[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8880-8881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4256]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NM-216-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Model BAe.125 series 800A 
(including C-29A and U-125 Variant) and 800B Airplanes; and Model 
Hawker 800 (including U-125A Variant), and 800XP Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Model BAe.125 series 800A 
(including C-29A and U-125 Variant) and 800B airplanes; and Model 
Hawker 800 (including U-125A Variant) and 800XP airplanes. This 
proposal would require a functional test of the engine fire 
extinguishing wiring for the appropriate installation; verification of 
the correct wiring connector installation; correction of wiring if 
necessary; and installation of new marker bands. This action is 
necessary to prevent incorrect wiring of the engine fire extinguisher 
bottles, which could result in one or both fire extinguisher bottles 
being discharged into the wrong engine nacelle. This action is intended 
to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 12, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-NM-216-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments may be submitted via fax to (425) 227-1232. 
Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: 
[email protected]. Comments sent via fax or the Internet must 
contain ``Docket No. 2003-NM-216-AD'' in the subject line and need not 
be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached 
electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or 
ASCII text.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Raytheon Aircraft Company, Department 62, P.O. Box 85, 
Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. This information may be examined at the 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 
Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Pretz, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ACE-118W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4153; fax (316) 
946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Submit comments using the following format:
     Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, 
discuss a request to change the compliance time and a request to change 
the service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
     For each issue, state what specific change to 
the proposed AD is being requested.
     Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) 
for each request.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Number 2003-NM-216-AD.'' The postcard will be dated stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2003-NM-216-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    The FAA has received two reports of incorrectly wired engine fire 
extinguisher bottles on Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP airplanes. 
Investigation revealed that the wire connectors of the fire 
extinguisher are neither specifically designed to prevent the wiring 
from being installed incorrectly nor clearly identified for 
installation. The configuration allows for potential mis-wiring of the 
left and right discharge signal of the fire extinguisher from the 
cockpit to the fire extinguisher bottles during both production and 
maintenance activities. This condition, if not corrected, could result 
in one or both fire extinguisher bottles being discharged into the 
wrong engine nacelle.
    The wire connectors of the fire extinguishers on certain Raytheon 
Model BAe.125 series 800A (including C-29A and U-125 variant) and 800B 
airplanes and Model Hawker 800 (including U-125 Variant) airplanes are 
identical to those on the affected Model Hawker 800XP airplanes. 
Therefore, all of these models may be subject to the same unsafe 
condition.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    The FAA has reviewed and approved Raytheon Service Bulletin 26-
3610, Revision 1, dated September 2003. The service bulletin describes 
procedures for a functional test of the engine fire extinguishing 
circuit for the approriate installation; verification of the correct 
wiring connector installation; correction of wiring if necessary; and 
installation of new marker bands. Accomplishment of the actions 
specified in the service bulletin is intended to adequately address the 
identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or

[[Page 8881]]

develop on other products of this same type design, the proposed AD 
would require accomplishment of the actions specified in the service 
bulletin described previously, except as discussed below.

Difference Between Proposed Rule and Referenced Service Bulletin

    Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment 
Instructions of the referenced service bulletin describe procedures for 
completing a sheet recording compliance with the service bulletin, this 
proposed AD would not require those actions. The FAA does not need this 
information from operators.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 615 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 430 airplanes of U.S. registry 
would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 
2 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and the 
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately $20 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost impact 
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $64,500, or 
$150 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of 
this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in 
the future if this proposed AD were not adopted. The cost impact 
figures discussed in AD rulemaking actions represent only the time 
necessary to perform the specific actions actually required by the AD. 
These figures typically do not include incidental costs, such as the 
time required to gain access and close up, planning time, or time 
necessitated by other administrative actions. The manufacturer may 
cover the cost of replacement parts associated with this proposed AD, 
subject to warranty conditions. Manufacturer warranty remedies may also 
be available for labor costs associated with this proposed AD. As a 
result, the costs attributable to the proposed AD may be less than 
stated above.

Regulatory Impact

    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 proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (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) 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 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket 2003-NM-216-AD.

    Applicability: Model BAe.125 series 800A (including C-29A and U-
125 variant) and 800B airplanes; and Model Hawker 800 (including U-
125A variant) and 800XP airplanes; as listed in Raytheon Service 
Bulletin 26-3610, Revision 1, dated September 2003; certificated in 
any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent incorrect wiring of the engine fire extinguisher 
bottles, which could result in one or both fire extinguisher bottles 
being discharged into the wrong engine nacelle, accomplish the 
following:

Function Test, Verification, Installation, and Corrective Action

    (a) Within 70 flight hours or 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first, do the actions specified in 
paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD per the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Raytheon Service Bulletin 26-3610, Revision 1, dated 
September 2003.
    (1) Perform a functional test of the engine fire extinguishing 
wiring for appropriate installation, and verify the correct wiring 
connector installation. If any connector is wired incorrectly, prior 
to further flight, correct the wiring.
    (2) Install the new marker bands.

Exception to Service Bulletin

    (b) Although the service bulletin referenced in this AD 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include such a requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, the Manager, Wichita 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, is authorized to approve 
alternative methods of compliance for this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 20, 2004.
Ali Bahrami,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-4256 Filed 2-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M