[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 213 (Thursday, November 2, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65803-65805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28094]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-10-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech 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 Company (Raytheon) 
Beech Model 1900D airplanes that are equipped with a KLN-90B Global 
Positioning System (GPS) incorporated in accordance with AlliedSignal 
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA00245WI-D. The proposed AD would 
require rewiring the KLN-90B GPS to eliminate the possibility of 
inconsistent NAV ``FLAG'' displays. The proposed AD is the result of an 
instance where the copilot's NAV ``FLAG'' display was based on the 
pilot's NAV source validity. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
are intended to assure that the copilot's NAV ``FLAG'' displays are 
based on the copilot's selected NAV source. Inconsistent NAV ``FLAG'' 
displays could cause the copilot to make decisions based on using an 
invalid GPS source without knowing it was invalid.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this rule on or before December 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to FAA, Central Region, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-10-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, 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: Todd Dixon, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4152; 
facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on the proposed AD? The FAA invites comments on 
this proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
submit your comments in triplicate to the address specified under the 
caption ADDRESSES. The FAA will consider all comments received on or 
before the closing date. We may amend the proposed rule in light of 
comments received. Factual information that supports your ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
proposed AD action and determining whether we need to take additional 
rulemaking action.
    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 suggest a need to modify the rule. You may examine all 
comments we receive before and after the closing date of the rule in 
the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of the proposed AD.
    We are re-examining 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 
whether the style of this document is clearer, 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.plainlanguage.gov.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want us to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2000-CE-10-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The FAA has received a report of 
inconsistent NAV ``FLAG'' displays on the KLN-90B Global Positioning 
System (GPS) that was installed on a Raytheon Model Beech 1900D 
airplane. This system is installed in accordance with

[[Page 65804]]

AlliedSignal Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA00245WI-D, and could 
be installed on Raytheon Beech Model 1900D airplanes, serial numbers 
UE-156 through UE-299.
    In this situation, the copilot had the KLN-90B GPS selected as the 
NAV source and the pilot did not have a valid NAV source selected. This 
caused the flight director command bar to disappear from the copilot's 
electronic attitude director indicator (EADI), and the copilot received 
an inconsistent NAV ``FLAG''.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? 
Inconsistent NAV ``FLAG'' displays could cause the copilot to make 
decisions based on an invalid GPS source without knowing it was 
invalid.

Relevant Service Information

    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Raytheon 
has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 34-3222, Issued: January, 
2000.
    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for rewiring the KLN-90B GPS to eliminate 
the possibility of inconsistent NAV ``FLAG'' displays.

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 described 
above, we have determined that:
    <bullet> The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or 
could develop on other Raytheon Beech Model 1900D airplanes of the same 
type design;
    <bullet> The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
    <bullet> AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe 
condition.
    What would the proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
rewiring the KLN-90B GPS to eliminate the possibility of inconsistent 
NAV ``FLAG'' displays.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would the proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD affects 82 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of the proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to 
accomplish the proposed modification:

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                                                                                                  Total cost on
                  Labor cost                              Parts cost             Total cost per   U.S. airplane
                                                                                    airplane        operators
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4 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $240..........  No parts required for the              $240 per         $19,680
                                                rewiring.                             airplane
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Note: Warranty credit will be allowed on all affected airplanes to the extent specified in the service bulletin.

Regulatory Impact

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? 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 
proposed rule would not have federalism implications under Executive 
Order 13132.
    Would 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 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, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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 Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. 2000-CE-10-AD

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Beech Model 1900D airplanes, serial numbers UE-156 through UE-299, 
that are:
    (1) certificated in any category; and
    (2) equipped with a KLN-90B Global Positioning System (GPS) 
incorporated in accordance with AlliedSignal Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) SA00245WI-D.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to assure that the copilot's NAV ``FLAG'' 
displays are based on the copilot's selected NAV source. 
Inconsistent NAV ``FLAG'' displays could cause the copilot to make 
decisions based on an invalid GPS source without knowing it was 
invalid.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Action                Compliance time         Procedures
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Rewire the KLN-90B Global     Within the next 400   Accomplish in
 Positioning System to         hours time-in-        accordance with the
 eliminate the possibility     service (TIS) after   ACCOMPLISHMENT
 of inconsistent NAV           the effective date    INSTRUCTIONS
 ``FLAG'' displays.            of this AD, unless    section of Raytheon
                               already               Mandatory Service
                               accomplished.         Bulletin SB 34-
                                                     3222, Issued:
                                                     January, 2000.
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[[Page 65805]]

    (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? Contact Todd Dixon, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 
946-4152; 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) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may obtain copies of the documents 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 
these documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 27, 2000.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-28094 Filed 11-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P