[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 240 (Monday, December 14, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 80693-80695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27282]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0819; Project Identifier 2019-CE-027-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: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-
06-10, which applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (type 
certificate now held by Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron)) Model 76 
airplanes. AD 97-06-10 requires repetitively inspecting the main 
landing gear (MLG) ``A'' frame assemblies for cracks and replacing any 
cracked assembly. Since the FAA issued AD 97-06-10, the replacement 
parts have also experienced failure due to cracking. This proposed AD 
would require magnetic particle inspections of the MLG ``A'' frame 
assemblies for cracks and replacement of the affected parts if 
necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 28, 
2021.

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 https://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 Customer Service, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; phone: 
(316) 517-5800; email: [email protected]; website: https://txtav.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0819; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Adamson, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: (316) 946-4193; fax: (316) 946-4107; 
email: [email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2020-0819; 
Project Identifier 2019-CE-027-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final 
rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include 
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the

[[Page 80694]]

following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Brian 
Adamson, Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 
Airport Rd., Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4193; fax: (316) 946-
4107; email: [email protected] or [email protected]. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA issued AD 97-06-10, Amendment 39-9967 (62 FR 12949, March 
19, 1997) (AD 97-06-10), for Raytheon Aircraft Company (type 
certificate now held by Textron) Model 76 airplanes, serial numbers ME-
1 through ME-437, that do not have both a part number (P/N) 105-810023-
75 (left) and P/N 105-810023-76 (right) MLG ``A'' frame assembly 
installed. AD 97-06-10 requires repetitive visual and dye penetrant 
inspections of the MLG ``A'' frame assemblies for cracks and 
replacement of any assembly found cracked. AD 97-06-10 resulted from 
Raytheon developing improved design MLG ``A'' frame assemblies (P/N 
105-810023-75 and P/N 105-810023-76), and the FAA's determination that 
Model 76 airplanes with these improved design assemblies installed on 
both the left and right MLG should be exempt from the AD requirements. 
The FAA issued AD 97-06-10 to prevent MLG failure because of a cracked 
``A'' frame assembly, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane during landing.

Actions Since AD 97-06-10 Was Issued

    Since AD 97-06-10 was issued, the FAA received reports of P/N 105-
810023-75 and P/N 105-810023-76 ``A'' frame assemblies cracking and 
failing, resulting in damage to the propeller and outboard wing area. 
Analysis of the cracked parts identified fatigue cracking as the cause 
of failure. In some cases, the failed parts had been subjected to 
visual and dye penetrant inspections within 100 hours before the 
failure. The FAA determined visual and dye penetrant inspections did 
not adequately detect cracks in the MLG ``A'' frame assemblies, and 
this proposed AD would require repetitive magnetic particle 
inspections. Magnetic particle provides quicker results (after testing 
setup) with improved accuracy.
    Also, since AD 97-06-10 was issued, the type certificate for the 
Model 76 airplane was transferred from Raytheon to Textron and Textron 
designed new replacement parts, P/Ns 105-810023-0083 (left) and 105-
810023-0084 (right), that would not be subject to the repetitive 
magnetic particle inspections proposed in this NPRM. However, the newly 
designed MLG assemblies are still subject to the repetitive inspections 
specified in the maintenance manual.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of 
the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-4156, 
dated May 3, 2019. The service information specifies a repetitive 
magnetic particle inspection for fatigue cracks adjacent to the gussets 
for the torque arm of each MLG ``A'' frame and destroying the assembly 
if cracks are found. The service information also specifies procedures 
for installing a replacement assembly or re-installing an assembly when 
no cracks are found. 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.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would retain none of the requirements of AD 97-06-
10. This proposed AD would require magnetic particle inspection of the 
MLG ``A'' frame assemblies and provides new designed assemblies for 
replacement, P/Ns 105-810023-0083 (left) and 105-810023-0084 (right).

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 437 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                     Labor cost            Parts cost           product         operators
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Inspection of MLG ``A'' frame       26 work-hours x $85   Not applicable......          $2,210         $965,770
 assembly.                           per hour = $2,210.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these replacements:

[[Page 80695]]



                                               On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                Labor cost               Parts cost        product
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Replacement of assembly (NOTE: No additional   Not applicable.................          $7,864           $7,864
 labor cost since re-installation labor is
 included with the inspection cost).
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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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 97-06-10, Amendment 39-9967 (62 FR 
12949, March 19, 1997); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Textron Aviation Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0819; Project Identifier 
2019-CE-027-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by January 28, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 97-06-10, Amendment 39-9967 (62 FR 12949, 
March 19, 1997) (AD 97-06-10).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Textron Aviation (type certificate previously 
held by Raytheon Aircraft Company, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, 
and Beechcraft Corporation) Model 76 airplanes, serial numbers ME-1 
through ME-437, certificated in any category, except airplanes with 
main landing gear (MLG) ``A'' frame assemblies part number (P/N) 
105-810023-0083 (left) and P/N 105-810023-0084 (right) installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3200; Landing Gear.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by cracks found in MLG ``A'' frame 
assemblies. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks 
in the MLG assemblies, which, if not addressed, could result in 
failure of the MLG assemblies and lead to loss of control of the 
airplane during landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Actions

    Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the last dye 
penetrant inspection required by AD 97-06-10 or within 12 months 
after the effective date of this AD, whichever comes first, and 
thereafter at intervals to not exceed 100 hours TIS or 12 months, 
whichever occurs first, do a magnetic particle inspection for cracks 
on the left MLG ``A'' frame assembly P/N 105-810023-3, 105-810023-
67, or 105-810023-75 and the right MLG ``A'' frame assembly P/N 105-
810023-4, 105-810023-68, or 105-810023-76 and, before further 
flight, take all necessary corrective actions. Do all actions by 
following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 4 through 13, 
of Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-4156, dated May 3, 
2019.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Wichita ACO Branch, 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in Related Information.
    (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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Brian Adamson, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: (316) 946-4193; fax: 
(316) 946-4107; email: [email protected] or [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Textron Aviation Customer Service, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 
67277; phone: (316) 517-5800; email: [email protected]; 
website: https://txtav.com. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued on December 8, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-27282 Filed 12-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P