[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10226-10229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3679]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-25-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
F33A, A36, B36TC, 58/58A, C90A, B200, and 1900D Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) 
Beech Model F33A, A36, B36TC, 58/58A, C90A, B200, and 1900D airplanes 
equipped with a KA-33 cooling blower. The proposed AD would require you 
to incorporate certain electrical parts to protect cooling blowers. 
Several reports of circuit breakers failing to protect cooling blowers 
on the affected airplanes have prompted the proposed action. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to provide protection 
to the blower motor circuit, thus reducing the possibility of emission 
of smoke or a burning odor into the cockpit or passenger compartment as 
a result of a failed or seized blower motor.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule by April 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send three copies of comments to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-25-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106. You may look at comments at this location between 
8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    You may get the service information referenced in the proposed AD 
from the Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. You may look at this 
information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Dixon, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4152; facsimile: 
(316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite your comments on 
the proposed rule. You may send whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
send your comments in triplicate to the address named under the caption 
ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received by the closing date 
specified above, before acting on the proposed rule. We may change the 
proposals contained in this notice because of the comments received.
    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 call for a need to change the proposed rule. You may 
examine all comments we receive. We will file a report in the Rules 
Docket that summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns 
the substantive parts of this proposal.
    The FAA is reexamining 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 the 
ease of understanding this document, 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.faa.gov/language/.
    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. 2000-CE-25-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? The FAA has received 
several reports of blower motors failing, seizing, smoking, and 
producing a burning odor that enters the cabin and passenger 
compartment. These events are the result of the blower motor having 
circuit protection of more than 1 ampere. This amount of circuit 
protection does not prevent the blower motor from smoking and creating 
a burning odor should it fail or seize.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? This

[[Page 10227]]

condition could result in smoke or burning odor entering the cockpit or 
passenger compartments.

Relevant Service Information

    What service information applies to this subject? Raytheon has 
issued these Service Bulletins:

--SB 34-3267, Issued: March 1999;
--SB 34-3268, Issued: April 2000;
--SB 34-3269, Issued: January 2000; and
--SB 34-3269, Revision 1, Revised: October 2000.
    What are the provisions of these service bulletins? These service 
bulletins specify and include procedures for the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Specifies and
        Service bulletin              Applies to           includes
                                                        procedures for
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 34-  Certain Raytheon    Inspecting for an
 3267.                             Models F33A, A36,   installed KA-33
                                   B36TC, and 58/58A   cooling blower.
                                   airplanes.         If the aircraft
                                                       has a KA-33
                                                       cooling blower,
                                                       installing a 1
                                                       ampere circuit
                                                       breaker, part
                                                       number (P/N) 7277-
                                                       2-1, in place of
                                                       the factory
                                                       installed 3
                                                       ampere/5 ampere
                                                       circuit breakers.
Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 34-  Certain Raytheon    Installing the in-
 3268.                             Model 1900D         line fuse holder,
                                   airplanes.          P/N HHJ-A, in
                                                       wire J51500E-
                                                       J039002.
                                                      Installing the 1
                                                       ampere slow-burn
                                                       fuse, P/N MDA1,
                                                       in the fuse
                                                       holder.
Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 34-  Certain Raytheon    Installing the in-
 3269 and SB 34-3269, Revision 1.  Models C90A and     line fuse holder,
                                   B200 airplanes.     P/N HHJ-A,
                                                       following SB 34-
                                                       3269 Rev. 1,
                                                       Figures 1 or 2 or
                                                       3 (whichever is
                                                       applicable).
                                                      Installing the 1
                                                       ampere slow-burn
                                                       fuse, P/N MDL1,
                                                       in the fuse
                                                       holder
                                                      In addition, for
                                                       Model B200
                                                       aircraft,
                                                       installing the
                                                       GMW-3 fuse in the
                                                       Avionics Junction
                                                       Box.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 incidents described 
above, we have determined that:

--the unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Raytheon Beech Model F33A, A36, B36TC, 58/58A, C90A, 
B200, and 1900D airplanes of the same type design;
--these airplanes should have the actions specified in the service 
bulletins incorporated; and
--FAA should take AD action to correct this unsafe condition.

    What does this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to incorporate the electrical installations presented in the 
service bulletin.
    What are the differences between the service bulletin and the 
proposed AD? Raytheon specifies in the service information that you are 
to do this modification at the next scheduled inspection or before 6 
months or 600 hours time-in-service, whichever comes first. We propose 
a requirement that you do the modification within the next 6 calendar 
months or 600 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever comes first, after 
the effective date of the proposed AD. We cannot enforce a compliance 
time of ``at the next scheduled inspection.'' We believe that 6 
calendar months or 600 hours TIS will give the owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes enough time to have the proposed actions done 
without compromising the safety of the airplanes. This will allow the 
owners/operators to work this proposed modification into regularly 
scheduled maintenance.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does this proposed AD impact? We estimate the 
proposed AD would affect 3,403 airplanes in the U.S. registry:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            No. of U.S.
                         Models                              airplanes
                                                             affected
------------------------------------------------------------------------
F33A, A36, B36TC, and 58/58A............................           2,385
C90A....................................................             275
B200....................................................             343
1900D...................................................             400
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    What is the cost impact of the proposed action for the affected 
airplanes on the U.S. Register? We estimate the following costs to do 
the proposed inspection for Beech Models F33A, A36, B36TC, and 58/58A 
airplanes:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Total cost on
                 Labor cost                            Parts cost             Total cost for     U.S. airplane
                                                                              each airplane        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour  x  $60 each hour = $60.........  No parts needed for                          $60           $143,100
                                              inspection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For Beech Models F33A, A36, B36TC, and 58/58A airplanes, we 
estimate the following costs to do any necessary circuit breaker 
installation that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. We have no way of knowing the number of airplanes 
that may need the circuit breaker installation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Total cost for each
          Labor cost              Parts cost             airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour  x  $60 each hour   $32.50 for each     $60 + $32.50 = $92.50
 = $60 to do each circuit       airplane.
 breaker installation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 10228]]

    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed installation for 
Beech Model C90A airplanes. We have no way of knowing how many 
airplanes may need the in-line fuse holder and 1 ampere slow-burn fuse 
installation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Total cost for each
          Labor cost              Parts cost             airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour  x  $60 each hour   $11.80 for each     $60 + $11.80 = $71.80
 = $60 to do each inline fuse   airplane.
 holder and 1-ampere slow-
 burn fuse installation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed installation for 
Beech Models B200 airplanes. We have no way of knowing how many 
airplanes may need the in-line fuse holder and 1 ampere slow-burn fuse 
installation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Total cost for each
          Labor cost              Parts cost             airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours  x  $60 each hour  $18.81 for each   $120 + $18.81 = $138.81
 = $120 to do each in-line      airplane.
 fuse holder, 1-ampere slow-
 burn fuse installation and
 the Avionics Junction Box re-
 work.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed installation for 
Beech Models 1900D airplanes. We have no way of knowing the number of 
airplanes that may need the in-line fuse holder and 1 ampere slow-burn 
fuse installation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Total cost for each
          Labor cost              Parts cost             airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour  x  $60 each hour   $11.80 for each    $60 + $11.80 = $71.80.
 = $60 to do each in-line       airplane.
 fuse holder and 1-ampere
 slow-burn fuse installation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The manufacturer will allow warranty credit for labor and parts to 
the extent noted in the service bulletin.

Regulatory Impact

    Does this proposed AD impact relations between Federal and State 
governments? The proposed regulations would 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. We have 
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 Department of Transportation 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if put into effect, 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. We have placed a 
copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action in the 
Rules Docket. You may get a copy of it 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

    Therefore, under 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.


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. 2000-CE-25-AD.
    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? The following model 
airplanes, certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                           Serial Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beech F33A........................  CE-1050 through CE-1791.
Beech A36.........................  E-2205 through E-3217.
Beech B36TC.......................  EA-443 through EA-628.
Beech 58/58A......................  TH-1436 through TH-1883.
Beech C90A........................  Do not have the EFIS-84
                                     System.Installation equipped with
                                     factory installed KLN-88 LORAN: LJ-
                                     1278, LJ-1288, LJ-1293, LJ-1299, LJ-
                                     1314, AND LJ-1315.
Beech C90A........................  Equipped with Collins EFIS-84
                                     System:LJ-1306, LJ-1316, LJ-1318,
                                     LJ-1320 through LJ-1334, LJ-1340
                                     through LJ-1592.
Beech B200........................  BB-1314, BB-1449 through BB-1692
                                     equipped with Collins EFIS-84
                                     System.
1900D.............................  UE-1 through UE-401.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 provide protection to the blower motor 
circuit, thus reducing the possibility of the emission of smoke or a 
burning odor in the cockpit or passenger compartment from a failed 
or seized blower motor.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem for Beech Models 
F33A, A36, B36TC, and 58/58A? To address this problem, you must do 
the following actions:

[[Page 10229]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions               Compliance times       Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect for an installed and  Within the next     Do this action
 properly working KA-33 cooling    600 hours time-in-  following
 blower.                           service (TIS) or    Raytheon
                                   within the next 6   Mandatory Service
                                   calendar months     Bulletin SB 34-
                                   after the           3267, Issued:
                                   effective date of   March 1999.
                                   this AD,
                                   whichever comes
                                   first, unless
                                   already performed.
(2) If the aircraft has a KA-33   Before further      Do this action
 cooling blower, install a 1       flight after the    following
 ampere circuit breaker, part      inspection.         Raytheon
 number (P/N) 7277-2-1, in place                       Mandatory Service
 of the factory installed 3                            Bulletin SB 34-
 ampere/5 ampere circuit                               3267, Issued:
 breakers.                                             March 1999.
(3) Do not install, on any        As of the
 affected airplane, any 3 ampere/  effective date of
 5 ampere circuit breakers to      this AD..
 protect the KA-33 Cooling
 Blower.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) What must I do to address this problem for Beech Models 
C90A? To address this problem, you must do the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions               Compliance times       Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Install the in-line fuse      Within the next     Do these actions
 holder, P/N HHJ-A, per the        600 hours TIS or    following
 Service Bulletin instructions,    within the next 6   Raytheon
 and install the 1-ampere slow-    calendar months     Mandatory Service
 burn fuse, P/N MDL1 in the fuse   after the           Bulletin SB 34-
 holder.                           effective date of   3269, Revision 1,
                                   this AD,            Revised: October
                                   whichever comes     2000.
                                   first, unless
                                   already performed.
(2) Doing this action following   Within the next     Not Applicable.
 Raytheon Mandatory Service        600 hours TIS or
 Bulletin SB 34-3269, Issued:      within the next 6
 January 2000, is considered an    calendar months
 alternative method of             after the
 compliance within this AD.        effective date of
                                   this AD,
                                   whichever comes
                                   first, unless
                                   already
                                   performed..
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) What must I do to address this problem for Beech Models 
B200? To address this problem, you must do the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions               Compliance times       Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Install the in-line fuse      Within the next     Do these actions
 holder, P/N HHJ-A. Install the    600 hours TIS or    following
 1-ampere slow-burn fuse, P/N      within the next 6   Raytheon
 MDL1 in the fuse holder.          calendar months     Mandatory Service
                                   after the           Bulletin SB 34-
                                   effective date of   3269, Revision 1,
                                   this AD,            Revised: October
                                   whichever comes     2000.
                                   first, unless
                                   already
                                   performed..
(2) Remove the P/N GMW-1 fuse     Within the next     Do these actions
 and install the new P/N GMW-3     600 hours TIS or    following
 fuse in the Avionics Junction     within the next 6   Raytheon
 Box.                              calendar months     Mandatory Service
                                   after the           Bulletin SB 34-
                                   effective date of   3269, Revision 1,
                                   this AD,            Revised: October
                                   whichever comes     2000.
                                   first, unless
                                   already
                                   performed..
(3) Doing this action following   Within the next     Not Applicable.
 Raytheon Mandatory Service        600 hours TIS or
 Bulletin SB 34-3269, Issued:      within the next 6
 January 2000, is considered an    calendar months
 alternative method of             after the
 compliance within this AD.        effective date of
                                   this AD,
                                   whichever comes
                                   first, unless
                                   already performed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (g) What must I do to address this problem for Model 1900D? To 
address this problem, you must do the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions               Compliance times       Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Install the in-line fuse holder,  Within the next     Do these actions
 P/N HHJ-A, in wire J51500E-       600 hours TIS or    following
 J039002. Install the 1-ampere     within the next 6   Raytheon
 slow-burn fuse, P/N MDA1 in the   calendar months     Mandatory Service
 fuse holder.                      after the           Bulletin SB 34-
                                   effective date of   3268, Issued:
                                   this AD,            April 2000.
                                   whichever comes
                                   first, unless
                                   already
                                   performed..
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (h) 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. Send 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 with a KA-33 cooling 
blower 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 following paragraph (h) of this AD. 
You should include in the request 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.

    (i) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Todd Dixon, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 
946-4152; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.
    (j) 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 
Secs. 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 perform the requirements of this AD.
    (k) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may get the service information referenced in the AD from the 
Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; 
or you may look at the service information at FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 7, 2001.
William J. Timberlake,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-3679 Filed 2-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P