[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 109 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38849-38851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13764]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-43-AD; Amendment 39-12768; AD 2002-11-07]
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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models E55, 
E55A, A56TC, 58, 58A, 58P, 58PA, 58TC, and 58TCA airplanes. This AD 
requires 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 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 
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: This AD becomes effective on July 15, 2002.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of July 
15, 2002.

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 view this 
information at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 
2001-CE-43-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: 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:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This 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 Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took no Action?

    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.

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 Models E55, E55A, A56TC, 58, 58A, 58P, 58PA, 58TC, and 
58TCA airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as 
a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on January 31, 2002 (67 FR 
4683). The NPRM proposed to require you to:

--Inspect 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;
--Inspect the installed switch for damage;
--Replace any damaged switch;
--Inspect the electroluminescent panel retaining screw to ensure 
correct length; and
--Replace any incorrect length electroluminescent panel retaining screw 
with a part number (P/N) MS35214-24 screw.

[[Page 38850]]

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. We did not receive any comments on the proposed rule 
or on our determination of the cost to the public.

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 editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor 
corrections:

--Provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the 
unsafe condition; and
--do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

What Are the Differences Between This 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 AD to include Models E55A, 
58A, 58PA, and 58TCA airplanes. The serial number ranges of the 
affected models indicated in the service information include 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 
require that you inspect within 100 hours TIS after the effective date 
of this 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 actions accomplished without compromising the safety of the 
airplanes.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 1,636 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    Total cost on
                 Labor cost                               Parts cost               per airplane   U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $60 per hour = $60............  No parts required for the                       $60         $98,160
                                              inspection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
replacements that will be required based on the results of the 
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 per hour =  $1 for a new          $180 + applicable
 $180.                         electroluminescent    replacement part(s)
                               panel retaining       cost.
                               screw.
                              $40 for a new
                               circuit breaker
                               switch.
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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:

2002-11-07  Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-12768; 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 Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 38851]]

    (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, unless 
already accomplished:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the Instrument        Within the next     In accordance with
 Subpanel electroluminescent       100 hours time-in-  the
 panel for the installation of a   service (TIS)       Accomplishment
 rotating beacon circuit breaker   after July 15,      Instructions
 switch or any other switch        2002 (the           section of
 directly above the lower          effective date of   Raytheon
 electroluminescent panel          this AD).           Mandatory Service
 retaining screw.                                      Bulletin SB 33-
                                                       3452, Issued:
                                                       May, 2001.
    (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 or FAA-approved
     equivalent part number
    (iii) If a rotating beacon
     circuit breaker switch or
     any other switch is
     installed, inspect the
     switch for damage.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Replace any damaged switch    Prior to further    In accordance with
 found during the inspection       flight after the    the
 required in paragraph             inspection          Accomplishment
 (d)(1)(iii) of this AD and        required by         Instructions
 replace the electroluminescent    paragraph           section of
 panel retaining screw if it is    (d)(1)(iii) of      Raytheon
 not 0.28 to 0.31 inches in        this AD.            Mandatory Service
 length with a P/N MS35214-24                          Bulletin SB 33-
 screw or FAA-approved                                 3452, Issued:
 equivalent part number.                               May, 2001.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Do not install any            As of July 15,      Not applicable.
 electroluminescent panel          2002 (the
 retaining screw in the lower      effective date of
 part of the Instrument Subpanel   this AD).
 (underneath the circuit breaker
 switches) that is not 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) 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 SB 33-3452, Issued: May, 
2001. The Director of the Federal Register approved this 
incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
You may get copies from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, 
Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. You may view 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 July 15, 2002.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 23, 2002.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-13764 Filed 6-5-02; 8:45 am]
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