[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11343-11345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3219]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24084; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-017-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (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 Hawker 800XP airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require inspecting certain bus bars in the DA-A panel to ensure 
that the bus bars match the panel configuration and clearance is 
adequate between the bus bars and adjacent components, and performing 
corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD results from two 
reports of inadequate clearance between the bus bars in the DA-A panel. 
We are proposing this AD to prevent insufficient electrical isolation 
for the electrical bus configuration and inability of the flightcrew to 
isolate the bus bars in an emergency situation involving a dual 
generator failure, which could result in extra loads on the main ship 
batteries and consequent loss of power to the main essential bus.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 21, 2006.

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.
     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.
    Contact Raytheon Aircraft Company, Department 62, P.O. Box 85, 
Wichita, Kansas, 67201-0085, for the service information identified in 
this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Petty, Aerospace Engineer, 
Electrical Systems and Avionics, ACE-119W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4139; fax (316) 
946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
24084; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-017-AD'' at the beginning 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 received 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 Web site, 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 may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may 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 Docket Management System 
receives them.

Discussion

    We have received two reports of inadequate clearance between the 
bus bars in the DA-A panel on Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP airplanes. 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in insufficient 
electrical isolation for the electrical bus configuration and

[[Page 11344]]

inability of the flightcrew to isolate the bus bars in an emergency 
situation involving a dual generator failure, which could result in 
extra loads on the main ship batteries and consequent loss of power to 
the main essential bus.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 24-3745, Revision 1, 
dated September 2005. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
inspecting certain bus bars in the DA-A panel to ensure that the bus 
bars match the panel configuration and clearance is adequate between 
the bus bars and adjacent components, and performing corrective action 
if necessary. For any bus bar that does not match the panel 
configuration, or if inadequate clearance exists, the corrective action 
includes removing the applicable bus bar(s), straightening the bus 
bar(s) and lug(s) if necessary, and reconfiguring the bus bars to match 
the configuration shown in Figure 1 of the service bulletin.
    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. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed under Difference 
Between Proposed AD and Service Bulletin.

Difference Between Proposed AD and Service Bulletin

    Although the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin 
referenced in this proposed AD specify to submit certain information to 
the manufacturer, this proposed AD does not include that requirement.

Clarification of Service Bulletin Note

    The service bulletin includes a note in the Accomplishment 
Instructions to inform operators to contact Raytheon ``should any 
difficulty be encountered'' in accomplishing the service bulletin. We 
have included Note 2 in this proposed AD to clarify that any deviation 
from the instructions provided in the service bulletin must be approved 
as an alternative method of compliance under paragraph (i)(1) of this 
proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 164 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. This proposed AD would affect about 123 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The proposed inspection would take about 1 work hour per 
airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these 
figures, the estimated cost of the proposed inspection for U.S. 
operators is $7,995, or $65 per airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

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 and placed it in the AD docket. 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. FAA-2006-24084; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-NM-017-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 21, 
2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP airplanes, 
certificated in any category; serial numbers 258541, 258556, 258567 
through 258609 inclusive, 258611 through 258628 inclusive, 258630 
through 258684 inclusive, and 258686 through 258728 inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from two reports of inadequate clearance 
between the bus bars in the DA-A panel. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent insufficient electrical isolation for the electrical bus 
configuration and inability of the flightcrew to isolate the bus 
bars in an emergency situation involving a dual generator failure, 
which could result in extra loads on the main ship batteries and 
consequent loss of power to the main essential bus.

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.

Inspection/Corrective Action

    (f) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
detailed inspection of the four bus bars in the DA-A panel to ensure 
that the bus bars match the panel configuration and clearance is 
adequate between the bus bars and adjacent components, by doing all 
the actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 24-3745, Revision 1, dated September 
2005. Accomplish any applicable corrective action before further 
flight in accordance with the service bulletin.


[[Page 11345]]


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is 
defined as: ``An intensive visual examination of a specific 
structural area, system, installation, or assembly to detect damage, 
failure, or irregularity. Available lighting is normally 
supplemented with a direct source of good lighting at intensity 
deemed appropriate by the inspector. Inspection aids such as mirror, 
magnifying lenses, etc., may be used. Surface cleaning and elaborate 
access procedures may be required.''


    Note 2: A note in the Accomplishment Instructions of the 
Raytheon service bulletin instructs operators to contact Raytheon if 
any difficulty is encountered in accomplishing the service bulletin. 
However, any deviation from the instructions provided in the service 
bulletin must be approved as an alternative method of compliance 
(AMOC) under paragraph (i)(1) of this AD.

Inspections Accomplished According to Previous Issue of Service 
Bulletin

    (g) Inspections accomplished before the effective date of this 
AD according to Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 24-3745, dated 
September 2005, are considered acceptable for compliance with the 
inspections specified in paragraph (f) of this AD.

No Reporting Requirement

    (h) Although the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Service 
Bulletin SB 24-3745, Revision 1, dated September 2005, specify 
submitting certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not 
include that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) 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.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 27, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-3219 Filed 3-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P