[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44988-44990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21498]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register/Vol. 66, No. 166/Monday, August 27, 2001/Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 44988]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-80-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
65-90, 65-A90, 65-A90-1, 65-A90-4, B90, C90, C90A, E90, and H-90 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: This document proposes a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
would apply to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Beech 
Models 65-90, 65-A90, 65-A90-1, 65-A90-4, B90, C90, C90A, E90, and H-90 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to repetitively inspect 
the main landing gear upper torque knees and lower torque knees for 
evidence of fatigue cracks; and replace any torque knee with evidence 
of fatigue cracks. The proposed AD is the result of reports of many 
incidents of main landing gear torque knees cracking or breaking on the 
above-referenced airplanes. The actions specified by this proposed AD 
are intended to detect and replace cracked main landing gear torque 
knees, which could result in failure of the main landing gear and 
consequent loss of control of the airplane during takeoff, landing, or 
other ground operations.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule by October 31, 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; or on the Internet 
at http://www.raytheon.com/rac/servinfo/32-3134r1.pdf and http://www.raytheon.com/rac/servinfo/32-3116.pdf. These files are in Adobe 
Portable Document Format. The Acrobat Reader is available at http://www.adobe.com/. You may read this information at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-80-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4124; 
facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    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 ``Docket No. 99-CE-
80-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? The FAA has received 
reports of many incidents of fatigue cracks occurring on main landing 
gear torque knees. There have been at least four reports where the main 
landing gear separated from the airplane.
    The cause of this problem is cumulative fatigue damage on the main 
landing gear torque knees.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in the failure of the main 
landing gear while the airplane is in operation with consequent loss of 
control of the airplane during takeoff, landing, or other ground 
operations.

Relevant Service Information

    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Raytheon 
has issued these service bulletins:

--Service Bulletin SB 32-3134, Revision 1, Revised: July 1999; and
--Service Bulletin SB 32-3116, issued October 1999.

    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? The service 
bulletins include procedures for:

--Repetitively inspecting the main landing gear upper and lower torque 
knees for fatigue cracks; and
--replacing any torque knees with fatigue cracks.

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 Models 65-90, 65-A90, 65-A90-1, 65-A90-
4, B90, C90, C90A, E90, and H-90 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 would the proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to incorporate the actions in the previously referenced service 
bulletins.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD would affect 2,124 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/operators of 
the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to inspect the 
landing gear torque knees:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Total cost
              Labor cost                         Parts cost            for each     Total cost on U.S. airplane
                                                                       airplane              operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $1200.  $50 per airplane...........       $1,250  $1,250  x  2,124 = $2,655,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The manufacturer will also allow warranty credit to the extent noted in the service bulletin.


[[Page 44989]]

    These costs only take into account the costs of the initial 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of repetitive 
inspections each owner/operator will incur over the life of the 
affected airplane.
    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary torque knee 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of 
airplanes that may need such replacement:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Labor cost                         Parts cost                     Total cost per airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 8 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $480.  $3,286 per airplane..........  $3,766 per airplane.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

    Does this proposed AD impact various entities? The regulations 
proposed 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 proposed 
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.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, 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. 99-CE-80-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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
65-90, 65-A90, B90, C90, and C90A.........  LJ-1 through LJ-1559.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
65-A90-1..................................  LM-1 through LM-141.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
65-A90-4..................................  LU-1 through LU-16.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E90.......................................  LW-1 through LW-347.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H-90......................................  LL-1 through LL-61.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplane models must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to detect and replace cracked main landing gear 
torque knees, which could result in failure of the main landing gear 
with consequent loss of control of the airplane during takeoff, 
landing, or other ground operations.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem? To address this 
problem, you must do the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions              Compliance times         Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the main landing  Inspect within the    Do the action
 gear upper torque knee and    next 100 hours time-  following the
 lower torque knee for         in-service (TIS)      Accomplishment
 fatigue cracks.               after the effective   Instructions
                               date of this AD,      paragraph of
                               and thereafter at     Raytheon Mandatory
                               intervals not to      Service Bulletin SB
                               exceed 1,000 hours    32-3134, Revision
                               TIS.                  1, Revised: July
                                                     1999, and the
                                                     applicable airplane
                                                     maintenance manual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) If fatigue cracks are     Before further        Do the action
 found in the main landing     flight after the      following the
 gear torque knees during      inspection.           Accomplishment
 any inspection required by                          Instructions
 this AD, replace the                                paragraph of
 cracked torque knees.                               Raytheon Mandatory
                                                     Service Bulletin SB
                                                     32-3116, Issued:
                                                     October 1999, and
                                                     the applicable
                                                     airplane
                                                     maintenance manual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) When both the left and    You may replace all   Do the action
 right main landing gear       torque knees at any   following the
 upper and lower torque        time, except for      Accomplishment
 knees are replaced with new   those torque knees    Instructions
 upper torque knees (part      that are found with   paragraph of
 number 50-810032-12) and      evidence of fatigue   Raytheon Mandatory
 new lower torque knees        cracks. Such torque   Service Bulletin SB
 (part number 50-810295-25),   knees must be         32-3116, Issued:
 the repetitive inspection     replaced before       October 1999, and
 requirement of this AD is     further flight, as    the applicable
 no longer required.           required by           airplane
                               paragraph (d)(2) of   maintenance manual.
                               this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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. Send your request through an

[[Page 44990]]

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 Steven E. Potter, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 
Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-
4124; 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 
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 accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You can get copies from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, 
Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-
3140; or on the Internet at http://www.raytheon.com/rac/servinfo/32-3134r1.pdf and http://www.raytheon.com/rac/servinfo/32-3116.pdf. 
These files are 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 17, 2001.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21498 Filed 8-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U