[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 241 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66924-66926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29975]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 241 / Thursday, December 17, 2009 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 66924]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-1180; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-060-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Raytheon Aircraft Company) Models B300 
and B300C Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (type certificate previously held 
by Raytheon Aircraft Company) Models B300 and B300C airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require you to inspect the terminal board on the 
circuit card rack assembly to determine if the correct bus bar is 
installed. This proposed AD would also require you to replace the bus 
bar if necessary and inspect the left and right pitot heat annunciators 
for proper operation. This proposed AD results from reports of the left 
and right pitot heat annunciators not illuminating for an inoperative 
pitot heat condition. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct 
installation of an incorrect bus bar, which could result in failure of 
the pitot heat annunciators to illuminate. This failure could lead to 
the pilot being unaware that moisture has frozen on the pitot tube(s) 
and cause erroneous flight instrument indication.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 1, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Attn: Airline Technical Support, P.O. 
Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201; telephone: (800) 429-5372; fax: (316) 
676-8745; Internet: http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Schwemmer, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, 
Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209, telephone: (316) 946-4174, fax: (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-
2009-1180; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-060-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://www.regulations.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 reports indicating that there was a discrepancy 
between the installation drawing and the wiring diagram for installing 
the bus bar for the pitot heat annunciators on Hawker Beechcraft 
Corporation Models B300 and B300C airplanes.
    Installing the incorrect bus bar creates a condition where the left 
and right pitot heat annunciators may not illuminate for an inoperative 
pitot heat condition.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
pitot heat annunciators to illuminate. This failure could lead to 
moisture freezing on the pitot tube(s) and cause erroneous flight 
instrument indication.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 
31-3948, Issued: April 2009.
    The service information describes procedures for:
     Inspecting the left and right pitot heat annunciators for 
proper operation;
     Inspecting the terminal board on the circuit card rack 
assembly to determine if the correct bus bar is installed; and
     Replacing the bus bar if necessary.

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 inspecting the terminal board on the circuit card rack 
assembly to determine if the correct bus bar is installed. This 
proposed AD would also require replacing the bus bar if necessary and 
inspecting the left and right pitot heat annunciators for proper 
operation.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 131 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed operational 
check:

[[Page 66925]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  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         $10,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     We estimate the following costs to do any necessary placard 
fabrication and installation that would be required based on the 
results of the proposed operational check. We have no way of 
determining the number of airplanes that may need the placard:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
.5 work-hour x $80 per hour = $40.......  Not applicable             $40
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed 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         $10,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     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 
replacement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 work-hours x $80 per hour = $240......             $50            $290
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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://www.regulations.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) 647-5527) 
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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 previously held by 
Raytheon Aircraft Company): Docket No. FAA-2009-1180; Directorate 
Identifier 2009-CE-060-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by February 1, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

[[Page 66926]]

Applicability

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Models                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
B300................................  FL-381, FL-383 through FL-530, FL-
                                       532, FL-534 through FL-596, FL-
                                       598, and FL-600.
B300C...............................  FM-12 through FM-25.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 31: 
Instruments.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of the left and right pitot 
heat annunciators not illuminating for an inoperative pitot heat 
condition. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct the 
installation of an incorrect bus bar, which could result in failure 
of the pitot heat annunciators to illuminate. This failure could 
lead to moisture freezing on the pitot tube(s) and cause erroneous 
flight instrument indication.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Do an operational check   Within the next 15    Follow Hawker
 of the left and right pitot   hours time-in-        Beechcraft
 heat annunciators for         service (TIS) after   Mandatory Service
 illumination.                 the effective date    Bulletin SB 31-
                               of this AD or         3948, Issued: April
                               within the next 30    2009.
                               days after the
                               effective date of
                               this AD, whichever
                               occurs first. If
                               you may
(2) If the left and/or right  Before further        Follow Hawker
 pitot heat annunciators do    flight after the      Beechcraft
 not illuminate, install a     operational check     Mandatory Service
 placard on the instrument     required in           Bulletin SB 31-
 panel within the pilot's      paragraph (f)(1) of   3948, Issued: April
 clear view specifying the     this AD.              2009.
 pitot heat annunciator(s)
 as inoperative.
(3) Inspect the terminal      Within the next 50    Follow Hawker
 board on the circuit card     hours TIS after the   Beechcraft
 rack assembly to determine    effective date of     Mandatory Service
 if a five-hole bus bar is     this AD or within     Bulletin SB 31-
 installed.                    the next 3 months     3948, Issued: April
                               after the effective   2009.
                               date of this AD,
                               whichever occurs
                               first.
(4) If a five-hole bus bar    Before further        Follow Hawker
 is found installed during     flight after the      Beechcraft
 the inspection required in    inspection required   Mandatory Service
 paragraph (f)(3) of this      in paragraph (f)(3)   Bulletin SB 31-
 AD, perform an operational    of this AD.           3948, Issued: April
 check. If the operational                           2009.
 check detects anomalies,
 contact the manufacturer
 specified in paragraph (i)
 of this AD to obtain an FAA-
 approved repair scheme and
 incorporate the repair
 scheme.
(5) If a four-hole bus bar    Before further        Follow Hawker
 is found installed during     flight after the      Beechcraft
 the inspection required in    inspection required   Mandatory Service
 paragraph (f)(3) of this      in paragraph (f)(3)   Bulletin SB 31-
 AD, replace it with a five-   this AD.              3948, Issued: April
 hole bus bar and perform an                         2009.
 operational check. If the
 operational check detects
 anomalies, contact the
 manufacturer specified in
 paragraph (i) of this AD to
 obtain an FAA-approved
 repair scheme and
 incorporate the repair
 scheme.
(6) If proper operation of    Before further        Follow Hawker
 the left and right pitot      flight after doing    Beechcraft
 heat annunciators are         the operational       Mandatory Service
 verified in paragraphs        check required in     Bulletin SB 31-
 (f)(4) and (f)(5) of this     paragraphs (f)(4)     3948, Issued: April
 AD, remove the placard that   and (f)(5) of this    2009.
 was installed in paragraph    AD.
 (f)(2) of this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: The operational check required in this AD is different 
from the pilot's pre-flight check. An FAA-approved licensed mechanic 
authorized to do maintenance is required to do the operational 
check.

    (g) The inspection action of paragraph (f)(3) of this AD and the 
follow-on actions of paragraphs (f)(4) and (f)(5) of this AD may be 
done instead of the operational check and the placard requirements 
of paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD provided the inspection 
is done within the next 15 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) 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: Kevin Schwemmer, Aerospace Engineer, ACE-118W, Wichita ACO, 
1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209, telephone: (316) 
946-4174, fax: (316) 946-4107. 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

    (i) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Hawker Beechcraft, Attn: Airline Technical Support, P.O. 
Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201; telephone: (800) 429-5372; fax: (316) 
676-8745; Internet: http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com. 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://www.regulations.gov.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 8, 2009.
Margaret Kline,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-29975 Filed 12-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P