[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2825-2826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-894]


 ========================================================================
 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. 70, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 18, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 2825]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39


Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 45 (YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B-
45), and D45 (T-34B) Airplanes; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: This document announces a public meeting of interest to owners 
and operators of Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Beech Models 45 
(YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B-45), and D45 (T-34B) airplanes. The purpose of 
the meeting is to discuss technical issues and potential corrective 
actions related to the continued operational safety of the affected 
airplanes, specifically related to the structural fatigue of critical 
structure and Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-25-51.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold the public 
meeting on Tuesday, February 15, 2005, starting at 1 p.m. at the Hilton 
Airport Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, and continuing from 8 a.m. to 
12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2005. Registration will begin at 
12:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

ADDRESSES: We will hold the public meeting at the Hilton Airport Hotel, 
8801 NW., 112th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64153; telephone (816) 
891-8900.
    If you are unable to attend, you may mail comments and information 
to FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Continued Operational Safety 
Branch, ACE-113, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You 
may also send comments electronically to the following addresses: 
[email protected] or [email protected]. If you send comments 
electronically as attached electronic files, the files must be 
formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.
    We will give the same consideration to any comments or information 
mailed to us as those presented at the public meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
     For Requests to Present a Statement at the Meeting: 
Contact Marvin Nuss, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 
telephone: (816) 329-4117; facsimile: (816) 329-4090; e-mail: 
[email protected].
     For Questions Regarding the Previously Proposed ADs: 
Contact Steven Litke, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4127; facsimile: (316) 946-
4107.
     For Requests for Special Accommodations: Contact Scott 
Wessley, AD Coordinator, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4148; 
facsimile: (816) 329-4149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Participation at the Public Meeting

    What must I do to make a presentation at the meeting? If you would 
like to make a presentation at the meeting, make your request to FAA no 
later than 10 days prior to the meeting. Submit these requests to Mr. 
Marvin Nuss as listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document. You should include a written summary of your 
presentation with a time estimate of your presentation.
    Will FAA prepare an agenda? We will prepare an agenda for this 
meeting. To accommodate all presenters, we may allocate less time for 
your presentation than you requested. If you request to present after 
the deadline, we will schedule your presentation as time is available. 
However, your name may not appear on the agenda.
    What if I need special equipment? You should include in your 
presentation request any special audiovisual equipment that you need. 
We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Background

    Why is FAA conducting this meeting? On December 7, 2004, the left 
wing of a Raytheon Beech Model A45 (T-34A), serial number G-13, 
separated from the airplane in flight. The airplane, operated by Texas 
Air Aces, crashed near Montgomery, Texas. The wing was found about a 
quarter mile away from the crash site.
    The left wing center section failed 4 inches inboard of the forward 
wing attach fitting. FAA investigation revealed visual evidence of 
fatigue not previously addressed by Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2001-
13-18 and AD 2001-13-18 R1, which FAA issued as a result of a 2003 
accident near Conroe, Texas.
    In November 2003, a Raytheon Beech Model A45 (T34A) airplane 
crashed after the right wing failed at Wing Station (WS) 34 on the 
forward spar and WS 66.00 on the rear spar. The airplane, operated by 
Texas Air Aces, crashed near Conroe, Texas. The wing was found about a 
quarter mile away from the crash site.
    On May 28, 1999, FAA issued priority letter AD 99-12-02 to address 
the in-flight separation of the right wing on a Model A45 (T-34A) 
airplane. The airplane, operated by Sky Warriors, crashed near Rydall, 
Georgia, where the wing was found about a quarter mile away from the 
crash site. The left wing remained attached to the airplane following 
separation of the right wing. Examination of the right wing revealed 
structural fatigue cracks at several of the fracture surfaces. Although 
it did not separate from the airplane, the left wing showed several 
fatigue cracks at several locations. AD 99-12-02 required operating and 
speed restrictions on the affected airplanes and was superseded by AD 
2001-13-18.
    Based on all data on these accidents including the additional 
visual evidence of fatigue not previously addressed by AD 2001-13-18 or 
AD 2001-13-18 R1, FAA issued emergency AD 2004-25-51. This emergency AD 
required an inspection and/or modification program approved 
specifically for this AD by FAA Wichita Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO). In essence, AD 2004-25-51 grounded the T-34 fleet because of 
evidence of fatigue in locations not evaluated from the first two 
accidents. The FAA took this action until the situation could be more 
fully

[[Page 2826]]

understood and proper actions taken to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of the fleet.
    All the technical aspects of this aging airplane issue need to be 
studied and understood in order for FAA to return the fleet to an 
airworthy status. The FAA will review and communicate (at the meeting) 
the events leading to emergency AD 2004-25-51 and the reasons for our 
action. The FAA will also provide its expectations for any actions the 
public may propose to restore the fleet to an airworthy and safe 
condition.
    The meeting will allow the public the opportunity to discuss 
technical issues and communicate potential corrective actions related 
to the continued operational safety of the affected airplanes, 
specifically related to the structural fatigue of critical structure 
and AD 2004-25-51.

Public Meeting Procedures

    What procedures should I follow for this public meeting? If you 
plan to attend the public meeting, please be aware of the following:
     There is no admission fee or other charge to attend or 
participate in this meeting. You are responsible for your own 
transportation and accommodations for the meeting. The meeting is open 
to all who requested in advance to present or who register on the day 
of the meeting. This is subject to availability of space in the meeting 
room.
     FAA representatives will conduct the meeting. We will have 
a panel of technical experts and managers to discuss information on the 
subject.
     The public meeting is intended as a forum to seek 
additional data and supporting methodologies from industry, the general 
public, and operators. You must limit your presentation and submittals 
to data of this issue.
     The meeting will allow you to present additional 
information not currently available to FAA and an opportunity for FAA 
to explain to you the methodology and technical assumptions that 
support our conclusions.
     FAA experts, industry, and public participants are 
expected to hold a full discussion of all technical material presented 
at the meeting. If you present conclusions on this subject, you must 
submit data that supports your conclusions.
     We will try and accommodate all speakers. In order to do 
this, we may need to limit the time for presenters.
     We can make sign and oral interpretation available at the 
meeting, as well as an assistive listening device. If you need this 
assistance, make your request to FAA at least 10 days prior to the 
public meeting.
     We will review and consider all material presented. 
Position papers or materials may be accepted at the discretion of the 
presiding officer. The FAA requests that you provide 10 copies of all 
materials for distribution to the panel members. You have the choice on 
whether you want to present copies of the material to the audience.
     The meetings are designed to solicit public views and 
information. Therefore, we will conduct the meeting in an informal and 
nonadversial manner.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 10, 2005.
Scott L. Sedgwick,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-894 Filed 1-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P