[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 80 (Monday, April 27, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20543-20544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11009]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

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

[[Page 20543]]


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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).

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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, Mid-Continent 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.

[[Page 20544]]

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.


Sec. 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 
Secs. 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