[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 9 (Monday, January 14, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1670-1672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-798]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-32-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 58P, 
60, A60, B60, and 65-88 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) 
Model 58P, 60, A60, B60, and 65-88 airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require you to install new exterior operating instruction placards for 
the exit doors. The proposed AD is the result of Raytheon improving the 
visibility and understandability of the door operating instruction 
placards. This was done as a result of difficulty opening the emergency 
exits of a similar type design airplane. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to assure that clear and complete operating 
instructions are visible for opening the exit doors. If not visible or 
understandable, this could result in the inability to open the exit 
door during an emergency situation.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before March 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-CE-32-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get service information that applies to this proposed AD 
from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. You may also view 
this information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven E. Potter, Aerospace Engineer,

[[Page 1671]]

FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4124; 
facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this 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 to the address specified under the caption 
ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received on or before the 
closing date. We may amend this proposed rule in light of comments 
received. Factual information that supports your ideas and suggestions 
is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of this proposed 
AD action and determining whether we need to take additional rulemaking 
action.
    Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may 
view 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 contact we have with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of this proposed AD.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want FAA to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2001-CE-32-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? The FAA believes that the 
instructions for opening the exit doors are either not visible or not 
easy to understand on Raytheon Model 58P, 60, A60, B60, and 65-88 
airplanes. This is based on an accident that resulted in the issuance 
of AD 97-04-02. AD 97-04-02 was later superseded by AD 98-21-20 to 
incorporate more visible and understandable instructions.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? If the 
exterior door operating instruction placards are not visible or 
understandable, this could result in the inability to open the exit 
doors during an emergency situation.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Raytheon 
has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 11-3404, Issued: June, 2001.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for installing new exterior placards with 
improved operating instructions for the exit doors on the affected 
airplanes.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of 
this 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 Model 58P, 60, A60, B60, and 65-88 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 this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to install new exterior operating instruction placards for the exit 
doors.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 850 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to 
accomplish the proposed modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                           Labor cost                               Parts cost       airplane     U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours X $60 per hour = $120...............................             $40            $160        $136,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The manufacturer will provide warranty credit for parts to the 
extent noted under MATERIAL INFORMATION in Raytheon Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 11-3404, Issued: June, 2001.

Compliance Time of This Proposed AD

    What would be the compliance time of this proposed AD? The 
compliance time of this proposed AD is ``within the next 100 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD or within the 
next 12 calendar months after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs first''.
    Why is the compliance time of this proposed AD presented in both 
hours TIS and calendar time? The unsafe condition on these airplanes is 
not a result of the number of times the airplane is operated. Airplane 
operation varies among operators. For example, one operator may operate 
the airplane 50 hours TIS in 3 months while it may take another 
operator 12 months or more to accumulate 50 hours TIS. For this reason, 
the FAA has determined that the compliance time of the proposed AD 
should be specified in both hours time-in-service (TIS) and calendar 
time in order to assure this condition is not allowed to go uncorrected 
over time.

Regulatory Impact

    Would 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.
    Would 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) 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.

[[Page 1672]]

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 
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. 2001-CE-32-AD.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Model                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
58P..............................  TJ-3 through TJ-497.
60...............................  P-4 through P-122 and P-124 through P-
                                    126.
A60..............................  P-123 and P-127 through P-246.
B60..............................  P-247 through P-596.
65-88............................  LP-1 through LP-26, LP-28, and LP-30
                                    through LP-47.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 assure that clear and complete operating 
instructions are visible for opening the exit doors. If not visible 
or understandable, this could result in the inability to open the 
exit doors during an emergency situation.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modify the exterior door          Within the next     In accordance with
 operating procedures by           100 hours time-in-  the
 installing the applicable         service (TIS)       Accomplishment
 placard as specified in the       after the           Instructions
 service bulletin.                 effective date of   section of
                                   this AD or within   Raytheon
                                   the next 12         Mandatory Service
                                   calendar months     Bulletin SB 11-
                                   after the           3404, Issued:
                                   effective date of   June, 2001.
                                   this AD,
                                   whichever occurs
                                   first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 Steven E. Potter, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 
Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, 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 
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 get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. 
You may view these documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 4, 2002.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-798 Filed 1-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-33-U