[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 233 (Monday, December 4, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75597-75599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30318]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-06-AD; Amendment 39-12011; AD 2000-24-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
A36, B36TC, and 58 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 Corporation (Raytheon) Beech 
Models A36, B36TC, and 58 airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect 
for misrouted rudder control cables; replace any worn or damaged guard 
pins; replace any pulley brackets that are damaged or worn; and replace 
any misrouted rudder control cables. Three reports of misrouted cables 
prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to 
correct the misrouted rudder control cable and consequent guard pin 
wear or fraying of the cables with loss of rudder control.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on January 5, 2001.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
January 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140; on the Internet at 
http://www.raytheon.com/rac/servinfo/27-3265.pdf>. This file is in 
Adobe Portable Document Format. The Acrobat Reader is available at 
http://www.adobe.com/>. You may examine this information at the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-06-AD, 901 Locust, Room 
506, 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: Paul C. 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

    What events have caused this AD? The FAA has received three reports 
of instances of misrouted cables in Raytheon Beech Models A36, B36TC, 
and 58 airplanes. In one instance, a report noted complete separation 
of the rudder cable. In another instance, a report noted fraying of the 
rudder cable.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? This 
condition could result in guard pin wear and separation or fraying of 
the cables with loss of rudder control.
    Has FAA taken any action to this point? We issued 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 A36, 
B36TC, and 58 airplanes. This proposal published in the Federal 
Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on August 24, 2000 
(65 FR 51562). The NPRM proposed to require you to inspect for 
misrouted rudder control cables; replace any worn or damaged guard 
pins; replace any pulley brackets that are damaged or worn; and replace 
any misrouted rudder control cables.
    Was the public invited to comment? Interested persons were 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

    What is FAA's final determination on this issue? After careful 
review of all available information related to the subject presented 
above, we have determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial 
corrections. We 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

    How many airplanes does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 842 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of this AD on owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to accomplish the 
inspection:

[[Page 75598]]



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                                                                                            Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane     airplane operators
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1 workhour x $60 per hour=$60........  No parts required for    $60 per airplane.......  $60 x 842=$50,520.
                                        the inspection.
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    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the rudder control 
replacement:

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                                                                                            Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane     airplane operators
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4 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $240..  Warranty Credit........  $240 per airplane......  $240  x  842 =
                                                                                          $202,080.
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The manufacturer will also allow warranty credit for labor to the extent noted in the service bulletin.

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the rudder control 
replacement:

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                                                                                            Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane     airplane operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $120..  No cost. Raytheon will   $120 per airplane......  $120  x  842 =
                                        provide.                                          $101,040.
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The manufacturer will also allow warranty credit for labor to the extent noted in the service bulletin.

Regulatory Impact

    Does this AD impact various entities? The regulations adopted 
herein will 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 final rule does not 
have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Does this 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) 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, under 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2000-24-04 Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-12011; Docket No. 
2000-CE-06-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects the 
following Beech airplane models and serial numbers that are 
certificated in any category;

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Model                           Serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A36.......................................  E-2519 through E-3140
B36TC.....................................  EA-501 through EA-608
58........................................  TH-1576 through TH-1838
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to correct the misrouted rudder control cable 
and consequent guard pin wear or fraying of the cables with loss of 
rudder control.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem? To address this 
problem, you must accomplish the following actions:

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                 Actions                               Compliance times                       Procedures
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(1) Inspect rudder control cables that     Inspect within the next 50 hours time-in- Accomplish the inspection
 are routed around the pulley and through   service after January 5, 2001 (the        in accordance with the
 the brackets.                              effective date of this AD), and           ACCOMPLISHMENT
(i) Replace any worn or damaged guard       accomplish all follow-on actions, such    INSTRUCTIONS paragraph of
 pins.                                      as replacements before further flight     Raytheon Mandatory Service
(ii) Inspect pulley brackets for wear and   after the inspection..                    Bulletin SB 27-3265,
 damage, and replace as necessary.                                                    Issued: January 2000, and
(iii) If rudder cables are routed                                                     the applicable airplane
 properly, check the airplane log book to                                             Maintenance Manual or Shop
 determine if a misrouted control cable                                               Manual.
 was detected during maintenance and the
 misrouting was corrected.

[[Page 75599]]

 
(2)  If a misrouting has been recorded or  Before further flight after the           Accomplish this action in
 found during this inspection, install      inspection..                              accordance with the
 replacement rudder control cables in                                                 ACCOMPLISHMENT
 accordance with the following:                                                       INSTRUCTIONS paragraph of
(i)  Apply corrosion preventive                                                       Raytheon Mandatory Service
 compounds, as necessary, to provide                                                  Bulletin SB 27-3265,
 corrosion protection.                                                                Issued: January 2000, and
(ii)  Install rudder control cables                                                   the applicable airplane
(iii)  Adjust rudder control cables to                                                Maintenance Manual or Shop
 correct tension and adjust control                                                   Manual.
 surface travel.
(iv)  Perform an operational checkout of
 the flight control system to ensure
 proper operation of installed rudder
 control cables, pulley brackets, guard
 pins and attaching hardware.
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    (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 Paul C. DeVore, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 
946-4142; 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) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3265, Issued: January 
2000. The director of the Federal Register approved this incor- 
poration by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You 
can get copies from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, 
KS 67201-0085; or on the Internet at http://www.raytheon.com/rac/servinfo/27-3265.pdf. This file is in Adobe Portable Document 
Format. The Acrobat Reader is available at http://www.adobe.com/>. 
You can look at copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, 
suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on January 5, 2001.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 20, 2000.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-30318 Filed 12-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P