[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23886-23888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10847]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-CE-26-AD; Amendment 39-13141; AD 2003-09-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 1900D 
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) Model 1900D 
airplanes. This AD requires you to accomplish a one-time inspection for 
missing rivets on certain areas of the airplane and, if necessary, 
install rivets. This AD is the result of Raytheon identifying several 
instances of missing rivets on these airplanes. The actions specified 
by this AD are intended to detect and correct an understrength 
condition in the fuselage, which could result in the failure of the 
fuselage. Such failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane in 
flight.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on June 27, 2003.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of June 
27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information 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 this 
information at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 
2002-CE-26-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: Mr. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4124; facsimile: 
(316) 946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The FAA has received reports from 
Raytheon that during manufacturing rivets were not installed in the 
following locations:

--Lower frame forward of the airstair door below the pilot's floor;
--Forward of the upper forward corner of the airstair door;
--The bulkhead forward of the cargo door below floor level; and
--The lower fuselage panel aft of the wing.

    These rivets must be installed for the fuselage to carry the 
ultimate design load. Without the rivets, these areas are 
understrength.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? The 
understrength condition in the fuselage could result in the failure of 
the fuselage. Such failure could lead to loss of control of the 
airplane in flight.
    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 Model 1900D 
airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 31, 2002 (67 FR 
79891). The NPRM proposed to require you to accomplish a one-time 
inspection for missing rivets on certain areas of the airplane and, if 
necessary, install rivets.
    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.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 370 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 per
             Labor cost                    Parts cost            airplane          Total cost U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 workhours x $60 per hour = $480..  No parts required.....            $480   $480 x 370 = $177,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary rivet 
installation 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 installation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 workhours x $60 per hour = $900....             $25             $925
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[[Page 23887]]

Compliance Time of This AD

    What is the compliance time of this AD? The compliance time of this 
AD is within the next 1,200 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 1 year after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
    Why is the compliance time of this AD presented in both hours TIS 
and calendar time? The usage of these airplanes varies widely because 
operators or lessors are cycling these airplanes between airplane 
storage and flight operations. The unsafe condition on these airplanes 
is not a direct result of the number of times the airplane is operated. 
For this reason, FAA has determined that the compliance time of this AD 
should be specified in both hours TIS and calendar time in order to 
ensure this condition is not allowed to go uncorrected over time.

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

0
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

0
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]

0
2. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2003-09-12 Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-13141; Docket No. 
2002-CE-26-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model 1900D airplanes, that are certificated in any category, with 
the following serial numbers: UE-1 through UE-50, UE-52 through UE-
350, UE-352 through UE-358, UE-360, UE-361, UE-363 through UE-369, 
UE-371 through UE-379, UE-381, UE-382, UE-385, UE-386, and UE-394.
    (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 an understrength 
condition in the fuselage, which could result in the failure of the 
fuselage. Such failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane 
in flight.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following, unless 
previously accomplished:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect for missing       Within the next       In accordance with
 rivets in the following       1,200 hours time-in-  the Accomplishment
 locations:.                   service (TIS) or 1    Instructions of
(i) Lower frame forward of     year after June 27,   Raytheon Aircraft
 the airstair door below the   2003 (the effective   Mandatory Service
 pilot's floor;.               date of this AD),     Bulletin No.: SB 53-
(ii) Forward of the upper      whichever occurs      3046, Issued:
 forward corner of the         first.                February 2002.
 airstair door;.
(iii) The bulkhead forward
 of the cargo door below
 floor level; and.
(iv) The lower fuselage
 panel aft of the wing..
(2) Install rivets where      Prior to further      In accordance with
 rivets are found missing..    flight after the      the Accomplishment
                               inspection required   Instructions of
                               in paragraph (d)(1)   Raytheon Aircraft
                               of this AD.           Mandatory Service
                                                     Bulletin No.: SB 53-
                                                     3046, Issued:
                                                     February 2002.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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? Mr. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4124; facsimile: 
(316) 946-4107.
    (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 Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No.: SB 53-3046, 
Issued: February 2002. 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

[[Page 23888]]

Company, 9709 E. Central, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; telephone: 
(800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. 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 June 27, 2003.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 25, 2003.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10847 Filed 5-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P