[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7449-7451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3611]


 ========================================================================
 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. 68, No. 31 / Friday, February 14, 2003 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 7449]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-CE-45-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company 90, 100, and 
200 Series 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) 
90, 100, and 200 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require you 
to inspect the forward side of the aft pressure bulkhead for scoring 
damage and repair, if necessary. This proposed AD is the result of 
reports of the aft pressure bulkhead being damaged by scoring during 
manufacture. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to 
detect and correct damage to the aft pressure bulkhead of the fuselage. 
Such damage could lead to fatigue failure of the bulkhead.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before April 23, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-CE-45-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 also send comments 
electronically to the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments sent electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2002-CE-45-AD'' 
in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached 
electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for 
Windows or ASCII text.
    You may get service information that applies to this proposed AD 
from Raytheon Aircraft Company, 9709 E. Central, 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: Mr. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, 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 mailed comments, you must include a 
self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2002-CE-45-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 that during manufacturing, nine aft pressure bulkheads of 
Raytheon 90, 100, and 200 series airplanes may have been damaged by 
scribing or knife marks (scoring).
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? The 
damage to the aft pressure bulkhead may cause fatigue failure of the 
bulkhead.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Raytheon 
has issued Service Bulletin No. SB 53-3513, Revision 1, Issued May 
2002, Revised October 2002.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for:

--Inspecting the forward side of the aft pressure bulkhead for scoring 
damage; and
--Repairing, if required, the forward side of the aft pressure 
bulkhead.

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 90, 100, and 200 series 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 incorporate the actions in the previously-referenced service 
bulletin.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 3,223 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 of the forward side of the aft 
pressure bulkhead:

[[Page 7450]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                               Parts cost                airplane     U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 workhours x $60 per hour = $480.............  Not applicable..................            $480      $1,547,040
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary repairs 
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 repair of the forward side of the aft pressure bulkhead:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 workhours x $60 per hour = $960......             $25            $985
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 6 calendar 
months after the effective date of this AD.
    Why is the proposed compliance time presented in calendar time 
instead of hours time-in-service (TIS)? This unsafe condition is not a 
result of the number of times the airplane is operated. The chance of 
this situation occurring is the same for an airplane with 10 hours TIS 
as it would be for an airplane with 500 hours TIS. For this reason, FAA 
has determined that a compliance based on calendar time should be 
utilized in this AD in order to ensure that the unsafe condition is 
addressed on all airplanes in a reasonable time period.

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. 2002-CE-45-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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 65-90, 65-A90, B90, C90, and    LJ-1 through LJ-1287, LJ-1289
 C90A.                               through LJ-1294, and LJ-1296
                                     through LJ-1299.
(2) E90...........................  LW-1 through LW-347.
(3) F90...........................  LA-2 through LA-236.
(4) H90 (T-44A)...................  LL-1 through LL-61.
(5) 100 and A100..................  B-2 through B-89, B-93, and B-100
                                     through B-247.
(6) A100 (U-21F)..................  B-1, B-90 through B-92, and B-94
                                     through B-99.
(7) A100-1 (U-21J)................  BB-3 through BB-5.
(8) A200 (C-12A) and (C-12C)......  BC-1 through BC-61, BC-62 through BC-
                                     75, and BD-1 through BD-30.
(9) A200C (UC-12B)................  BJ-1 through BJ-66.
(10) A200CT (C-12D)...............  BP-1, BP-19, and BP-24 through BP-
                                     51.
(11) A200CT (C-12F)...............  BP-52 through BP-63.
(12) B200C (C-12F)................  BP-64 through BP-71, BL-73 through
                                     BL-112, and BL-118 through BL-123.
(13) A200CT (FWC-12D).............  BP-7 through BP-11.
(14) A200CT (RC-12D)..............  GR-1 through GR-12.
(15) A200CT (RC-12G)..............  FC-1 through FC-3.
(16) A200CT (RC-12H)..............  GR-14 through GR-19.
(17) A200CT (RC-12K)..............  FE-1 through FE-9.
(18) A200CT (RC-12P)..............  FE-25 through FE-31, FE-33, and FE-
                                     35.
(19) A200CT (RC-12Q)..............  FE-32, FE-34, and FE-36.
(20) B100.........................  BE-1 through BE-137.
(21) B200C........................  BL-37 through BL-57, BL-61 through
                                     BL-72, and BL-124 through BL-138.
(22) 200C.........................  BL-1 through BL-23, BL-26 through BL-
                                     36.
(23) B200C (C-12F)................  BP-64 through BP-71, BL-73 through
                                     BL-112, and BL-118 through BL-123.

[[Page 7451]]

 
(24) B200C (C-12R)................  BW-1 through BW-29.
(25) B200C (UC-12F)...............  BU-1 through BU-10.
(26) B200C (UC-12M)...............  BV-1 through BV-10.
(27) B200CT and 200CT.............  BN-1 through BN-4.
(28) B200T and 200T...............  BT-1 through BT-34, and BB-1314.
(29) 200..........................  BB-2, BB-6 through BB-185, BB-187
                                     through BB-202, BB-204 through BB-
                                     269, BB-271 through BB-407, BB-409
                                     through BB-468, BB-470 through BB-
                                     488, BB-490 through BB-509, BB-511
                                     through BB-529, BB-531 through BB-
                                     550, BB-552 through BB-562, BB-564
                                     through BB-572, BB-574 through BB-
                                     590, BB-592 through BB-608, BB-610
                                     through BB-626, BB-628 through BB-
                                     646, BB-648 through BB-664, BB-666
                                     through BB-694, BB-696 through BB-
                                     733, BB-735 through BB-792, BB-794
                                     through BB-797, BB-799 through BB-
                                     822, BB-825 through BB-828, BB-830
                                     through BB-853, BB-872, BB-873, BB-
                                     892, BB-893, and BB-912.
(30) B200.........................  BB-734, BB-793, BB-829, BB-854
                                     through BB-870, BB-874 through BB-
                                     891, BB-894, BB-896 through BB-911,
                                     BB-913 through BB-990, BB-992
                                     through BB-1051, BB-1053 through BB-
                                     1092, BB-1094, BB-1099 through BB-
                                     1104, BB-1106 through BB-1116, BB-
                                     1118 through BB-1184, BB-1186
                                     through BB-1263, BB-1265 through BB-
                                     1288, BB-1290 through BB-1300, BB-
                                     1302 through BB-1313, BB-1315
                                     through BB-1384, BB-1389 through BB-
                                     1425, BB-1427 through BB-1438, and
                                     BB-1440 through BB-14443.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 detect and correct damage to the aft 
pressure bulkhead of the fuselage. Such damage could lead to fatigue 
failure of the bulkhead.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the forward side of   Within the next 6   In accordance with
 the aft pressure bulkhead for     calendar months     the
 scoring damage.                   after the           Accomplishment
                                   effective date of   Instructions of
                                   this AD, unless     Raytheon Aircraft
                                   already             Mandatory Service
                                   accomplished.       Bulletin No.: SB
                                                       53-3513, Rev. 1,
                                                       dated: October
                                                       2002.
(2) If scoring damage is found,   Prior to further    In accordance with
 repair as specified in the        flight after the    the
 Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory       inspection          Accomplishment
 Service Bulletin No.: SB 53-      required in         Instructions of
 3513, Rev. 1, dated: October      paragraph (d)(1)    Raytheon Aircraft
 2002. As applicable, obtain a     of this AD,         Mandatory Service
 repair scheme from the            unless already      Bulletin No.: SB
 manufacturer through FAA at the   accomplished.       53-3513, Rev. 1,
 address specified in paragraph                        dated: October
 (f) of this AD and incorporate                        2002. As
 this repair scheme.                                   applicable,
                                                       repair in
                                                       accordance with a
                                                       repair scheme
                                                       obtained from
                                                       Raytheon Aircraft
                                                       Company. Obtain
                                                       this repair
                                                       scheme through
                                                       FAA at the
                                                       address specified
                                                       in paragraph (f)
                                                       of 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. 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 Mr. Steven E. Potter, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 
Airport Road, 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, 9709 E. Central, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. 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 February 7, 2003.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-3611 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
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