[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 10, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65103-65105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25033]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19561; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-50-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Model DH.125, HS.125, and 
BH.125 Series Airplanes; BAe.125 Series 800A (C-29A and U-125) and 800B 
Airplanes; and Hawker 800 (Including Variant U-125A) and 800XP 
Airplanes; Equipped With TFE731 Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Raytheon Model DH.125, HS.125, and BH.125 series airplanes; 
BAe.125 series 800A (C-29A and U-125) and 800B airplanes; and Hawker 
800 (including variant U-125A) and 800XP airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require installing insulating blankets on the engine compartment 
firewall and the wire harness passing

[[Page 65104]]

through the firewall fairlead. This proposed AD is prompted by a report 
indicating that insulation on the wire harness passing through the 
firewall fairlead ignited on the fuselage side of the firewall. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent a fire in the engine compartment from 
causing possible ignition of outgassing wire insulation on the fuselage 
side of the firewall, which could lead to an uncontrollable fire in the 
fuselage.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 27, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Raytheon Aircraft Company, Department 62, PO Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 
67201-0085.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This docket 
number is FAA-2004-19561; the directorate identifier for this docket is 
2004-NM-50-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: Jeff Pretz, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 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) 
946-4407.
    Plain language information: Marcia Walters, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket Management System (DMS)

    The FAA has implemented new procedures for maintaining AD dockets 
electronically. As of May 17, 2004, new AD actions are posted on DMS 
and assigned a docket number. We track each action and assign a 
corresponding directorate identifier. The DMS AD docket number is in 
the form ``Docket No. FAA-2004-99999.'' The Transport Airplane 
Directorate identifier is in the form ``Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-
999-AD.'' Each DMS AD docket also lists the directorate identifier 
(``Old Docket Number'') as a cross-reference for searching purposes.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2004-19561; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-50-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that website, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You can review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
can visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You can get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    We have received a report indicating that during certification 
testing of a new firewall fairlead material, insulation on the wire 
harness passing through the laboratory test firewall fairlead ignited 
on the fuselage side of the firewall. The configuration of the test 
firewall and wire harness was similar to the configuration of the 
firewall and wire harness found on certain Raytheon Model DH.125, 
HS.125, and BH.125 series airplanes; BAe.125 series 800A (C-29A and U-
125), and 800B airplanes; and Hawker 800 (including variant U-125A) and 
800XP airplanes; equipped with TFE731 engines. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in a fire in the engine compartment causing 
possible ignition of outgassing wire insulation on the fuselage side of 
the firewall, which could lead to an uncontrollable fire in the 
fuselage.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 26-3496, dated 
November 2003. The service bulletin describes procedures for installing 
insulating blankets on the engine compartment firewall and the wire 
harness passing through the firewall fairlead. Accomplishing the 
actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately 
address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which 
would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletin

    The service bulletin describes procedures for reporting 
accomplishment of the service bulletin to the manufacturer; however, 
this proposed AD would not require that action.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 804 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 530 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 8

[[Page 65105]]

work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost about $1,784 per airplane. Based on these 
figures, the estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is 
$1,221,120, or $2,304 per airplane.

Regulatory Findings

    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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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 FAA 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. FAA-2004-19561; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-NM-50-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this AD action by December 27, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Raytheon Model DH.125, HS.125, and BH.125 
series airplanes; BAe.125 series 800A (C-29A and U-125) and 800B 
airplanes; and Hawker 800 (including variant U-125A) and 800XP 
airplanes; certificated in any category; equipped with TFE731 
engines; as listed in Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 26-3496, dated 
November 2003.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report indicating that insulation 
on the wire harness passing through the firewall fairlead ignited on 
the fuselage side of the firewall. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
a fire in the engine compartment from causing possible ignition of 
outgassing wire insulation on the fuselage side of the firewall, 
which could lead to an uncontrollable fire in the fuselage.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Installation of Insulating Blankets

    (f) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
install insulating blankets on the engine compartment firewall and 
the wire harness passing through the firewall fairlead, by doing all 
the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 26-3496, dated November 2003.

No Reporting Requirement

    The service bulletin describes procedures for reporting 
accomplishment of the service bulletin to the manufacturer; however, 
this AD does not require that action.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 1, 2004.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-25033 Filed 11-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P