[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28026-28028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12512]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0608; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-017-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Textron Aviation Inc. Model 390 airplanes (type certificate 
previously held by Beechcraft Corporation). This proposed AD was 
prompted by reports of hydraulic fluid loss from the engine driven 
pumps (EDPs) on three different airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require an inspection to determine if an affected EDP is installed with 
replacement as necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 4, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Textron 
Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Customer Service, P.O. Box 7706, 
Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: www.txtavsupport.com. You may view this 
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0608; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, 
and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (phone: 
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul C. DeVore, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4142; fax: (316) 946-4107, 
email: [email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-0608; 
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-017-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because 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 about this NPRM.

Discussion

    We received reports of hydraulic fluid loss from the engine driven 
pumps (EDPs) on three different Textron Aviation Inc. Model 390 
airplanes. In one incident, the airplane exited the runway at a high 
speed, resulting in extensive damage to the airplane. One manufacturing 
lot of EDPs has excessive pitting in the aluminum port caps that could 
cause multiple-origin fatigue cracking of the port caps. Flammable 
hydraulic fluid could leak into the engine compartment, and the leaking 
could also cause loss of all normal hydraulic functions, including 
normal anti-skid braking, ground spoilers, speedbrakes, and normal 
landing gear extension. This condition, if not corrected, could result 
in loss of normal hydraulic functions, which could lead to a high-speed 
runway overrun and/or an in-flight fire.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Parker Service Bulletin 66179-29-486, dated August 4, 
2016, which identifies the affected serial number EDPs. We also 
reviewed Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 29-4161, dated 
November 18, 2016, which describes procedures for determining if an 
affected serial number EDP is installed and procedures for replacing 
the EDP if necessary. This service information is reasonably available 
because the interested parties have access to it through their normal 
course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously except as discussed 
under ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service 
Information.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The service information specifies a compliance time of 200 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) or 12 months, whichever occurs first. This 
proposed AD would require a compliance of 100 hours TIS to reduce the 
possibility of another incident due to a cracked EDP. We removed the 12 
month calendar time from the compliance time because we

[[Page 28027]]

determined the unsafe condition is related to flight hours of the 
airplane rather than calendar time. The requirements of this proposed 
AD take precedence over the requirements of the service information.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 179 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost              Parts cost          product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection to determine if         .5 work-hour x $85 per    Not applicable.....          $42.50       $7,607.50
 affected serial number EDP is      hour = $42.50.
 installed.
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    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacement 
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. 
We estimate the affected manufacturer lot of EDPs as 28 EDPs. If an 
airplane has two of the affected EDPs installed, both EDPs must be 
replaced. However, no more than a total of 28 EDPs will require 
replacing for the U.S. fleet:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of the EDP.....................  3 work-hours x $85 per hour = $255.         $17,388         $17,643
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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 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 this 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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

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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Textron Aviation Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2017-0608; Directorate 
Identifier 2017-CE-017-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 4, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate 
previously held by Beechcraft Corporation) Model 390 airplanes; 
serial numbers RB-4 through RB-295; certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 29, Hydraulic Power.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of hydraulic fluid loss from the 
engine driven pumps (EDPs) on three different airplanes. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent cracking of the EDP that could cause 
leakage of hydraulic fluid and possibly lead to loss of normal 
hydraulic functions, which could lead to a high-speed runway overrun 
and/or an in-flight fire.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspection

    Within 100 hours time-in service (TIS) after the effective date 
of this AD, inspect the airplane to determine if any affected serial 
number EDP, part number (P/N) 66179-01 (Beechcraft/Textron P/N 390-
389022-0003), is installed on the airplane following the 
Accomplishment Instructions in Beechcraft

[[Page 28028]]

Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 29-4161, dated November 18, 2016. Use 
table 1 in Parker Service Bulletin 66179-29-486, dated August 4, 
2016, to identify the affected serial numbers of EDP, P/N 66179-01 
(Beechcraft/Textron P/N 390-389022-0003).
    (h) Replacement
    If any affected serial number EDP was found during the 
inspection required in paragraph (g) of this AD, within 100 hours 
TIS after the effective date of this AD, replace any affected serial 
number EDP, P/N 66179-01 (Beechcraft/Textron P/N 390-389022-0003), 
with a serviceable serial number EDP, P/N 66179-01 (Beechcraft/
Textron P/N 390-389022-0003) that is either not listed in table 1 in 
Parker Service Bulletin 66179-29-486, dated August 4, 2016, or has 
been reworked following Parker Service Bulletin 66179-29-486, dated 
August 4, 2016. Use the Accomplishment Instructions in Beechcraft 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 29-4161, dated November 18, 2016, to 
do the replacement actions.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Paul C. DeVore, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4142; fax: (316) 946-
4107, email: [email protected] or [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Customer Service, P.O. Box 
7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: www.txtavsupport.com; Internet: 
www.txtav.com. You may view this referenced service information at 
the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 9, 2017.
Robert Busto,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12512 Filed 6-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P