[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29595-29597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7828]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24640; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-26-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 390 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 390 airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require you to inspect the spigot bearing, part number (P/N) 
MS14104-16, for the proper position in the spigot fitting assembly and 
to install the wing spigot bearing retainer kit, P/N 390-4304-0001. 
This proposed AD results from two reports of the spigot bearing not 
being positioned flush with the fitting assembly, but protruding 
outside of the fitting assembly. We are proposing this AD to detect 
spigot bearings that are not positioned flush with the fitting 
assembly. This condition could result in the spigot bearing becoming 
disengaged from the fitting assembly, which could cause motion between 
the wing and the fuselage and degrade the structural integrity of the 
wing attachment to the fuselage. This could lead to wing

[[Page 29596]]

separation and loss of control of the airplane.

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

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment 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 20590-0001.
     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, 9709 East Central, Wichita, Kansas 67201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Ostrodka, Senior Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe and Services 
Branch, ACE-118W, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: 
(316) 946-4129; facsimile: (316) 946-4107; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2006-24640; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-26-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 we 
receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received two reports of the spigot bearing not being 
positioned flush with the fitting assembly, but protruding outside of 
the fitting assembly on Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 390 airplanes. 
The spigot bearing transfers forward, aft, and side loads between the 
wing and the fuselage. If the spigot bearing becomes disengaged from 
the fitting assembly, inflight loads could cause motion between the 
wing and the fuselage and degrade the structural integrity of the wing 
attachment to the fuselage.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in wing separation 
and loss of control of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Raytheon Aircraft Company Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 53-3765, issued: November, 2005.
    The service information describes procedures for:
     Inspecting the spigot bearing for proper position in the 
spigot fitting assembly; and
     Installing the wing spigot bearing retainer kit P/N 390-
4304-0001.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD 
would require you to inspect the spigot bearing, P/N MS14104-16, for 
proper position in the spigot fitting assembly and to install the wing 
spigot bearing retainer kit, P/N 390-4304-0001.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 78 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                Labor cost                              Parts cost                  airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours x $80 per hour = $160.........  Not applicable....................            $160          $12,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do the installation of the 
spigot bearing retainer kit, P/N 390-4304-0001:

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                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 workhours x $80 per hour = $640............................          $1,442           $2,082         $162,396
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

[[Page 29597]]

    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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 AD:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. FAA-2006-24640; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-26-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by July 21, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD affects Model 390 airplanes, serial numbers RB-1 and 
RB-4 through RB-139, that are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This proposed AD results from two reports of the spigot 
bearing not being positioned flush with the fitting assembly, but 
protruding outside of the fitting assembly. We are proposing this AD 
to detect spigot bearings that are not positioned flush with the 
fitting assembly. This condition could result in the spigot bearing 
becoming disengaged from the fitting assembly, which could cause 
motion between the wing and the fuselage and degrade the structural 
integrity of the wing attachment to the fuselage. This could lead to 
wing separation and loss of control of the airplane.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect to determine      Within 50 hours time- Follow Raytheon
 whether the spigot bearing,   in-service (TIS)      Aircraft Company
 part number (P/N) MS14104-    after the effective   Mandatory Service
 16, is positioned flush       date of this AD,      Bulletin SB 53-
 inside the spigot fitting     and repetitively      3765, issued:
 assembly and not protruding   inspect thereafter    November, 2005.
 outside of the fitting        every 50 hours TIS
 assembly.                     until the
                               installation in
                               paragraph (e)(2) of
                               this AD is done.
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(2) Install the spigot        At whichever of the   Follow Raytheon
 bearing retainer kit, P/N     following occurs      Aircraft Company
 390-4304-0001. This           first, unless         Mandatory Service
 installation terminates the   already done:         Bulletin SB 53-
 inspection requirements in   (i) Before further     3765, issued:
 paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.  flight after any      November, 2005.
                               inspection required
                               by this AD where
                               the spigot bearing,
                               P/N MS14104-16, is
                               found not to be
                               flush with the
                               spigot fitting
                               assembly; or.
                              (ii) Within 200
                               hours TIS or one
                               calendar year after
                               the effective date
                               of this AD,
                               whichever occurs
                               first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, ATTN: David Ostrodka, Senior Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, 
Airframe and Services Branch, ACE-118W, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4129; facsimile: (316) 946-4107 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (g) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD, 
contact Raytheon Aircraft Company, 9709 East Central, Wichita, 
Kansas 67201. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management 
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC, or on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket No. FAA-
2006-24640; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-26-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 17, 2006.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-7828 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P