[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 237 (Monday, December 11, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71494-71497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20970]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26075; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-55-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company (The Beech 
Aircraft Company and BEECH Previously Held Type Certificate Nos. 3A15, 
3A16, 5A3, and A-777) Models 35-33, 35-A33, 35-B33, 35-C33, E33, F33, 
G33, 35-C33A, E33A, F33A, E33C, F33C, 35, A35, B35, C35, D35, E35, F35, 
G35, H35, J35, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, A36, A45 
(T-34A, B45), D45 (T-34B), 95-55, 95-A55, 95-B55, 95-B55A, 95-B55B (T-
42A), 95-C55, 95-C55A, D55, D55A, E55, E55A, 56TC, A56TC, 58, 95, B95, 
B95A, D95A, and E95 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 72-22-01, 
which applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) (The Beech 
Aircraft Company and BEECH previously held Type Certificate Nos. 3A15, 
3A16, 5A3, and A-777) Models 33, 35, 36, 45, and 95 series airplanes. 
AD 72-22-01 currently requires you to determine if each uplock roller 
is of the greasible type (one having a drilled and grooved inner race), 
replace any nongreasible uplock roller (one having a solid inner race) 
with the greasible type before further flight, install hollow zerk-
ended mounting bolts on the uplock rollers, and repetitively lubricate 
the uplock mechanism. Since we issued AD 72-22-01, there was a recent 
incident involving a RAC Model 95-B55B (T-42A) airplane where a seizure 
of the uplock rollers occurred. This malfunction of the uplock rollers 
is addressed in AD 72-22-01. Thus, the FAA has determined that the 
actions of AD 72-22-01 should also apply to certain serial numbers of 
the Model 95-B55B (T-42A) airplanes. Consequently, this proposed AD 
would retain all the actions of AD 72-22-01, would add those Model 95-
B55B (T-42A) airplanes to the applicability of this proposed AD, and 
would list out the specific serial numbers. We are proposing this AD to 
decrease the possibility of gear-up landings caused by seizure of the 
uplock rollers.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 9, 
2007.

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: Anthony Flores, Aerospace Engineer, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 
Airport Road, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4174; 
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-
2006-26075; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-55-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

    Reports of RAC 33, 35, 36, 45, and 95 series airplanes equipped 
with non-greasible uplock rollers having a solid inner race that 
renders lubrication of the uplock roller mechanism ineffective

[[Page 71495]]

caused us to issue AD 72-22-01, Amendment 39-1544 (37 FR 22371, October 
19, 1972). AD 72-22-01 currently requires the following on certain RAC 
33, 35, 36, 45, and 95 series airplanes:
     Determining if each uplock roller is of the greasible type 
(one having a drilled and grooved inner race);
     Replacing any nongreasible uplock roller (one having a 
solid inner race) with the greasible type before further flight;
     Installing a hollow zerk-ended mounting bolts on the 
uplock rollers; and
     Repetitively lubricating the uplock mechanism.
    Since we issued AD 72-22-01, there was a recent incident involving 
a RAC Model 95-B55B (T-42A) airplane where a seizure of the uplock 
rollers occurred. The design of the uplock rollers is the same as those 
uplock rollers on the airplanes addressed by AD 72-22-01.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in a gear-up 
landing.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Beechcraft Service Instructions No. 0448-211, Rev. 
I, and Beechcraft Service Instructions No. 0448-211.
    The service information describes procedures for:
     Determining if each uplock roller is of the greasible type 
(one having a drilled and grooved inner race);
     Replacing any nongreasible uplock roller (one having a 
solid inner race) with the greasible type before further flight;
     Installing a hollow zerk-ended mounting bolts on the 
uplock rollers; and
     Repetitively lubricating the uplock mechanism.

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 supersede AD 72-22-01 with a new AD that would retain all the 
actions of AD 72-22-01, would add those Model 95-B55B (T-42A) airplanes 
to the applicability of this proposed AD, and would list out the 
specific serial numbers. This proposed AD would require you to use the 
service information described previously to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 9,714 airplanes in 
the U.S. registry.
    The differences in costs between this proposed AD and AD 72-22-01 
are the costs associated with the number of Model 95-B55B (T-42A) 
airplanes that were not affected by AD 72-22-01.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed actions to 
determine if each uplock roller is of the greasible type (one having a 
drilled and grooved inner race), replace any nongreasible uplock roller 
(one having a solid inner race) with the greasible type before further 
flight, install hollow zerk-ended mounting bolts on the uplock rollers, 
and initially lubricate the uplock mechanism:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Total cost  Total cost  on
          Labor cost             Parts cost      per           U.S.
                                               airplane      operators
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 work-hours x $80 per hour =          $30         $190      $1,845,660
 $160.........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs for each lubrication of the uplock 
mechanism.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Total cost  Total cost  on
          Labor cost             Parts cost      per           U.S.
                                               airplane      operators
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 per hour =          None          $80        $777,120
 $80..........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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.,

[[Page 71496]]

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 removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 72-22-01, Amendment 39-1544, and adding the following new AD:

Raytheon Aircraft Company (The Beech Aircraft Company and BEECH 
previously held Type Certificate Nos. 3A15, 3A16, 5A3, and A-777): 
Docket No. FAA-2006-26075; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-55-AD; 
Supersedes AD 72-22-01; Amendment 39-1544.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by February 9, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 72-22-01, Amendment 39-1544.

Unsafe Condition

    (c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial 
numbers (SNs) that are certificated in any category:
    (1) Group 1 (maintains the actions from AD 72-22-01):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                                 SNs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) 35-33, 35-A33, 35-B33, 35-C33,  CD-1 through CD-1256.
 E33, F33, and G33.
(ii) 35-C33A, E33A, and F33A......  CE-1 through CE-349.
(iii) E33C and F33C...............  CJ-1 through CJ-30.
(iv) 35, A35, B35, C35, D35, E35,   D-1 through D-9287.
 F35, G35, H35, J35, K35, M35,
 N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, and
 V35B.
(v) 36 and A36....................  E1 through E-283.
(vi) A45 (T-34A, B45) and D45 (T-   All.
 34B).
(vii) 95-55, 95-A55, 95-B55, and    TC-1 through TC-1402.
 95-B55A.
(viii) 95-C55, 95-C55A, D55, D55A,  TE-1 through TE-846.
 E55, and E55A.
(ix) 56TC and A56TC...............  TG-1 through TG-94.
(x) 58............................  TH-1 through TH-174.
(xi) 95, B95, B95A, D95A, and E95.  TD-2 through TD-721.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Group 2: Model 95-B55B (T-42A) airplanes, SNs TF-1 through 
TF-70.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a recent incident involving a Raytheon 
Aircraft Company (RAC) Model 95-B55B (T-42A) airplane where a 
seizure of the uplock rollers occurred. We are issuing this AD to 
decrease the possibility of gear-up landings caused by seizure of 
the uplock rollers.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Determine if each uplock  (A) For Group 1       Follow Beechcraft
 roller is of the greasible    airplanes: Within     Service
 type (one having a drilled    300 hours time-in-    Instructions No.
 and grooved inner race).      service (TIS) after   0448-211, Rev. I,
                               October 25, 1972      or Beechcraft
                               (the effective date   Service
                               of AD 72-22-01).      Instructions No.
                                                     0448-211.
                              (B) For Group 2
                               airplanes: Within
                               300 hours TIS after
                               the effective date
                               of this AD.
(2) Replace any nongreasible  (A) For Group 1       Follow Beechcraft
 uplock roller (one having a   airplanes: Before     Service
 solid inner race) with the    further flight        Instructions No.
 greasible type.               after the             0448-211, Rev. I,
                               determination         or Beechcraft
                               required by           Service
                               paragraph (e)(1)(A)   Instructions No.
                               of this AD.           0448-211.
                              (B) For Group 2
                               airplanes: Before
                               further flight
                               after the
                               determination
                               required by
                               paragraph (e)(1)(B)
                               of this AD.
(3) Install hollow zerk-      (A) For Group 1       Follow Beechcraft
 ended mounting bolts on the   airplanes: Within     Service
 uplock rollers.               300 hours TIS after   Instructions No.
                               October 25, 1972      0448-211, Rev. I,
                               (the effective date   or Beechcraft
                               of AD 72-22-01).      Service
                                                     Instructions No.
                                                     0448-211.
                              (B) For Group 2
                               airplanes: Within
                               300 hours TIS after
                               the effective date
                               of this AD.
(4) Lubricate the uplock      (A) For Group 1       Follow Beechcraft
 mechanism.                    airplanes:            Service
                               Initially within      Instructions No.
                               300 hours TIS after   0448-211, Rev. I,
                               October 25, 1972      or Beechcraft
                               (the effective date   Service
                               of AD 72-22-01).      Instructions No.
                               Repetitively          0448-211.
                               lubricate
                               thereafter at
                               intervals not to
                               exceed 100 hours
                               TIS.
                              (B) For Group 2
                               airplanes:
                               Initially within
                               300 hours TIS after
                               the effective date
                               of this AD.
                               Repetitively
                               lubricate
                               thereafter at
                               intervals not to
                               exceed 100 hours
                               TIS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
ATTN: Anthony Flores, Aerospace Engineer, 1801 Airport Road, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4174; facsimile: (316) 
946-4107, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (g) AMOCs approved for AD 72-22-01 are approved for this AD.

[[Page 71497]]

Related Information

    (h) 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-2006-26075; Directorate Identifier 
2006-CE-55-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 4, 2006.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-20970 Filed 12-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P