[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51060-51062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24884]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-CE-43-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Corporation (Formerly
Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 1900D Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Raytheon Aircraft Corporation
(Raytheon) Model 1900D airplanes. The proposed action would require
replacing the right-hand exhaust stack for both the left and right
engines. The proposed action results from reports of wing skin damage
(with associated fuel seepage) and cabin window damage caused by the
heat of the right-hand exhaust stacks on the affected airplanes. The
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent wing skin
de-bonding or warping of the cabin windows because of the heat
generated by the engines' right-hand exhaust stacks.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 20, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-43-AD, Room 1558, 601 E.
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments
[[Page 51061]]
may be inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from the Raytheon Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas
67201-0085. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket
at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Safety
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316)
946-4146; facsimile (316) 946-4407.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 96-CE-43-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-43-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The FAA has received several reports of wing skin damage (with
associated fuel seepage) and cabin window damage on Raytheon Model
1900D airplanes. Investigation reveals that the heat from the right-
hand exhaust stacks is causing the damage to the wing skin and cabin
windows.
Raytheon has developed new right-hand stacks for the left and right
engines for certain Model 1900D airplanes. These replacement stacks are
designed with a 25-degree tilt, and, when installed, should prevent
heat damage to the wings, fuselage, and cabin windows.
Applicable Service Information
Raytheon has issued Service Bulletin No. 2686, dated June 1996,
which introduces Kit No. 129-9013-1. This kit includes all the parts
and instructions necessary to install the new right-hand exhaust stacks
for the left and right engines.
The FAA's Determination
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, including the
referenced service information, the FAA has determined that AD action
should be taken to prevent wing skin de-bonding or warping of the cabin
windows because of the heat generated by the engines' right-hand
exhaust stacks.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Raytheon Model 1900D airplanes of the same
type design, the proposed AD would require replacing the right-hand
exhaust stack for both the left and right engines. Accomplishment of
the proposed replacement would be in accordance with the instructions
to Raytheon Kit No. 129-9013-1, as referenced in Raytheon Service
Bulletin No. 2686, dated June 1996.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 199 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts will be provided
at no cost to the owners/operators of the affected airplanes until June
1997 (after that the cost will be $6,452). Based on these figures and
utilizing the assumption that all owners/operators of the affected
airplanes will obtain parts prior to June 1997, the total cost impact
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $119,400. This
figure is based on the assumption that no owner/operator of the
affected airplanes has accomplished the proposed replacement. The FAA
knows of no affected airplane owner/operator that has already
accomplished the proposed action.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated,
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Raytheon Aircraft Corporation (formerly Beech Aircraft Corporation):
Docket No. 96-CE-43-AD.
Applicability: Model 1900D airplanes (serial numbers UE-1
through UE-225), certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability
[[Page 51062]]
provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or
repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For
airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the
performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/
operator must request approval for an alternative method of
compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request
should include an assessment of the effect of the modification,
alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD;
and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request
should include specific proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required within the next 1,000 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent wing skin de-bonding or warping of the cabin windows
because of the heat generated by the engines' right-hand exhaust
stacks, accomplish the following:
(a) Replace the right-hand exhaust stack for both the left and
right engines in accordance with the instructions included in
Raytheon Aircraft Kit No. 129-9013-1, as referenced in Raytheon
Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 2686, dated June 1996.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita,
Kansas 67209. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate
FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to
the Manager, Wichita ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Wichita ACO.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the documents referred to herein upon request to the Raytheon
Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; or
may examine these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of
the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 20, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24884 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U