Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 59705

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Seattle

ACO. Operators shall submit their requests

through an appropriate FAA Principal

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Seattle ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

Special Flight Permits

(e) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with §§ 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.

Incorporation by Reference

(f) Except as provided by paragraph (c) of

this AD, the actions shall be done in

accordance with Boeing Service Bulletin

757–54–0034, dated May 14, 1998; Boeing

Service Bulletin 757–54–0027, Revision 1,

dated October 27, 1994; and Boeing Service

Bulletin 757–54–0036, dated May 14, 1998;

as applicable. This incorporation by

reference was approved by the Director of the

Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C.

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be

obtained from Boeing Commercial Airplane

Group, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington

98124–2207. Copies may be inspected at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at

the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

Effective Date

(g) This amendment becomes effective on

November 13, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

September 28, 2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–25433 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–CE–29–AD; Amendment

39–11918; AD 2000–20–07]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon

Aircraft Company Beech Models 1900,

1900C, and 1900D Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that

applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft

Company (Raytheon) Beech Models

1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. This

AD requires you to modify the cockpit

voice recorder (CVR) system. This AD is

the result of instances where the

recording quality of the CVR in the

affected airplanes was so poor that the

information was practically

unrecoverable. The actions specified by

this AD are intended to correct

substandard quality cockpit voice

recordings caused by the configuration

of the present CVR system, which could

affect air safety if important information

that the CVR provides is not available

after an accident. This information

helps determine the probable cause of

an accident and aids in developing

necessary corrective action or design

changes to prevent future accidents.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on

November 22, 2000.

The Director of the Federal Register

approved the incorporation by reference

of certain publications listed in the

regulation as of November 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service

information referenced in this AD from

the Raytheon Aircraft Company, PO Box

85, Wichita, Kansas 67201–0085;

telephone: (800) 625–7043 or (316) 676–

4556.

You may examine this information at

the Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA), Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 2000–CE–29–AD, 901

Locust, Room 506, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Harvey E. Nero, Aerospace Engineer,

Wichita Aircraft Certification Office,

FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent

Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209;

telephone: (316) 946–4137; facsimile:

(316) 946–4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What caused this AD? The FAA has

received reports of six instances where

the recording quality of the cockpit

voice recorder (CVR) system in

Raytheon Beech Models 1900, 1900C,

and 1900D airplanes was so poor that

the information was practically

unrecoverable.

Has FAA taken any action to this

point? We issued a proposal to amend

part 39 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include

an AD that would apply to certain

Raytheon Beech Models 1900, 1900C,

and 1900D. This proposal was

published in the Federal Register as a

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)

on June 14, 2000 (65 FR 37311). The

NPRM proposed to require you to

modify the cockpit voice recorder (CVR)

system.

Accomplishment of the proposed

action as specified in the NPRM would

be required in accordance with

Raytheon Recommended Service

Bulletin SB 23–3094, Issued: November,

1999.

What is the potential impact if FAA

took no action? This condition, if not

corrected, could affect air safety if

important information that the CVR

provides is not available after an

accident. This information helps

determine the probable cause of an

accident and aids in developing

necessary corrective action or design

changes to prevent future accidents.

Was the public invited to comment?

The FAA encouraged interested persons

to participate in the making of this

amendment. The following presents the

concerns received on the proposal and

FAA’s response to these concerns:

Comment Disposition

What is the commenter’s concerns?

The commenter requests that FAA:

• Clearly define in the AD that the

CVR must be installed and not just the

incorporation of a kit; and

• Identify all affected CVR’s by

manufacturer or model number.

The commenter operates several of

the affected airplanes in a configuration

of freight-only, single pilot. These

airplanes incorporate supplemental type

certificates that allow operation with

nine or fewer passengers and freight

conversions. Under section 135.151 of

the Federal Aviation Regulations (14

CFR 135.151), this operator does not

have to operate with a CVR. The

commenter believes that FAA could

eliminate confusion as to whether the

AD applied if the Applicability of the

AD was written to specify that the CVR

must be installed. Then, if you installed

the CVR in the future, you would have

to comply with the AD.

The commenter believes that

identifying the CVR by manufacturer or

model number would also clarify the

Applicability of the AD.

What is FAA’s Response to the

Concerns? We concur that specifying

that the CVR must be installed would

clarify the Applicability of the AD. We

have changed the wording in the final

rule accordingly.

We do not concur with including the

manufacturer or model number of the

CVR in the Applicability of the AD. The

intent of the AD is to modify the

configuration of the CVR system, which

includes the wiring and audio amplifier.

59706 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

The AD applies regardless of the CVR

unit make and model that is installed.

The FAA’s Determination

What is FAA’s final determination on

this issue? We carefully reviewed all

available information related to the

subject presented above and determined

that air safety and the public interest

require the adoption of the rule as

proposed except for the change

discussed above and minor editorial

changes. These changes provide the

intent that was proposed in the NPRM

for correcting the unsafe condition and

do not impose any additional burden

than what was intended in the NPRM.

Compliance Time of This AD

What is the compliance time of this

AD? The compliance time of this AD is

‘‘within 12 months after the effective

date of this AD.’’

Why is the compliance in calendar

time instead of hours time-in-service

(TIS)? The unsafe condition defined in

this document is not a result of the

number of times the airplane is

operated, rather is a result of the present

configuration of the CVR system. The

chance of this situation occurring is the

same for an airplane with 100 hours

time-in-service (TIS) as it is for an

airplane with 1,000 hours TIS. For this

reason, FAA has determined that a

compliance based on calendar time

should be utilized in this AD in order

to assure that the unsafe condition is

addressed on all airplanes in a

reasonable time period.

Cost Impact

What is the cost impact of this AD on

owners/operators of the affected

airplanes? The following chart provides

estimates of the cost this AD would

impose upon the public:

Action

No. of

airplanes

affected

Labor costs Parts cost Cost impact

Replacement/Incorporation of Modification kit.119 8 workhours at $60 per hour=$480

per airplane.

$1,728 $262,752, or $2,208 per airplane.

Audio Amplifier Modification and

Electrical Wiring Changes.

377 8 workhours at $60 per hour=$480

per airplane.

679 $436,943, or $1,159 per airplane.

Regulatory Impact

Does this AD impact various entities?

The regulations adopted herein will 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 final rule does not

have federalism implications under

Executive Order 13132.

Does this 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 DOT Regulatory Policies

and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February

26, 1979); and (3) 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

final 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, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority

delegated to me by the Administrator,

the Federal Aviation Administration

amends 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.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

2000–20–07 Raytheon Aircraft Company

(The Beech Aircraft Corporation

previously held Type Certificate No.

A24CE): Amendment 39–11918; Docket

No. 2000–CE–29–AD.

(a) What airplanes are affected by this AD?

The following airplane models and serial

numbers that are certificated in any category

and are required to have a cockpit voice

recorder (CVR) installed:

Models Serial No.

1900 and 1900C .................. All serial number airplanes with the applicable Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) Kit No. 114–3020 variation

(¥1, ¥3, ¥7, or ¥9) incorporated.

1900 and 1900C .................. All serial number airplanes with RAC Kit No. 114–3032–1 incorporated.

1900 and 1900C .................. All serial number airplanes with RAC Kit No. 114–3008–1 incorporated.

1900 and 1900C .................. All serial number airplanes where RAC installed the CVR.

1900D ................................... UE–1 through UE–376.

(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 in this document are

intended to correct substandard quality

cockpit voice recordings caused by the

configuration of the present CVR system,

which could affect air safety if important

information that the CVR provides is not

available after an accident. This information

helps determine the probable cause of an

accident and aids in developing necessary

corrective action or design changes to

prevent future accidents.

(d) What actions must I accomplish to

address this problem? To address this

problem, you must accomplish the following:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 59707

Action Compliance time Procedures

(1) Accomplish the CVR system modifications specified in

Raytheon Recommended Servcie Bulletin SB 23–3094,

Issued: November, 1999.

Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD.Do the modifications in accordance with procedures in the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Raytheon Recommended Service bulletin SB 23–3094,

Issued: November, 1999.

(2) Do not install a CVR on any of the affected airplanes without incorporating the modifications required by paragraph

(d)(1) of this AD.

As of the effective date of this

AD.

Not Applicable.

(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. Submit 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. 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 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? You may contact Harvey Nero,

Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft

Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road,

Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas

67209; telephone: (316) 946–4137; 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 accomplish the requirements

of this AD.

(h) Are any service bulletins incorporated

into this AD by reference? Actions required

by this AD must be done in accordance with

Raytheon Recommended Service Bulletin SB

23–3094, Issued: November, 1999. The

Director of the Federal Register approved this

incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C.

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get copies

from the Raytheon Aircraft Corporation, P.O.

Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201–0085. You

can look at copies at the FAA, Central

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901

Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or

at the Office of the Federal Register, 800

North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700,

Washington, DC.

(i) When does this amendment become

effective? This amendment becomes effective

on November 22, 2000.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on

September 26, 2000.

Michael K. Dahl,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–25148 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–329–AD; Amendment

39–11915; AD 2000–20–04]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell

Douglas Model MD–90–30 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

SUMMARY: This document supersedes an

existing airworthiness directive (AD)

that applies to certain McDonnell

Douglas Model MD–90–30 series

airplanes. That AD currently requires

replacement of certain ground block

screws with new screws; and

retermination of the circuit ground

wires of the electrical power control

unit (EPCU) to separate grounding

points. The actions specified in that AD

are intended to prevent a loose electrical

ground block of the circuit ground wires

of the EPCU, which could result in

complete loss of the primary electrical

power of an airplane during flight. This

amendment is prompted by the Federal

Aviation Administration’s

determination that the existing AD must

be revised to ensure that the

requirements apply to the appropriate

airplane groups.

DATES: Effective November 13, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

McDonnell Douglas Service Bulletin

MD90–24–062, dated February 3, 2000,

as listed in the regulations, is approved

by the Director of the Federal Register

as of November 13, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

McDonnell Douglas Alert Service

Bulletin MD90–24A060, Revision 01,

dated September 2, 1999, as listed in the

regulations, was approved previously by

the Director of the Federal Register as of

September 19, 2000 (65 FR 49728,

August 15, 2000).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George Mabuni, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office, 3960 Paramount

Boulevard, Lakewood, California

90712–4137; telephone (562) 627–5341;

fax (562) 627–5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August

3, 2000, the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) issued AD 2000–

16–01, amendment 39–11855 (65 FR

49728, August 15, 2000), which applies

to certain McDonnell Douglas Model

MD–90–30 series airplanes. That AD

requires replacement of certain ground

block screws with new screws; and

retermination of the circuit ground

wires of the electrical power control

unit (EPCU) to separate grounding

points. That AD was prompted by

reports of complete loss of the primary

electrical power on an airplane during

flight. The actions required by that AD

are intended to prevent a loose electrical

ground block of the circuit ground wires

of the EPCU, which could result in

complete loss of the primary electrical

power of an airplane during flight.

Need for the Correction

In the preamble of AD 2000–16–01,

the FAA indicated that a supplemental

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)

was published in the Federal Register

on June 12, 2000 (65 FR 36799). After

careful review of the available data,

including the comments received from

the public, the FAA determined that air

safety and the public interest required

the adoption of the rule as proposed in

the supplemental NPRM. However, the

FAA inadvertently included the

requirements from the original NPRM

(64 FR 68302, December 7, 1999) in the

final rule, rather than the requirements

specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of the

supplemental NPRM. The effect of this

error is that operators of certain

airplanes are not required to accomplish

actions that apply to those airplanes,