[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62544-62545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27798]


 ========================================================================
 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. 214 / Wednesday, November 5, 2003 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 62544]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 1900C 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Raytheon Model 1900C airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require you to replace the 200-amp electrical power current limiter in 
the landing gear with a 60-amp electrical power circuit breaker. This 
proposed AD is the result of reports about the inability to 
automatically lower the landing gear and the inability to operate other 
related electrical systems. The actions specified by this proposed AD 
are intended to prevent heat damage to the electrical wiring in and 
around the landing gear electrical systems components, which could 
result in the inability to operate critical control systems. Such 
failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by January 6, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to submit comments on this proposed 
AD:
    [sbull] By mail: FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD, 901 Locust, Room 
506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    [sbull] By fax: (816) 329-3771.
    [sbull] By e-mail: [email protected]. Comments sent 
electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2003-CE-27-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.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Raytheon Aircraft Company, 9709 E. Central, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140.
    You may view the AD docket at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Office hours are 8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Easterwood, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4132; facsimile: (316) 946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite you to submit any 
written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. 
Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``AD 
Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD'' in the subject line of your comments. If you 
want us to acknowledge receipt of your mailed comments, send us a self-
addressed, stamped postcard with the docket number written on it. We 
will date-stamp your postcard and mail it back to you.
    Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD. If you contact us through a nonwritten communication and 
that contact relates to a substantive part of this proposed AD, we will 
summarize the contact and place the summary in the docket. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
proposed AD in light of those comments and contacts.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? We have received a report 
where the landing gear would not extend using normal operations and 
another report where certain electrical system components on the left 
generator and the center bus became inoperable.
    The 200-amp current limiter, which protects the landing gear power 
wiring, did not operate correctly. This caused heat damage to the 
wiring in the landing gear power relay and surrounding electrical 
systems components.
    The electrical system components that this condition potentially 
could affect include prop deice, surface deice, flaps, and left-hand 
windshield anti-ice.
    Installing a 60-amp circuit breaker will protect the landing gear 
motor and associated circuitry from welding of the landing gear power 
relay contacts and sticking.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? If not 
corrected, this condition could result in heat damage to the electrical 
wiring in and around the landing gear electrical systems components. 
Such a condition could lead to loss of control of the airplane.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Raytheon 
has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-2616, Rev. 1, Revised: 
April, 2002.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for incorporating a modification kit that 
replaces the 200-amp current limiter in the landing gear motor with a 
60-amp circuit breaker.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? We have evaluated all pertinent information 
and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop 
on other products of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing 
AD action.
    What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to incorporate the actions in the previously-referenced service 
bulletin.
    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this proposed AD? On 
July 10, 2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 
47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation 
now includes material that relates to altered products, special flight 
permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This material 
previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is 
included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD 
actions.

[[Page 62545]]

Costs of Compliance

    How many airplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 25 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 this proposed modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Total cost per
            Labor cost                Parts cost          airplane             Total cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 workhours x $65 per hour =                $672   $780 + $672 = $1,452  $1,452 x 25 = $36,300.
 $780.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Findings

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? We have determined 
that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under 
Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this proposed AD 
and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD'' in your request.

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 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD

When Is the Last Date I Can Submit Comments on This Proposed AD?

    (a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) by January 6, 2004.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects Model 1900C airplanes, serial numbers UB-1 
through UB-35, that are certificated in any category.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of reports about the inability to 
automatically lower the landing gear and the inability to operate 
other related electrical systems. The actions specified in this AD 
are intended to prevent heat damage to the electrical wiring in and 
around the landing gear electrical systems components, which could 
result in the inability to operate critical control systems. Such 
failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

    (e) To address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incorporate Kit No. 114-3036-1,   Within the next     In accordance with
 which replaces the 200-amp        600 hours time-in-  Raytheon Service
 landing gear electrical power     service (TIS)       Bulletin SB 24-
 current limiter with a 60-amp     after the           2616, Rev. 1,
 circuit breaker.                  effective date of   Revised: April,
                                   this AD, unless     2002.
                                   already
                                   accomplished.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

What About Alternative Methods of Compliance?

    (f) You may request a different method of compliance or a 
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in 
14 CFR 39.13. Send your request to the Manager, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), FAA. For information on any already 
approved alternative methods of compliance, contact Bryan 
Easterwood, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4132; facsimile: (316) 
946-4107.

How Do I Get Copies of the Documents Referenced in This AD?

    (g) 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 October 30, 2003.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-27798 Filed 11-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P