[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 198 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60599-60602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26238]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-74-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
60, A60, and B60 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) 
Beech Models 60, A60, and B60 airplanes. The proposed AD would require 
you to inspect for the existence of any lower forward wing bolts with 
the Mercury Aerospace trademark, and replace any such bolt with an 
FAAapproved bolt without this trademark. The proposed AD is the result 
of a report that wing bolts supplied by Mercury Aerospace may not meet 
the required Rockwell hardness specifications. The actions specified by 
the proposed AD are intended to detect and correct wing bolts that do 
not meet strength requirements. Continued airplane operation with such 
bolts could result in fatigue failure of the bolts with consequent 
separation of the wing from the airplane.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this rule on or before December 5, 2000.

[[Page 60600]]


ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to FAA, Central Region, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-74-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, 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 Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. This information 
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. T.N. Baktha, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4155; 
facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on the proposed AD? The FAA invites comments on 
this proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
submit your comments in triplicate to the address specified under the 
caption ADDRESSES. The FAA will consider all comments received on or 
before the closing date. We may amend the proposed rule in light of 
comments received. Factual information that supports your ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
proposed AD action and determining whether we need to take additional 
rulemaking action.
    Are there any specific portions of the proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may examine all 
comments we receive before and after the closing date of the rule in 
the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of the proposed AD.
    The FAA is re-examining the writing style we currently use in 
regulatory documents, in response to the Presidential memorandum of 
June 1, 1998. That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate 
more clearly with the public. We are interested in your comments on 
whether the style of this document is clearer, and any other 
suggestions you might have to improve the clarity of FAA communications 
that affect you. You can get more information about the Presidential 
memorandum and the plain language initiative at http://www.plainlanguage.gov.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want us to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 99-CE-74-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard back 
to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The FAA has received a report 
indicating that about 70 lower forward wing bolts that Mercury 
Aerospace supplied for certain Raytheon Models 60, A60, and B60 
airplanes may not meet Rockwell hardness specifications. The bolts were 
distributed between 1995 and 1996. An independent test lab has 
confirmed that the bolts do not meet the structural requirements for an 
MS21250-14034 bolt.
    Specifically, these wing bolts are required to meet Rockwell 
hardness specifications of C39-C43. Laboratory tests indicate that 
bolts from this manufacturing batch are below these specifications.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? 
Continued airplane operation with such bolts could result in fatigue 
failure of the bolts with consequent separation of the wing from the 
airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Raytheon 
has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 57-3328, Issued: July, 
1999.
    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for:
    --Inspecting all lower forward wing bolts for the Mercury Aerospace 
trademark; and
    --Replacing any of these bolts, along with the nuts and washers.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of the 
Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? After examining the circumstances and 
reviewing all available information related to the conditions described 
above, we have determined that:
    --the unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on Raytheon Beech Models 60, A60, and B60 airplanes of the same 
type design;
    --the actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
    --AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe 
condition.
    What does the proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to inspect for the existence of any lower forward wing bolt with 
the Mercury Aerospace trademark and replace such bolt with an FAA-
approved bolt without this trademark.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does the proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD affects 593 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of the proposed AD on owners/operators of 
the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to accomplish 
the proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Total cost on
               Labor cost                         Parts cost            Total cost per airplane    U.S. airplane
                                                                                                     operators
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1 workhour  x  $60 per hour = $60.......  Not applicable............  $60 per airplane..........        $35,580.
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    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. Based on manufacturer data from its warranty 
program, 10 bolts were replaced, which leaves 60 suspect bolts still in 
the field.

[[Page 60601]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Total cost per
          Labor cost                  Parts cost            airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 workhours  x  $60 per hour =  Approximately $500 per  $980 per
 $480.                           airplane. NOTE:         airplane.
                                 Warranty credit has
                                 expired.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

    Does this proposed AD impact various entities? 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 
proposed rule would not have federalism implications under Executive 
Order 13132.
    Does this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? 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, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. 99-CE-74-AD
    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Beech Models 60, A60, and B60 airplanes, serial numbers P-4 through 
P-596, that are certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes on the U.S. Register must comply with 
this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to detect and correct wing bolts that do not 
meet strength requirements. Continued airplane operation with such 
bolts could result in fatigue failure of the bolts with consequent 
separation of the wing from the airplane.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Action                Compliance time         Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the lower         Within the next 100   Use the
 forward wing bolts (left      hours time-in-        ACCOMPLISHMENT
 and right) for the Mercury    service (TIS) after   INSTRUCTIONS
 Aerospace trademark.          the effective date    section of Raytheon
                               of this AD.           Mandatory Service
                                                     Bulletin SB 57-
                                                     3328, Issued: July,
                                                     1999.
(2) Replace any lower         Prior to further      Use the
 forward wing bolt that has    flight after the      ACCOMPLISHMENT
 the Mercury Arospace          inspection.           INSTRUCTIONS
 trademark with an FAA-                              section of Raytheon
 approved bolt that does not                         Mandatory Service
 have this trademark.                                bulletin SB 57-
 Replace the associated nuts                         3328, Issued: July,
 and washers.                                        1999, and the
                                                     instructions in the
                                                     applicable
                                                     maintenance manual.
(3) Do not install, on any    As of the effective   Not Applicable.
 affected airplane, a          date of this AD.
 forward wing bolt that has
 the Mercury Aerospace
 trademark.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Wichita ACO.

    Note: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Mr. T.N. Baktha, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 
Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; 
telephone: (316) 946-4155; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may obtain copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. 
You may examine these documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106.


[[Page 60602]]


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 5, 2000.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-26238 Filed 10-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P