[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 26, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57751-57753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24628]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-79-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
A36, B36TC, and 58 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 (Raytheon) 
Beech Models A36, B36TC, and 58 airplanes. The proposed AD would 
require you to inspect for missing rivets on the right hand side of the 
fuselage and, if necessary, install rivets. Raytheon has identified 
several instances of missing rivets on these airplanes. The actions 
specified by this proposed AD are intended to install missing rivets in 
the right hand fuselage panel assembly in the area above the right wing 
and below the cabin door threshold. These rivets must be present for 
the fuselage to carry the ultimate load and prevent critical structural 
failure with loss of airplane control.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule by October 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-79-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106. You may look at comments at this location between 
8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    You may get the service information referenced in the proposed AD 
from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. You may read this 
information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: T.N. Baktha, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4155; facsimile: 
(316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite your comments on 
the proposed rule. You may send whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
send your comments in triplicate to the address mentioned under the 
caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received by the 
closing date mentioned above, before acting on the proposed rule. We 
may change the proposals contained in this notice because of the 
comments received.
    Are there any specific portions of the proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
rule that might call for a need to change the proposed rule. You may 
examine all comments we receive. We will file a report in the Rules 
Docket that summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns 
the substantive parts of this proposal.
    The FAA is reexamining the writing style we currently use in 
regulatory documents, in response to the Presidential memorandum of 
June 1, 1998. That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate 
more clearly with the public. We are interested in your comments on the 
ease of understanding this document, and any other suggestions you 
might have to improve the clarity of FAA communications that affect 
you. You can get more information about the Presidential memorandum and 
the plain language initiative at http://www.faa.gov/language/. Q 
P='03'<ls-thn-eq>
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment?
    If you want to know that we received your comments, you must 
include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write 
``Comments to Docket No. 99-CE-79-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the 
postcard back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? Raytheon has identified 
several instances of missing rivets on these airplanes:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Model                             Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model A36 Bonanza.........................  Serials E-1 through E-3231;
                                             and E-3233.
Model B36TC Bonanza.......................  Serials EA-1 through EA-635.
Model 58 Baron............................  Serials TH-1 through TH-
                                             1811; and TH-1813 through
                                             TH-1897.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raytheon production and inspection personnel identified the missing 
rivets. The missing rivets are the result of a quality control problem.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? This 
condition results in the airplane being unable to carry the ultimate 
load.

Relevant Service Information

    What service information applies to this subject? Raytheon has 
issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 53-3341, revised: May 2000.
    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? The service 
bulletin describes procedures for inspecting for missing rivets and 
installing rivets in the lower right hand fuselage panel assembly in 
the area above the right wing and below the cabin door threshold.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of the 
Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? After examining the circumstances and 
reviewing all available information related to the incidents, we have 
determined that:
    <bullet> The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or 
could develop on other Raytheon Beech Models A36, B36TC, and 58 
airplanes of the same type design;
    <bullet> These airplanes should have the actions specified in the 
above service bulletin incorporated; and
    <bullet> The FAA should take AD action to correct this unsafe 
condition.
    What does this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to:
    <bullet> Inspect for missing rivets on the right hand fuselage; and
    <bullet> If necessary, install rivets.
    What are the differences between the service bulletin and the 
proposed AD?
    Raytheon requires you to inspect for missing rivets and, if 
necessary, install rivets, as soon as possible after receipt of the 
Service Bulletin, but no later than the next scheduled 100 hour or 
annual inspection. We propose a requirement that you inspect and, if 
necessary, install the missing rivets within the next 100 hours time-
in-service (TIS) after the effective date of the proposed AD. We 
believe that 100 hours TIS will give the owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes enough time to have the

[[Page 57752]]

proposed actions done without compromising the safety of the airplanes.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does this proposed AD impact? We estimate the 
proposed AD would affect 452 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of the proposed action for the affected 
airplanes on the U.S. Register? We estimate that it would take about 1 
workhour for each proposed inspection, at an average labor rate of $60 
an hour. Based on the cost factors presented above, we estimate that 
the total cost impact of the proposed inspection on U.S. operators is 
$27,120, or $60 per airplane.
    We estimate that it would take 4 workhours to install the rivets. 
The cost of parts is about $100. Based on the cost factors presented 
above, we estimate that the total cost impact of replacing the rivets 
on U.S. operators is $340 per airplane.
    The manufacturer will allow warranty credit for labor and parts to 
the extent noted in the service bulletin.

Regulatory Impact

    Does this proposed AD impact relations between Federal and State 
governments? The proposed regulations 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. We have 
determined that this proposed rule would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Does this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? 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 Department of Transportation 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if put into effect, 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. We have placed a 
copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action in the 
Rules Docket. You may obtain a copy of it 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, under 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. FAA amends Section 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. 99-CE-79-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects the 
following airplanes, certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Model                             Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model A36.................................  Serials E-1 through E-3231;
                                             and E-3233.
Model B36TC...............................  Serials EA-1 through EA-635.
Model 58..................................  Serials TH-1 through TH-
                                             1811; and TH-1813 through
                                             TH-1897.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes on the U.S. Register must comply with 
this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to install missing rivets in the right hand 
fuselage panel assembly in the area above the right wing and below 
the cabin door threshold. These rivets must be present for the 
fuselage to carry the ultimate load and prevent critical structural 
failure with loss of control of the airplane.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem? To address this 
problem, you must do the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Actions              Compliance times        Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect for up to 9         Inspect within     Do this inspection in
 missing rivets between          the next 100       accordance with the
 fuselage station (F.S.) 83.00   hours time-in-     ACCOMPLISHMENT
 and F.S. 91.00 at water line    service after      INSTRUCTIONS
 (W.L.) 90.3.                    the effective      paragraph of
                                 date of this AD.   Raytheon Mandatory
                                                    Service Bulletin SB
                                                    53-3341, Revision 1,
                                                    Revised: May 2000,
                                                    and the Bonanza
                                                    Series Maintenance
                                                    Manual or Baron
                                                    Model 58 Series
                                                    Maintenance Manual.
(2) If you find rivets are      Before further     Do these actions in
 missing, install these rivets.  flight after the   accordance with the
                                 inspection.        ACCOMPLISHMENT
                                                    INSTRUCTIONS
                                                    paragraph of
                                                    Raytheon Mandatory
                                                    Service Bulletin SB
                                                    53-3341, Revision 1,
                                                    Revised: May 2000,
                                                    and the Bonanza
                                                    Series Maintenance
                                                    Manual or Baron
                                                    Model 58 Series
                                                    Maintenance Manual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
approves your alternative. Send your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Wichita ACO.

    Note: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (e) of this AD. You should 
include in the request an assessment of the effect of the 
modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if you have not eliminated the unsafe 
condition, specific actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact T.N. Baktha, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 
946-4155; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can do the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may get the service information referenced in the AD

[[Page 57753]]

from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. You may read this 
document at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 19, 2000.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-24628 Filed 9-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P