[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 3, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56254-56256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19192]



[[Page 56254]]

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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; 
Amendment 39-15217; AD 2007-20-07]
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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model 390 airplanes. This AD requires you 
to inspect the starter-generator to determine the serial number (S/N) 
and suffix letter, which indicates if the part is improperly shimmed. 
This AD also requires you to replace any improperly shimmed starter-
generator with a properly shimmed starter-generator. 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 
correct improperly shimmed 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: This AD becomes effective on November 7, 2007.
    On November 7, 2007, the Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this 
AD.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified 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 U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2007-28068; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-CE-043-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Petty, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4139; fax: (316) 946-4107; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On June 5, 2007, we issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the 
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that 
would apply to certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model 390 
airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on June 12, 2007 (72 FR 32230). 
The NPRM proposed to require you to inspect the starter-generator to 
determine the S/N and suffix letter, which indicates if the part is 
improperly shimmed. The NPRM also proposed to require you to replace 
any improperly shimmed starter-generator with a properly shimmed 
starter-generator.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal 
and FAA's response to each comment:

Comment Issue No. 1: Change the Term ``Defective'' in the AD

    A representative of Hawker Beechcraft states that the term 
``defective,'' as used in the NPRM, is not technically correct. The 
starter-generators affected by the AD are not defective. The problem 
causing the starter-generators to fail is improper shimming due to 
poorly written or missing assembly instructions. Not all units in the 
suspect range may be over-shimmed.
    Hawker Beechcraft requests the term ``defective'' be changed 
throughout the AD to describe the affected starter-generators more 
accurately.
    We concur with the commenter. We will change the term ``defective'' 
to ``improperly shimmed'' throughout the final rule AD action based on 
this comment.

Comment Issue No. 2: Change the Term ``New Design'' in the AD

    A representative of Hawker Beechcraft states that the term ``new 
design,'' as used in the NPRM, is not accurate. The basic design of the 
affected starter-generator did not change. The assembly instructions 
were changed to ensure that future starter-generators are properly 
shimmed.
    Hawker Beechcraft requests the term ``new design'' be changed 
throughout the AD to describe the replacement part more accurately.
    We concur with the commenter. We will change the term ``new 
design'' to ``properly shimmed'' throughout the final rule AD action 
based on this comment.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed 
except for the changes previously discussed and minor editorial 
corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

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

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                               Parts cost                airplane     U.S. 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 will be required based on the results of the 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      $10,048 for new
 $400.                             part; $6,593 for    part; $6,993 for
                                   overhauled part.    overhauled part.
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[[Page 56255]]

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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and 
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed 
it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a 
request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket 
No. FAA-2007-28068; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-043-AD'' in your 
request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2007-20-07 Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate No. 
A00010WI previously held by Raytheon Aircraft Company): Amendment 
39-15217; Docket No. FAA-2007-28068; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-
043-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on November 7, 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 improperly shimmed 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) Inspect the left-hand     Within the next 50    Follow RAC Mandatory
 and right-hand starter-       hours time-in-        Service Bulletin SB
 generators, Raytheon          service (TIS) after   24-3790, Issued:
 Aircraft Company (RAC) part   November 7, 2007      August, 2006.
 number (P/N) 390-389001-      (the effective date
 0001 or Advance Industries,   of this AD) or
 Inc. (AI) P/N MG94A-1, to     within the next 3
 determine the serial number   months after
 and suffix letter as          November 7, 2007
 specified in paragraph        (the effective date
 3.A.(2) of RAC Mandatory      of this AD),
 Service Bulletin SB 24-       whichever occurs
 3790, Issued: August, 2006.   first.
(2) If any starter-           As follows:           Follow RAC Mandatory
 generator(s) specified in    (i) If both starter-   Service Bulletin SB
 paragraph 3.A.(2) of RAC      generators are        24-3790, Issued:
 Mandatory Service Bulletin    identified as being   August, 2006.
 SB 24-3790, Issued: August,   improperly shimmed,
 2006, is/are found during     replace at least
 the inspection required in    one within 10 hours
 paragraph (e)(1) of this      TIS after the
 AD, replace that starter-     inspection required
 generator with a properly     in paragraph (e)(1)
 shimmed starter-generator.    of this AD. Replace
                               the other within
                               the next 200 hours
                               TIS after November
                               7, 2007 (the
                               effective date of
                               this AD) or within
                               the next 12 months
                               after November 7,
                               2007 (the effective
                               date of this AD),
                               whichever occurs
                               first.
                              (ii) If one starter-
                               generator is
                               identified as being
                               improperly shimmed,
                               replace it within
                               the next 200 hours
                               TIS after November
                               7, 2007 (the
                               effective date of
                               this AD) or within
                               the next 12 months
                               after November 7,
                               2007 (the effective
                               date of this AD),
                               whichever occurs
                               first.
(3) If a starter-generator    Not applicable......  Follow RAC Mandatory
 specified in paragraph                              Service Bulletin SB
 3.A.(2) of RAC Mandatory                            24-3790, Issued:
 Service Bulletin SB 24-                             August, 2006.
 3790, Issued: August, 2006,
 is not found during the
 inspection required in
 paragraph (e)(1) of this
 AD, no further action is
 required.

[[Page 56256]]

 
(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 that is specified in        in paragraph (e)(1)   August, 2006.
 paragraph 3.A.(2) of RAC      of this AD.
 Mandatory Service Bulletin
 SB 24-3790, Issued: August,
 2006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (g) You must use Raytheon Aircraft Company Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 24-3790, Issued: August, 2006, to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Hawker Beechcraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; 
telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at 
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 24, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-19192 Filed 10-2-07; 8:45 am]
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