[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3619-3621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1597]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-13-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Model BAe 125-800A and BAe 
125-800B, Model Hawker 800, and Model Hawker 800XP Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the supersedure of an existing 
airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Raytheon Model BAe 
125-800A, Model Hawker 800, and Model Hawker 800XP series airplanes, 
that currently requires the filling of two tooling holes on the 
firewalls of the left and right engine pylons with firewall sealant. 
This action would require the sealing of all unused (open) tooling 
holes on the firewalls of the left and right engine pylons, and would 
expand the applicability to include additional airplanes. This proposal 
is prompted by reports of additional unused (open) tooling holes, found 
at locations other than those currently addressed. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent an engine fire 
from moving to the fuselage and to the lines that carry flammable fluid 
that are located inboard of the firewall.

DATES: Comments must be received by February 23, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-NM-13-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location 
between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Raytheon Aircraft Company, Manager Service Engineering, 
Hawker Customer Support Department, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas, 
67201-0085. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at 
the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Wichita Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, 
Kansas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey A. Pretz, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, 
Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 
946-4153; fax (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 shall 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 summarizing 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 Number 99-NM-13-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, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 99-NM-13-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 
98055-4056.

Discussion

    On November 22, 1996, the FAA issued AD 96-24-16, amendment 39-9840 
(61 FR 66878, December 19, 1996), applicable to certain Raytheon Model 
BAe 125-800A, Model Hawker 800, and Model Hawker 800XP series 
airplanes, to require the filling of two tooling holes on the firewalls 
of the left and right engine pylons with firewall sealant. That action 
was prompted by notification from the manufacturer that these holes 
were not sealed during production. The requirements of that AD are 
intended to prevent an engine fire from moving to the fuselage and to 
the lines that carry flammable fluid that are located inboard of the 
firewall.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    Since the issuance of that AD, reports have been received of 
airplanes with additional unused tooling holes, at locations other than 
those addressed in AD 96-24-16, on the left and right engine pylon 
firewalls, which may permit the passage of flames to the

[[Page 3620]]

structure and flammable fluids inboard of the engine pylon firewall.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

    Raytheon has issued Service Bulletin SB.54-1-3815B, Revision 1, 
dated May 1998, which describes procedures for the sealing of all 
unused tooling holes on the firewalls of the left and right engine 
pylons. Revision 1 of the service bulletin was issued to address 
additional unused engine pylon firewall tooling holes at locations 
other than those indicated in the original service bulletin, dated 
March 26, 1996. Accomplishment of the actions specified in Raytheon 
Service Bulletin SB.54-1-3815B, Revision 1, is intended to adequately 
address the identified unsafe condition.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design, the 
proposed AD would supersede AD 96-24-16 to require the sealing of all 
unused tooling holes on the firewalls of the left and right engine 
pylons. The actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance 
with Raytheon Service Bulletin SB.54-1-3815B, Revision 1, described 
previously.

Expanded Applicability

    The applicability of the proposed AD has been expanded to include 
Model BAe 125-800B series airplanes, which have received FAA type 
certification and have a similar design to airplanes subject to the 
requirements of AD 96-24-16.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 340 Model BAe 125-800A and BAe 125-800B, 
Model Hawker 800, and Model Hawker 800XP series airplanes of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 221 
airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD.
    The actions that are currently required by AD 96-24-16, and 
retained in this AD, take approximately 2 work hours per airplane to 
accomplish, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the currently required actions on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $120 per airplane.
    The new actions that are proposed in this AD action would take 
approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the proposed requirements of this AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $26,520, or $120 per airplane.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions 
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the current or proposed 
requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish 
those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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); 
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 is contained 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 removing amendment 39-9840 (61 FR 
66878, December 19, 1996), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Co. (Formerly Beech): Docket 99-NM-13-AD. 
Supersedes AD 96-24-16, Amendment 39-9840.

    Applicability: Model BAe 125-800A and BAe 125-800B, Model Hawker 
800, and Model Hawker 800XP series airplanes; as listed in Raytheon 
Service Bulletin SB.54-1-3815B, Revision 1, dated May 1998; 
certificated in any category.


    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 (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 as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent an engine fire from moving to the fuselage and to the 
lines that carry flammable fluid that are located inboard of the 
firewall, accomplish the following:

Restatement of Requirements of AD 96-24-16

    (a) For airplanes identified in AD 96-24-16, amendment 39-9840: 
Within 6 months after January 27, 1997 (the effective date of AD 96-
24-16), fill the two, unused tooling holes in the firewalls of the 
left and right engine pylons, in accordance with Raytheon Service 
Bulletin SB.54-1-3815B, dated March 26, 1996, or Raytheon Service 
Bulletin SB.54-1-3815B, Revision 1, dated May 1998. After the 
effective date of this AD, only Revision 1 of this service bulletin 
shall be used.

New Requirements of This AD

    (b) For all airplanes: Within 6 months after the effective date 
of this AD, fill all unused tooling holes in the left and right 
engine pylon firewalls with firewall sealant, in accordance with 
Raytheon Service Bulletin SB.54-1-3815B, Revision 1, dated May 1998.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), ACE-116W, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate. Operators 
shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
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.

Special Flight Permits

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections Secs. 21.197 and

[[Page 3621]]

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.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 18, 2000.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-1597 Filed 1-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U