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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36675-36678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15246]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0345; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-230-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Beechcraft Corporation (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon 
Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech 
Aircraft Corporation) Model 400, 400A, 400T, and MU-300 airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of a failure of the Acme nut 
threads in a pitch trim actuator (PTA). This proposed AD would require 
an inspection to determine if PTAs having a certain serial number and 
part number are installed, and replacement if they are installed. This 
proposed AD would also require repetitive replacements of PTAs with new 
PTAs or certain overhauled PTAs. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
failure of the Acme nut threads in the PTA, which could lead to loss of 
control of pitch trim and reduced controllability of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room

[[Page 36676]]

W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Beechcraft Corporation, TMDC, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, KS 67201-0085; 
telephone 316-676-8238; fax 316-671-2540; email tmdc@beechcraft.com; 
Internet http://pubs.beechcraft.com. You may view this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0345; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Johnson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4105; fax: (316) 946-4107; 
email: Ann.Johnson@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2014-0345; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-230-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received a report of a failure of the Acme nut threads in a 
PTA, due to accelerated thread wear on the Acme nut that mates with the 
jackscrew. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of 
the Acme nut threads in the PTA, which could lead to loss of control of 
pitch trim and reduced controllability of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-4100, 
dated March 2012. This service bulletin describes procedures for an 
inspection to determine if PTAs having a certain serial number and part 
number are installed, and replacing those PTAs having specific serial 
numbers listed in the service bulletin.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type 
designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously, except as discussed 
under ``Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service 
Information.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Although Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-4100, 
dated March 2012, does not require repetitive replacements, this 
proposed AD would require repetitive replacements of PTAs with new PTAs 
or with overhauled PTAs having an Acme nut and jackscrew replaced with 
a new Acme nut and jackscrew every 1,800 flight hours or at the next 
PTA overhaul, whichever occurs first.
    While the effectivity of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service 
Bulletin 27-4100, dated March 2012, does not include Model MU-300 
airplanes, those airplanes are included in the applicability of this 
proposed AD since the affected PTAs can also be used on these 
airplanes.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 735 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identification of serial/part     1 work-hour x $85   $0................  $85...............  $62,475.
 numbers (735 airplanes).          per hour = $85.
Replacement of PTA (26            10 work-hours x     $17,334 per         $18,184 per         $472,784 per
 airplanes).                       $85 per hour =      replacement.        replacement.        replacement.
                                   $850 per
                                   replacement.
Repetitive replacement of         10 work-hours x     $17,334 per         $18,184 per         $13,365,240 per
 jackscrew and Acme nut on PTAs    $85 per hour =      replacement.        replacement.        replacement.
 (735 airplanes).                  $850 per
                                   replacement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, the costs of this proposed AD 
associated with Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-4100, 
dated March 2012, may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the 
cost impact on affected owners/operators. We do not control warranty 
coverage for affected individuals. As a result, we have included all 
costs in our cost estimate. The costs of the repetitive replacement are 
not covered under warranty. However, the PTA manufacturer states that 
it is already replacing the Acme nut and jackscrew at every overhaul, 
so the owners/operators should not see a cost increase due to this 
repetitive replacement requirement.

[[Page 36677]]

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This proposed regulation is 
within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe 
condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in 
this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Hawker 
Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft 
Corporation): Docket No. FAA-2014-0345; Directorate Identifier 2013-
NM-230-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 29, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category.
    (1) Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech 
Aircraft Corporation) airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1)(i), 
(c)(1)(ii), and (c)(1)(iii) of this AD.
    (i) Model 400 Beechjet airplanes having serial numbers RJ-1 
through RJ-65, inclusive.
    (ii) Model 400A Beechjet airplanes having serial numbers RK-1 
through RK-604, inclusive.
    (iii) Model 400T Beechjet airplanes having serial numbers TT-1 
through TT-180, inclusive, and TX-1 through TX-13, inclusive.
    (2) Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Mitsubishi 
Heavy Industries, Inc. Ltd.) Model MU-300 airplanes, having serial 
numbers A003SA through A093SA, inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight 
Controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a failure of the Acme nut 
threads in a pitch trim actuator (PTA). We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the Acme nut threads in the PTA, which could lead 
to loss of control of pitch trim and reduced controllability of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Determination of Serial Number and Part Number

    Within 200 flight hours or 6 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect to determine the serial 
number and part number of the PTA, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service 
Bulletin 27-4100, dated March 2012. A review of manufacturer 
delivery and operator maintenance records is acceptable, in lieu of 
the inspection, if the serial number and part number of the PTA can 
be conclusively determined from that review.

(h) Replacement

    If any serial number and part number found during an inspection 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD is one listed in Table 1 or 
Table 2 of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-4100, 
dated March 2012: Within 200 flight hours or 6 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace the PTA 
with a serviceable PTA or an overhauled PTA having an Acme nut and 
jackscrew replaced with a new Acme nut and jackscrew, in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory 
Service Bulletin 27-4100, dated March 2012.

(i) Repetitive Replacements

    Within 1,800 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, 
or at the next PTA overhaul, whichever occurs first, replace the PTA 
with a new PTA or an overhauled PTA having the Acme nut and 
jackscrew replaced with a new Acme nut and jackscrew, in accordance 
with sections 3.A.(2), (3), and (5) through (10) of Hawker 
Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 27-4100, dated March 2012. 
Repeat the replacement thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,800 
flight hours, or at every PTA overhaul, whichever occurs first.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Ann Johnson, 
Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-
4105; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: Ann.Johnson@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Beechcraft Corporation, TMDC, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, KS 67201-0085; 
telephone 316-676-8238; fax 316-671-2540; email tmdc@beechcraft.com; 
Internet http://pubs.beechcraft.com. You may view this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

[[Page 36678]]

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 10, 2014.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-15246 Filed 6-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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