (U-125A) and 
Hawker 800XP Series Airplanes.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Raytheon Model Hawker 800A 
(U-125A) and Hawker 800XP series airplanes. This proposal would require 
inspecting the roller clearance in the nose landing gear drag stay and 
making any necessary adjustments. The proposal is prompted by reports 
indicating multiple findings of roller clearances that are in excess of 
specifications. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended 
to prevent the inability to extend the nose landing gear, which could 
result in damage to the airplane upon landing.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-03-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2000-NM-03-AD'' in the subject line and need not 
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached

[[Page 48403]]

electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Raytheon Aircraft Company, 9709 East Central, Wichita, 
Kansas 67206. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at 
the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Wichita Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, 
Kansas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul C. DeVore, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, 
Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 
946-4142; fax (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 shall 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.
    Submit comments using the following format:
     Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a 
request to change the compliance time and a request to change the 
service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed 
AD is being requested.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each 
request.
    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 summarizing 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 Number 2000-NM-03-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, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2000-NM-03-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The FAA has received a report of multiple instances of clearance of 
the roller in the nose landing gear drag stay rigging which were in 
excess of specification. Excessive clearance of the roller requires a 
larger than normal force to extend the landing gear. Investigation 
revealed that this excessive clearance would likely increase over time 
as a result of seating of the stops and wear of the paint on the drag 
stay arm in the nose landing gear. This condition, if not corrected, 
could result in the inability to extend the nose landing gear, which 
could result in damage to the airplane upon landing.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved Raytheon Aircraft Service 
Bulletin SB 32-3274, dated August 1999, which describes procedures for 
removing the paint from the drag stay arm at the point of contact with 
the stop bolts, inspecting the roller clearance in the nose landing 
gear drag stay, and adjusting the roller clearance, if needed. 
Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is 
intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of this same type design, the 
proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in 
the service bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 85 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 50 airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 
7 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection and any 
necessary adjustments, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work 
hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $21,000, or $420 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future, if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact 
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time 
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. 
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the 
time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time 
necessitated by other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have a substantial direct 
effect 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, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 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, 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.

[[Page 48404]]

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket 2000-NM-03-AD.
    Applicability: Model Hawker 800XP and Hawker 800A (U-125A) 
series airplanes, as specified in Raytheon Aircraft Service Bulletin 
SB 32-3274, dated August 1999, certificated in any category.

    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 as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent the inability to extend the nose landing gear due to 
excessive clearance of the roller in the drag stay rigging, which 
could result in damage to the airplane upon landing, accomplish the 
following:

Inspection and Adjustment

    (a) Within 50 hours time-in-service after the effective date of 
this AD: Remove the paint from the drag stay arm of the nose landing 
gear at its point of contact with the stop bolt, do a check of the 
roller clearances, and make any necessary adjustments, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Aircraft Service 
Bulletin SB 32-3274, dated August 1999.
    (b) Airplanes which have had the 600-hour inspection specified 
in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual before the effective date of this 
AD or which will have the 600-hour inspection within 50 hours time-
in-service after the effective date of this AD are considered to be 
in compliance with paragraph (a) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA, Small Airplane Directorate. Operators shall 
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
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.

Special Flight Permits

    (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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 2, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20001 Filed 8-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P