[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4683-4685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2300]



[[Page 4683]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-43-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models E55, 
E55A, A56TC, 58, 58A, 58P, 58PA, 58TC, and 58TCA 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) 
Models E55, E55A, A56TC, 58, 58A, 58P, 58PA, 58TC, and 58TCA airplanes. 
This proposed AD would require you to inspect the Instrument Subpanel 
electroluminescent panel retaining screw for proper length and the 
rotating beacon circuit breaker switch (or any other switch in the same 
location) for damage, and replace any screw or circuit breaker switch 
as necessary. This proposed AD is the result of a report that an 
improper length electroluminescent panel retaining screw damaged the 
rotating beacon circuit breaker switch which resulted in damaged 
wiring. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to 
prevent damage to the rotating beacon circuit breaker switch or any 
other switch in the same location because of an incorrect length 
electroluminescent panel retaining screw. This condition could result 
in failure of the circuit breaker and lead to smoke and/or fire in the 
cockpit.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before April 5, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-CE-43-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: Todd Dixon, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
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?

    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-43-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail 
the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This Proposed AD?

    Raytheon notified FAA of an incident where the pilot had to return 
to the departing airport after declaring an emergency because of smoke 
in the cockpit. After investigation, FAA determined that the cause of 
smoke in the cockpit was a result of damage to the rotating beacon 
circuit breaker switch caused by an improper length electroluminescent 
panel retaining screw. The damaged circuit breaker switch failed to 
shutdown the electrical current to the rotating beacon. Failure of the 
circuit breaker switch caused the wiring to burn through the insulation 
and the other wires in the wire bundle that were routed with the wiring 
to the rotating beacon circuit breaker switch.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
rotating beacon circuit breaker switch or any other switch in the same 
location. Failure of the circuit breaker switch could result in smoke 
and/or fire in the cockpit.

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

    Raytheon has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 33-3452, Issued: 
May, 2001.

What Are the Provisions of This Service Information?

    The service bulletin includes procedures for:

--Inspecting the Instrument Subpanel electroluminescent panel for the 
installation of a rotating beacon circuit breaker switch or any other 
switch installed directly above the electroluminescent panel retaining 
screw;
--Inspecting the installed switch for damage;
--Replacing any damaged switch;
--Inspecting the electroluminescent panel retaining screw to ensure 
correct length; and
--Replacing any incorrect length electroluminescent panel retaining 
screw with a part number (P/N) MS35214-24 screw.

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 Models E55, E55A, A56TC, 58, 58A, 58P, 58PA, 
58TC, and 58TCA 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.

[[Page 4684]]

What Would This Proposed AD Require?

    This proposed AD would require you to incorporate the actions in 
the previously-referenced service bulletin.

What Are the Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service 
Information?

    Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 33-3452, Issued: May, 
2001, is applicable to Models E55, A56TC, 58, 58P, and 58TC airplanes. 
We have expanded the applicability of this proposed AD to include 
Models E55A, 58A, 58PA, and 58TCA airplanes. The serial number ranges 
of the affected models indicated in the service information includes 
these models as indicated on Type Certificate Data Sheet 3A16, dated 
January 15, 2000.
    Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 33-3452, Issued: May, 
2001, specifies that you accomplish the inspection within 25 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) or 10 days after the effective date of the AD. We 
propose a requirement that you inspect within 100 hours TIS after the 
effective date of this proposed AD.
    We do not have justification to require this action within 25 hours 
TIS. We use compliance times such as this when we have identified an 
urgent safety of flight situation. We believe that 100 hours TIS will 
give the owners or operators of the affected airplanes enough time to 
have the proposed actions accomplished without compromising the safety 
of the airplanes.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Would This Proposed AD Impact?

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,636 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 
inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                Labor cost                              Parts cost                  airplane     U.S.  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour  x  $60 = $60..................  No parts required for the                      $60          $98,160
                                             inspection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
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 replacements:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Total cost per
         Labor cost                Parts cost             airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 workhours  x  $60 = $180..  $1 for new            $180 + applicable
                               electroluminescent    replacement part(s)
                               panel retaining       cost
                               screw.
                              $40 for new circuit
                               breaker switch.
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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.

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-43-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 numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E55 and E55A...........................  TE-768 through TE-1201
A56TC..................................  TG-84 through TG-94
58 and 58A.............................  TH-1 through TH-1388 and TH-
                                          1390 through TH-1395
58P and 58PA...........................  TJ-3 through TJ-435 and TJ-437
                                          through TJ-443
58TC and 58TCA.........................  TK-1 through TK-146 and TK-148
                                          through TK-150
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent damage to the rotating beacon 
circuit breaker switch or any other switch in the same location 
because of an incorrect length electroluminescent panel retaining 
screw. This condition could result in failure of the circuit breaker 
and lead to smoke and/or fire in the cockpit.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

[[Page 4685]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the Instrument    Within the next 100   In accordance with
 Subpanel electroluminescent   hours time-in-        the Accomplishment
 panel for the installation    service (TIS) after   Instructions
 of a rotating beacon          the effective date    section of Raytheon
 circuit breaker switch or     of this AD.           Mandatory Service
 any other switch directly                           Bulletin SB 33-
 above the lower                                     3452, Issued: May,
 electroluminescent panel                            2001.
 retaining screw.
    (i) If a blanking plug
     is installed above the
     lower
     electroluminescent
     panel retaining screw,
     ensure that the correct
     length screw is
     installed. The correct
     length is 0.28 to 0.31
     inches.
    (ii) If the screw is not
     the correct length,
     install part number (P/
     N) MS35214-24.
    (iii) If a rotating
     beacon circuit breaker
     switch or any other
     switch is installed,
     inspect the switch for
     damage.
(2) Replace any damaged       Prior to further      In accordance with
 switch found during the       flight after the      the Accomplishment
 inspection required in        inspection required   Instructions
 paragraph (d)(1)(iii) of      by paragraph          section of Raytheon
 this AD and replace the       (d)(1)(iii) of this   Mandatory Service
 electroluminescent panel      AD.                   Bulletin SB 33-
 retaining screw if it is                            3452, Issued: May,
 not 0.28 to 0.31 inches in                          2001.
 length with a P/N MS35214-
 24 screw.
(3) Only install an           As of the effective   Not applicable.
 electroluminescent panel      date of this AD.
 retaining screw in the
 lower part of the
 Instrument Subpanel
 (underneath the circuit
 breaker switches) that:.
    (i) Has a length of at
     least 0.28 inches but
     not longer than 0.31
     inches; or
    (ii) Is P/N MS35214-24
     or FAA-approved
     equivalent part number.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 Todd Dixon, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; 
telephone: (316) 946-4152; 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 24, 2002.
Michael K. Dahl,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-2300 Filed 1-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U