[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8750-8752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2300]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-74-AD; Amendment 39-12094; AD 2001-02-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
60, A60, and B60 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) Beech Models 
60, A60, and B60 airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect for the 
existence of any lower forward wing bolts with the Mercury Aerospace 
trademark, and replace any such bolt with an FAA-approved bolt without 
this trademark. This 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 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.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on March 19, 2001.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of March 
19, 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. You may examine this 
information at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-
CE-74-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: 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:

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.
    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 60, 
A60, and B60 airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal 
Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on October 12, 2000 
(65 FR 60599). The NPRM proposed to 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.
    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

[[Page 8751]]

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 593 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:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour  x  $60 per hour = $60....  Not applicable.........  $60 per airplane.......  $60  x  593 = $35,580.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
replacements that will be required based on the results of the 
inspection. Based on manufacturer data from its warranty program, 10 
bolts were replaced, which leaves 60 suspect bolts still in the field.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Total cost per
           Labor cost                 Parts cost           airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 workhours  x  $60 per hour =    Approximately $500  $480 + $500 = $980
 $480.                             per airplane.       per airplane.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Please note that the warranty credit has expired.

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:

2001-02-10  Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-12094; 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 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   In accordance with
 forward wing bolts (left      hours time-in-        the ACCOMPLISHMENT
 and right) for the Mercury    service (TIS) after   INSTRUCTIONS
 Aerospace trademark.          March 19, 2001 (the   section of Raytheon
                               effective date of     Mandatory Service
                               this AD), unless      Bulletin SB 57-
                               already               3328, Issued: July,
                               accomplished.         1999.
(2) Replace any lower         Prior to further      In accordance with
 forward wing bolt that has    flight after the      the ACCOMPLISHMENT
 the Mercury Aerospace         inspection, unless    INSTRUCTIONS
 trademark with an FAA-        already               section of Raytheon
 approved bolt that does not   accomplished.         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 March 19, 2001  Not Applicable.
 affected airplanes, a         (the effective date
 forward wing bolt that has    of this AD).
 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 1: 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

[[Page 8752]]

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) 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 No. SB 57-3328, Issued: 
July, 1999. The Director of the Federal Register approved this 
incorporation 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, Kansas 67201-0085. 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 March 19, 2001.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 18, 2001.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-2300 Filed 2-1-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U