[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8001-8003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3538]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0158; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-006-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 essential bus lightning 
strike protection for proper installation of metal oxide varistor (MOV) 
and spark gap wiring. This proposed AD would also require you to rework 
the wiring as necessary to achieve the required lightning strike/surge 
protection. This proposed AD results from a report that the wires to 
the MOV and spark gap were swapped. We are proposing this AD to detect 
and correct improper installation of the MOV and spark gap wiring, 
which could result in overload of the MOV in a lightning strike and 
allow electrical energy to continue to the essential bus and disable 
equipment that receives power from the essential bus. The disabled 
equipment could include the autopilot, anti-skid system, hydraulic 
indicator, spoiler system, pilot primary flight display, audio panel, 
or the 1 air data computer. This failure could lead to a 
significant increase in pilot workload during adverse operating 
conditions.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 9, 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, 9709 East Central, Wichita, Kansas 
67201; telephone: (316) 676-5034; fax: (316) 676-6614; Internet: 
https://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/service_support/pubs/.

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; 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-
2010-0158; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-006-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 received a report that on a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model 
390 airplane the wires to the MOV and spark gap were swapped. The 
swapped wires were discovered during an inspection following a 
lightning strike. The spark gap has a higher current carrying 
capability than the MOV and is designed to carry direct currents caused 
by a lightning strike. In the event of a lightning strike, the 
potential exists to overload the MOV and allow an electrical spike to 
pass through to the essential bus.

[[Page 8002]]

    This condition, if not corrected, could allow electrical energy to 
continue to the essential bus and disable equipment that receives power 
from the essential bus. The disabled equipment could include the 
autopilot, anti-skid system, hydraulic indicator, spoiler system, pilot 
primary flight display, audio panel, or the 1 air data 
computer. This failure could lead to a significant increase in pilot 
workload during adverse operating conditions.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 
24-3995, issued September 2009. The service information describes 
procedures for inspecting the essential bus lightning strike protection 
for proper installation of MOV and spark gap wiring. The service 
information also describes procedures for rework as necessary to 
achieve the required lightning strike/surge protection.

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 essential bus lightning strike 
protection for proper installation of MOV and spark gap wiring. This 
proposed AD would also require you to rework the wiring as necessary to 
achieve the required lightning strike/surge protection.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 170 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection 
(includes any necessary follow-on action):

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                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
               Labor cost                              Parts cost                   airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $255.....  Not applicable.......................            $255          $43,350
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Warranty credit may be given to the extent specified in Hawker 
Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3995, issued September 
2009.

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 No. A00010WI 
Previously Held By Raytheon Aircraft Company): Docket No. FAA-2010-
0158; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-006-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by April 9, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model 390 airplanes, serial numbers RB-4 
through RB-248, that are certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 24: Electric 
Power.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from a report that the metal oxide varistor 
(MOV) and spark gap wiring of the essential bus lightning strike 
protection were swapped. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct improper installation of the MOV and spark gap wiring, which 
could result in overload of the MOV in a lightning strike and allow 
electrical energy to continue to the essential bus and disable 
equipment that receives power from the essential bus. The disabled 
equipment could include the autopilot, anti-skid system, hydraulic 
indicator, spoiler system, pilot primary flight display, audio 
panel, or the 1 air data computer. This failure could lead 
to a significant increase in pilot workload during adverse operating 
conditions.

Compliance

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

[[Page 8003]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the essential     Within the next 200   Follow Hawker
 bus lightning strike          hours time-in-        Mandatory Service
 protection for proper         service after the     Bulletin SB 24-
 installation of MOV and       effective date of     3995, issued
 spark gap wiring.             this AD or within     September 2009.
                               the next 12 months
                               after the effective
                               date of this AD,
                               whichever occurs
                               first.
(2) Where improper wiring     Before further        Follow Hawker
 installation is found,        flight after the      Mandatory Service
 rework the essential bus      inspection in         Bulletin SB 24-
 lightning strike wiring       paragraph (f)(1) of   3995, issued
 installation for the MOV      this AD.              September 2009.
 and spark gap.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) 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, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4174; 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

    (h) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, 9709 East Central, 
Wichita, Kansas 67201; telephone: (316) 676-5034; fax: (316) 676-
6614; Internet: https://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/service_support/pubs/. 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 February 16, 2010.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-3538 Filed 2-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P