[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 146 (Monday, July 31, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43083-43084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6590]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25157; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-34-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models C90A, 
B200, B200C, B300, and B300C 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 (Raytheon) (formerly Beech) Models 
C90A, B200, B200C, B300, and B300C airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require you to inspect the flight controls for improper assembly or 
damage, and if any improperly assembled or damaged flight controls are 
found, take corrective action. This proposed AD results from a report 
of inspections of several affected airplanes with improperly assembled 
or damaged flight controls. We are proposing this AD to detect and 
correct improperly assembled or damaged flight controls, which could 
result in an unsafe condition by reducing capabilities of the flight 
controls and lead to loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 29, 
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, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; 
telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris B. Morgan, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4154; facsimile: (316) 946-4107.

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-
2006-25157; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-34-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 a report from an FAA Manufacturing Inspection 
District Office that describes numerous nonconformities during the 
manufacture of Raytheon Models C90A, B200, B200C, B300, and B300C 
airplanes. These nonconformities affected the flight controls and 
included improper assembly and damage to the flight controls that could 
lead to loss of control of the airplane.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in an unsafe 
condition by reducing capabilities of the flight controls.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Raytheon Aircraft Company Mandatory Service 
Bulletin Number SB 27-3761, Issued: February 2006.
    The service information describes procedures for inspecting the 
flight control systems to ensure conformity with type design and 
correct the unsafe condition.

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 flight controls for improper assembly 
or damage, and if any improperly assembled or damaged flight controls 
are found, take corrective action.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    We are requiring all phases of the flight control system be 
inspected at one time. The service information as presented allows some 
sections of the system to go 800 hours time-in-service before they are 
scheduled for inspection. We feel this time is excessive to allow 
potential safety items and nonconformities to exist. We have determined 
that the proposed compliance time will not inadvertently ground the 
affected airplanes.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 135 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80 work-hours x $80 per hour = $6,400........  Not Applicable.................          $6,400         $864,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need 
any corrective action that would be required based on the results of 
the proposed inspection.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue

[[Page 43084]]

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.

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 (Formerly Beech): Docket No. FAA-2006-
25157; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-34-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by September 29, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD affects the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Model                            Serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C90A...................................  LJ-1697 through LJ-1726, LJ-
                                          1728, LJ-1729, and LJ-1731
                                          through LJ-1739.
B200...................................  BB-1827 through BB-1912.
B200C..................................  BL-148 and BL-149.
B300...................................  FL-379 through FL-423, FL-426,
                                          FL-428 through FL-450, and FL-
                                          452.
B300C..................................  FM-11.
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Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of inspections of several 
affected airplanes with improperly assembled or damaged flight 
controls. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct improperly 
assembled or damaged flight controls, which could result in an 
unsafe condition by reducing capabilities of the flight control and 
lead to loss of control of the airplanes.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the flight        At whichever of the   Follow Raytheon
 controls for improper         following occurs      Aircraft Company
 assembly and any damage.      first:                Mandatory Service
                              (i) Within 100 hours   Bulletin Number SB
                               time-in-service       27-3761, Issued:
                               after the effective   February 2006.
                               date of this AD; or.
                              (ii) At the next
                               annual inspection
                               that occurs at
                               least 30 days after
                               the effective date
                               of this AD.
(2) If you find any           Before further        Follow Raytheon
 improperly assembled or       flight after the      Aircraft Company
 damaged flight controls as    inspection required   Mandatory Service
 a result of the inspection    by paragraph (e)(1)   Bulletin Number SB
 required by paragraph         of this AD.           27-3761, Issued:
 (e)(1) of this AD, take                             February 2006.
 corrective action as
 specified in the service
 information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, ATTN: Chris B. Morgan, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita ACO, 
1801 Airport Road, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4154; 
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 service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 
67201-0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. 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-2006-25157; Directorate Identifier 
2006-CE-34-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 24, 2006.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6590 Filed 7-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M