This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

20543

Vol. 63, No. 80

Monday, April 27, 1998

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–CE–22–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directive; Raytheon

Aircraft Company Models 1900, 1900C,

and 1900D Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)

97–04–02, which currently requires

installing new exterior placards with

operating instructions for the airstair

door, cargo door, and emergency exits,

as applicable, on Raytheon Aircraft

Company (Raytheon) Models 1900,

1900C, and 1900D airplanes. The

proposed AD would require either

modifying the existing exterior placards

with door operating instructions

installed in accordance with AD 97–04–

02; or installing new exterior placards

with operating instructions for the

airstair door, cargo door, and emergency

exists, as applicable. The proposed AD

results from reports of the placards

(required by AD 97–04–02) covering the

atmospheric vents for the cabin door

differential pressure lock. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to continue to assure that clear

and complete operating instructions are

visible for opening the airstair door,

cargo door, or emergency exits, and to

prevent improper operation of the cabin

door differential pressure lock caused

by the placards blocking the

atmospheric vents.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before June 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 98–CE–22–

AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

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, P.O. Box

85, Wichita, Kansas 67201–0085. This

information also may be examined at

the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Steven E. Potter, Aerospace

Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification

Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, MidContinent Airport, Wichita, Kansas

67209; telephone: (316) 946–4124;

facsimile: (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

should 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 that

summarizes 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 No. 98–CE–22–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, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 98–CE–22–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97–04–

02, Amendment 39–9937 (62 FR 7667,

February 20, 1997), currently requires

installing new exterior placards with

operating instructions for the airstair

door, cargo door, and emergency exists,

as applicable, on Raytheon Models

1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes.

This AD was the result of an accident

involving a Raytheon Model 1900C

airplane that collided with another

airplane while completing its landing

roll. The ensuing fire destroyed both

airplanes. The emergency crew was not

able to open the forward (main cabin

entry door) airstair door and all

occupants of the airplane died. The

airstair door is unlocked and opened

from the outside by depressing a release

button while simultaneously rotating

the door handle downward. The FAA

believed that the operating instructions

for opening the main boarding door of

this airplane were either not visible or

not easily understandable.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

Since issuing AD 97–04–02, the FAA

has received reports of the placard

decals (required by AD 97–04–02)

covering the atmospheric vents for the

cabin door differential pressure lock.

This condition, if not corrected in a

timely manner, could result in improper

operation of the cabin door differential

pressure lock with loss of cabin

differential pressure.

Relevant Service Information

Raytheon has revised Mandatory

Service Bulletin No. 2741 to the

Revision 1 level (Revised: May 1997).

This service bulletin revision provides

procedures for:

–Installing new exterior placards with

operating instructions for the airstair

door, cargo door, and emergency

exits, as applicable; and

–Modifying the existing exterior

placards with operating instructions

for the airstair door, cargo, door, and

emergency exists, as applicable, that

were installed in accordance with AD

97–04–02, and Raytheon Mandatory

Service Bulletin No. 2741, Issued:

February 1997.
20544 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 80 / Monday, April 27, 1998 / Proposed Rules

The FAA’s Determination

After examining the circumstances

and reviewing all available information

related to the incidents described above,

the FAA has determined that (1) the

actions specified in Raytheon

Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2741,

Revision 1, Revised: May 1997, should

be incorporated into AD 97–04–02; and

(2) AD action should be taken to

continue to assure that clear and

complete operating instructions are

visible for opening the airstair door,

cargo door, or emergency exits, and to

prevent improper operation of the cabin

door differential pressure lock caused

by the placards blocking the

atmospheric vents.

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Raytheon Models 1900,

1900C, and 1900D airplanes of the same

type design, the FAA is proposing an

AD to supersede AD 97–04–02. The

proposed AD would require either

modifying the existing exterior placards

with operating instructions installed in

accordance with AD 97–04–02; or

installing new exterior placards with

operating instructions for the airstair

door, cargo door, and emergency exits,

as applicable.

Accomplishment of the proposed

actions would be required in accordance

with Raytheon Mandatory Service

Bulletin No. 2741, Revision 1, Revised:

May 1997.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 524 airplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 1 workhour per airplane

to accomplish the proposed action, and

that the average labor rate is

approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost

approximately $3 per airplane. Based on

these figures, the total cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $33,012, or $63 per

airplane.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

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. Therefore,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

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, pursuant to 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.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)

97–04–02, Amendment 39–9937, and by

adding a new AD to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Company (Type

Certificate No. A24CE formerly held by

the Beech Aircraft Corporation): Docket

No. 98–CE–22–AD; Supersedes AD 97–

04–02, Amendment 39–9937.

Applicability: The following model and

serial number airplanes, certificated in any

category:

Model Serial Nos.

1900 ...................... UA–2 and UA–3.

1900C .................... UB–1 through RB–74,

and UC–1 through

UC–174.

1900C (C–12J) ...... UD–1 through UD–6.

1900D .................... UE–1 through UE–268.

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 within the next 200

hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective

date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To continue to assure that clear and

complete operating instructions are visible

for opening the airstair door, cargo door, or

emergency exits, and to prevent improper

operation of the cabin door differential

pressure lock causes by the placards blocking

the atmospheric vents, accomplish the

following:

(a) Accomplish one of the following in

accordance with ACCOMPLISHMENT

INSTRUCTIONS section of Raytheon

Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2741,

Revision 1, Revised: May 1997:

(1) Modify the existing exterior placards

with operating instructions installed in

accordance with AD 97–04–02 (superseded

by this AD); or

(2) Remove any existing operating

instructions placards and install new exterior

placards with operating instructions for the

airstair door, cargo door, and emergency

exits, as applicable.

(b) 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.

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft

Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport

Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport,

Wichita, Kansas 67209.

(1) The request shall be forwarded through

the appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector,

who may add comments and then send it to

the Manager, Wichita ACO.

(2) Alternative methods of compliance

approved in accordance with AD 97–04–02

are not considered approved as alternative

methods of compliance for this AD.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Wichita ACO.

(d) All persons affected by this directive

may obtain copies of the document referred

to herein upon request to the Raytheon

Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita,

Kansas 67201–0085; or may examine this

document at the FAA, Central Region, Office

of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E.

12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

(e) This amendment supersedes AD 97–04–

02, Amendment 39–9937.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April

17, 1998.

James E. Jackson,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–11009 Filed 4–24–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M