[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32230-32232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11244]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28068; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-043-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type 
Certificate No. A00010WI previously held by 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 Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model 390 Airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require you to inspect the starter-generator to 
determine the serial number (S/N) and suffix letter, which indicates if 
the part is defective, and replace any defective starter-generator with 
one of new design. This proposed AD results from reports of a 
manufacturing error where certain starter-generators may have been 
improperly shimmed. We are proposing this AD to detect and replace 
defective starter-generators, which could result in premature starter-
generator failure. This failure could lead to increased chances of dual 
starter-generator failure on the same flight.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 13, 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.
     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.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Hawker Beechcraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; 
telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140.

[[Page 32231]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Petty, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4139; fax: (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-
2007-28068; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-043-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 received reports of premature starter-generator failure on 
several Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model 390 airplanes. We 
determined the cause of the premature failure to be a result of a 
manufacturing error in which certain starter-generators, Raytheon 
Aircraft Company (RAC) part number (P/N) 390-389001-0001 and Advance 
Industries, Inc. (AI) P/N MG94A-1 without an ``A'' suffix letter, may 
have been improperly shimmed.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in premature 
starter-generator failure. This failure could lead to increased chances 
of dual starter-generator failure on the same flight.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed RAC Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3790, Issued: 
August, 2006.
    The service information describes procedures for:
     Inspecting the left-hand and right-hand starter-generators 
to determine the serial number and suffix letter, which indicates 
whether the part is defective; and
     Replacing any defective starter-generator found with one 
of new design.

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 starter-generator to determine the 
serial number (S/N) and suffix letter, which indicates whether the part 
is defective, and replace any defective starter-generator with one of 
new design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 105 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Total cost
                   Labor cost                                 Parts cost               Total cost      on U.S.
                                                                                      per airplane    operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80................  Not applicable....................          $80        $8,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. 
We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need 
this replacement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Total cost per
         Labor cost                Parts cost             generator
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 work-hours x $80 per hour   $9,648 for new part.  $10,048 for new
 = $400.                                             part.
                              $6,593 for            $6,993 for
                               overhauled part.      overhauled part.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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., 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.

[[Page 32232]]

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:

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate No. A00010WI 
previously held by Raytheon Aircraft Company): Docket No. FAA-2007-
28068; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-043-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by August 13, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model 390 airplanes, serial numbers RB-1 
and RB-4 through RB-149, that are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of a manufacturing error where 
certain starter-generators may have been improperly shimmed. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and replace defective starter-generators, 
which could result in premature starter-generator failure. This 
failure could lead to increased chances of dual starter-generator 
failure on the same flight.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Do a one-time inspection  Within the next 50    Follow RAC Mandatory
 of the left-hand and right-   hours time-in-        Service Bulletin SB
 hand starter-generators,      service (TIS) after   24-3790, Issued:
 Raytheon Aircraft Company     the effective date    August, 2006.
 (RAC) part number (P/N) 390-  of this AD or
 389001-0001 or Advance        within the next 3
 Industries, Inc. (AI) P/N     months after the
 MG94A-1, to determine the     effective date of
 serial number and suffix      this AD, whichever
 letter, which indicates       occurs first.
 whether the part is
 defective.
(2) If any defective starter- As follows:           Follow RAC Mandatory
 generator(s) is/are found    (i) If both starter-   Service Bulletin SB
 during the inspection         generators are        24-3790, Issued:
 required in paragraph         found defective,      August, 2006.
 (e)(1) of this AD, replace    replace at least
 any defective starter-        one within 10 hours
 generator with one of new     after the
 design.                       inspection required
                               in paragraph (e)(1)
                               of this AD. Replace
                               the other within
                               the next 200 hours
                               TIS after the
                               effective date of
                               this AD or within
                               the next 12 months
                               after the effective
                               date of this AD,
                               whichever occurs
                               first..
                              (ii) If one starter-
                               generator is found
                               defective, replace
                               within the next 200
                               hours TIS after the
                               effective date of
                               this AD or within
                               the next 12 months
                               after the effective
                               date of this AD,
                               whichever occurs
                               first..
(3) If a defective starter-   Not applicable......  Follow RAC Mandatory
 generator is not found                              Service Bulletin SB
 during the inspection                               24-3790, Issued:
 required in paragraph                               August, 2006.
 (e)(1) of this AD, no
 further action is required.
(4) Do not install on any     Before further        Follow RAC Mandatory
 airplane any RAC P/N 390-     flight after the      Service Bulletin SB
 389001-0001 or AI P/N MG94A-  inspection required   24-3790, Issued:
 1, unless it is inspected     in paragraph (e)(1)   August, 2006.
 following paragraph (e)(1)    of this AD.
 of this AD and found not to
 be defective.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to 
ATTN: Philip Petty, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 
Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-
4139; fax: (316) 946-4107; e-mail: [email protected]. Before 
using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, 
notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight 
Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

Related Information

    (g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Hawker Beechcraft 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-2007-28068; Directorate Identifier 
2007-CE-043-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 5, 2007.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-11244 Filed 6-11-07; 8:45 am]
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