[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55560-55562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27761]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-66-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models 1900,
1900C, and 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 Company Models 1900,
1900C, and 1900D airplanes. The proposed AD would require inspecting
the main landing gear hydraulic actuators to determine whether a
certain Frisby Aerospace actuator is installed, and reworking or
replacing any of these Frisby Aerospace actuators. The proposed AD is
the result of reports of fatigue cracks in the end cap of main landing
gear hydraulic actuators manufactured by Frisby Aerospace and installed
on the affected airplanes. The actions specified by the proposed AD are
intended to prevent the main landing gear from not locking down due to
the hydraulic actuator cracking and separating, which could result in
loss of control of the airplane during landing, taxi, or ground
operations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 17, 1998.
[[Page 55561]]
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-66-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments 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 Company, PO Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 625-7043 or (316) 676-4556. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul C. DeVore, Aerospace
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316)
946-4142; 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. 98-CE-66-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 Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 98-CE-66-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The FAA has received reports of fatigue cracks in the end cap of
main landing gear hydraulic actuators manufactured by Frisby Aerospace
and installed on certain Raytheon Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D
airplanes. These actuators, part number (P/N) 114-380041-11 and P/N
114-380041-13, have a sharp internal corner in the machined-end cap.
The repetitive loads that are experienced in this area cause these
fatigue cracks to form inside the actuator.
These fatigue cracks, if not detected and corrected in a timely
manner, could continue to grow until the actuator separated and the
main landing gear would not lock down. This would result in loss of
control of the airplane during landing, taxi, or ground operations.
Relevant Service Information
Raytheon has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.32-3141, Issued:
January, 1998, which specifies procedures for inspecting the main
landing gear hydraulic actuators to determine whether any Frisby
Aerospace P/N 114-380041-11 or P/N 114-380041-13 main landing gear
hydraulic actuator is installed. This service bulletin also specifies
removing and either replacing or reworking the above-referenced Frisby
Aerospace main landing gear hydraulic actuators. The procedures for the
removal and replacement are included in the applicable maintenance
manual. The procedures for the rework are included in Frisby Aerospace
Service Bulletin 1FA10043, dated October 1997.
The FAA's Determination
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent the main landing
gear from not locking down due to the hydraulic actuator cracking and
separating, which could result in loss of control of the airplane
during landing, taxi, or ground operations.
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 Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D
airplanes of the same type design, the FAA is proposing AD action. The
proposed AD would require inspecting the main landing gear hydraulic
actuators to determine whether any Frisby Aerospace actuator, P/N 114-
380041-11 or P/N 114-380041-13, is installed, and reworking or
replacing any of these Frisby Aerospace actuators.
Accomplishment of the proposed inspection would be required in
accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.32-3141, Issued:
January, 1998. Accomplishment of the proposed removal and replacement
would be required in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.
Accomplishment of the proposed rework would be required in accordance
with Frisby Aerospace Service Bulletin 1FA10043, dated October 1997.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 378 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1
workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection. Based on
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed inspection on U.S.
operators is estimated to be $22,680, or $60 per airplane.
If any of the affected airplanes would have any of the affected
Frisby Aerospace main landing gear hydraulic actuators installed, it
would take approximately 5 workhours per actuator to accomplish the
proposed replacement and an additional 4 workhours per actuator to
accomplish the proposed rework. The average labor rate is approximately
$60 per hour. Parts would cost $3,871 for each new actuator; $2865 for
each overhauled actuator; and $1,997 for each rework/upgrade kit. Based
on these figures, the cost impact on those operators choosing the
proposed replacement of the main landing gear hydraulic actuators would
be approximately $8,342 per airplane that would have two new actuators
installed, or $6,330 per airplane that would have two overhauled
actuators installed; and the cost impact on those operators choosing to
incorporate the main landing gear hydraulic actuator rework/upgrade kit
on each actuator would be approximately $5,074 per airplane. Raytheon
will give warranty credit for a replacement actuator until January
2001.
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
[[Page 55562]]
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 Company (Type Certificate No. A24CE formerly held
by the Beech Aircraft Corporation): Docket No. 98-CE-66-AD.
Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers,
certificated in any category:
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Model Serial Nos.
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1900.................................. UA-2 and UA-3.
1900C................................. UB-1 through UB-74, and UC-1
through UC-174.
1900C (C-12J)......................... UD-1 through UD-6.
1900D................................. UE-1 through UE-299.
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Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability 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 (d) 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: Inspection required as indicated below, unless
already accomplished; and replacement or rework, if required, would
be prior to further flight after the inspection required in
paragraph (a) of this AD, unless already accomplished:
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Hours time-in-service (TIS)
accumulated on the main
landing gear hydraulic Inspection compliance time
actuator
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Less Than 6,000 hours TIS.... Upon accumulating 6,600 hours TIS on the
actuator or within the next 600 hours
TIS after the effective date of this AD,
whichever occurs later.
6,000 hours TIS through 6,999 Within the next 600 hours TIS after the
hours TIS. effective date of this AD.
7,000 hours TIS through 7,999 Within the next 500 hours TIS after the
hours TIS. effective date of this AD.
8,000 hours TIS through 8,999 Within the next 400 hours TIS after the
hours TIS. effective date of this AD.
9,000 hours TIS through 9,999 Within the next 300 hours TIS after the
hours TIS. effective date of this AD.
10,000 Hours TIS or more..... Within the next 200 Hours TIS after the
effective date of this AD.
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To prevent the main landing gear from not locking down due to
the hydraulic actuator cracking and separating, which could result
in loss of control of the airplane during landing, taxi, or ground
operations, accomplish the following:
(a) Inspect the main landing gear hydraulic actuators to
determine whether any Frisby Aerospace actuator, P/N 114-380041-11
or P/N 114-380041-13, is installed. Accomplish this inspection in
accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.32-3141,
Issued: January, 1998.
(b) If any Frisby Aerospace actuator, P/N 114-380041-11 or P/N
114-380041-13, is installed, prior to further flight, remove it and
accomplish one of the following:
(1) Replace the Frisby Aerospace actuator with one of a part
number listed in the Material Information section of Raytheon
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.32-3141, Issued: January, 1998.
Accomplish this replacement in accordance with the applicable
maintenance manual; or
(2) Rework the Frisby Aerospace actuator by incorporating the
kit referenced in the Material Information section of Raytheon
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB.32-3141, Issued: January, 1998.
Accomplish this rework in accordance with Frisby Aerospace Service
Bulletin 1FA10043, dated October 1997.
(c) 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.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance times 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 Wichita ACO.
(e) 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 this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 8, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27761 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U