3278 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 14 /Thursday, January 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules

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 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:

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd: Docket No. 97–CE–119–

AD.

Applicability: Models PC–12 and PC–12/45

airplanes, serial numbers MSN 101 through

MSN 153, certificated in any category.

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 (d) 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 as indicated in the

body of this AD, unless already

accomplished.

To prevent improper operation of the

propeller de-icing controller caused by

electromagnetic interference (EMI), which

could result in ice build-up on the propeller

with possible airplane controllability

problems, accomplish the following:

(a) Within the next 9 calendar months after

the effective date of this AD, accomplish the

following in accordance with the instructions

in Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 30–002, dated

August 19, 1996:

(1) Identify the serial number of the

affected propeller de-icing controller, part

number (P/N) 968.29.13.223 (BFG 4E3163–1)

(or FAA-approved equivalent part number);

(2) For those airplanes with a propeller deicing controller, P/N 968.29.13.223 (BFG

4E3163–1) (or FAA-approved equivalent part

number), with a serial number of U999 or

lower that does not have ‘‘SB30–1’’ marked

on it, replace it with a P/N 500.50.1.109 (BFG

SB4E3163–1–30–1) (or FAA-approved

equivalent part number) propeller de-icing

controller.

Note 2: The airplanes affected by this AD

could have propeller de-icing controllers

installed that have Parts Manufacturer

Approval (PMA). For those airplanes having

PMA parts that are equivalent (PMA by

equivalency) to those referenced in this AD,

the phrase ‘‘or FAA-approved equivalent part

number’’ means that this AD applies to

airplanes with PMA by equivalency propeller

de-icing controllers installed.

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person may install, on any affected airplane,

a propeller de-icing controller, P/N

968.29.13.223 (BFG 4E3163–1) (or FAAapproved equivalent part number), with a

serial number of U999 or lower that does not

have ‘‘SB30–1’’ marked on it.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 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.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Small Airplane

Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas

City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be

forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Small Airplane Directorate.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(e) Questions or technical information

related to Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 30–002

dated August 19, 1996, should be directed to

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Marketing Support

Department, CH–6370 Stans, Switzerland;

telephone: +41 41–6196 233; facsimile: +41

41–6103 351. This service information may

be examined at the FAA, Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Swiss AD HB–96–416, dated September

30, 1996.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January

14, 1998.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–1463 Filed 1–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–68–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon

Aircraft Company Model 1900D

Airplane (Formerly Known as Beech

Aircraft Corporation Model 1900D

Airplane)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to Raytheon

Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models

1900D airplanes (formerly known as

Beech Aircraft Corporation Models

1900D airplanes). The proposed action

would require inspecting and repairing

the radio switching panel relay printed

circuit board (PCB) and the nose

avionics wire harnesses, and replacing

the existing A017 component PCB with

a new A017 component PCB that has

internal overcurrent protection fuses.

Several reported incidents of lost pilot/

co-pilot intercom ability, VHF

communication ability, and public

address system ability while in flight

prompted the proposed action. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent the loss of the

pilot and co-pilot intercom, VHF

communications, and passenger address

system, which could result in loss of all

communication during critical phases of

flight.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before March 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–CE–68–

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

Raytheon Aircraft Company, P. O. Box

85, Wichita, Kansas 67201–0085;

telephone (800) 625–7043. This

information also may be examined at

the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Harvey Nero, Aerospace Engineer,

Wichita Aircraft Certification Office,

Room 100, 1801 Airport Rd., Wichita,
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 14 /Thursday, January 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules 3279

Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946–

4137; 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. 97–CE–68–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. 97–CE–68–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

The FAA has received several

incident reports in which an in-flight

overcurrent condition occurred in the

avionics/communications equipment

resulting in a loss of certain Raytheon

Model 1900D airplanes’ pilot and copilot intercom, VHF communication,

and passenger address systems.

Investigation of these incidents found

that one of the avionics wire harnesses

had become chafed by rubbing against

the PCB rack in the forward avionics

bay. Investigators also found

overcurrent conditions opening PCB

traces in Collins CTL–22

communication control heads.

These events are occurring because

the manufacturer made a change in the

configuration design and installation of

the avionics/communication equipment

and the wire harnesses on the Model

1900D airplanes. The new configuration

reduced the space between the

equipment and made the proper

installation of the wire harnesses a more

critical issue. Also, the communication

control heads are not internally

protected by fuses to prevent a short

circuit on any of the distribution

circuits from affecting the entire

communication system. This design

makes it possible for an electrical short

in the radio switching panel relay PCB’s

or in the avionics harnesses to create an

overcurrent condition in the CTL–22

communication control heads.

This condition could cause the pilot

and co-pilot circuit breaker to open,

resulting in the pilot and co-pilot

intercom system, VHF communications,

and the passenger address system not

operating, resulting in the loss of

communication during critical phases of

flight.

Relevant Service Information

Raytheon has issued service bulletin

(SB) No. 2643, dated August, 1996,

which specifies procedures for:

• inspecting the electrical connectors,

the radio switching panel, and this

panel’s relay PCB’s for moisture and

corrosion;

• if moisture is found, cleaning and

drying the components;

• if corrosion is found, either

cleaning or replacing the component,

depending on the severity;

• if moisture or corrosion is found,

locating and eliminating the source;

• inspecting the nose avionics wire

harnesses for proper installation, and if

any wire harness is not installed

properly, securing it with cable ties; and

• removing the A017 component

PCB, part number (P/N) 101–342536–1,

and replacing it with a new A017

component PCB, P/N 101–342536–5 (or

an approved FAA-equivalent part

number).

The FAA’s Determination

After examining the circumstances

and reviewing all available information

related to the incidents described above

including the referenced service

information above, the FAA has

determined that AD action should be

taken to prevent the loss of the pilot and

co-pilot intercom, VHF

communications, and passenger address

system during critical flight, which

could result in loss of all

communication during critical phases of

flight.

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 Model 1900D

airplanes of the same type design, the

proposed AD would require: (1)

Inspecting the radio switching panel

and nose avionics wire harnesses for

moisture and corrosion; (2) removing

the corrosion; (3) locating and correcting

the source of the moisture that is

causing the corrosion; (4) repairing or

replacing the corroded part; and, (5)

replacing the A017 component PCB

with a new A017 component PCB that

has internal overcurrent protection

fuses. Accomplishment of the proposed

AD would be in accordance with

Raytheon Service Bulletin (SB) No.

2643, dated August, 1996.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 160 airplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 4 workhours per airplane

to accomplish the proposed action, and

that the average labor rate is

approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost

approximately $370 per airplane. Based

on these figures, the total cost impact of

the proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $97,600 or $610 per

airplane.

Raytheon has informed the FAA that

they have shipped approximately 127

A017 component PCB’s to the owners/

operators of the affected airplanes. With

this information in mind, the FAA

would presume that 127 of the airplanes

have already accomplished the

proposed action, thereby reducing the

total cost impact of the proposed AD on

U.S. operators by $77,470 from $97,600

to $20,130.

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
3280 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 14 /Thursday, January 22, 1998 / Proposed Rules

1This ANPR was approved by a 2–1 vote of the

Commission. Chairman Ann Brown and

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 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:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. 97–

CE–68–AD.

Applicability: Model 1900D airplanes

(serial numbers UE–1 through UE–160),

certificated in any category.

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 (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 the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required within the next

1,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the

effective date of this AD, unless already

accomplished.

To prevent the loss of the pilot and co-pilot

intercom, VHF communications, and

passenger address system, which could result

in loss of all communication during critical

phases of flight, accomplish the following:

(a) Inspect the electrical connectors, the

radio switching panel and its relay printed

circuit boards (PCB’s) for moisture and

corrosion in accordance with the

Accomplishment Instructions in Raytheon

Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2643, dated August,

1996.

(1) If moisture is found, prior to further

flight, clean and dry the component in

accordance with the Accomplishment

Instructions in Raytheon Service Bulletin

(SB) No. 2643, dated August, 1996.

(2) If corrosion is found, prior to further

flight, either clean or replace the component,

depending on the severity, in accordance

with the Accomplishment Instructions in

Raytheon Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2643,

dated August, 1996.

(3) If moisture or corrosion is found, prior

to further flight, locate and eliminate the

source (i.e., crack, hole, leak) in accordance

with the Accomplishment Instructions in

Raytheon Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2643,

dated August, 1996.

(b) Inspect the nose avionics wire

harnesses for proper installation, and if any

wire harness is not installed properly, prior

to further flight, secure it with cable ties in

accordance with the Accomplishment

Instructions in Raytheon Service Bulletin

(SB) No. 2643, dated August, 1996.

(c) Remove the A017 component PCB, part

number (P/N) 101–342536–1, and replace the

PCB with a new A017 component PCB (P/N

101–342536–5 or an FAA-approved

equivalent part number) in accordance with

the Accomplishment Instructions in

Raytheon Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2643,

dated August, 1996.

(d) 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.

(e) 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, Room 100, 1801 Airport

Rd., Wichita, Kansas 67209. The request shall

be forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Wichita Aircraft

Certification Office.

(f) All persons affected by this directive

may obtain copies of the document referred

to herein upon request to Raytheon Aircraft

Company, 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.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January

14, 1998.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–1461 Filed 1–21–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

COMMISSION

16 CFR Chapter II

Bunk Beds; Advance Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking; Request for

Comments and Information

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety

Commission.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed

rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Commission has reason

to believe that unreasonable risks of

injury and death may be associated with

bunk beds constructed so that children

can become entrapped in the beds’

structure or become wedged between

the bed and a wall.

This advance notice of proposed

rulemaking (‘‘ANPR’’) initiates a

rulemaking proceeding that could result

in a rule mandating bunk bed

performance requirements to reduce this

hazard. This rule could be issued under

either the Federal Hazardous Substances

Act (‘‘FHSA’’) or the Consumer Product

Safety Act (‘‘CPSA’’), or separate rules

might be issued under the FHSA and

CPSA addressing bunk beds intended

for use by children or adults,

respectively.

The Commission solicits written

comments from interested persons

concerning the risks of injury and death

associated with bunk beds, the

regulatory alternatives discussed in this

ANPR, other possible ways to address

these risks, and the economic impacts of

the various regulatory alternatives. The

Commission also invites interested

persons to submit an existing standard,

or a statement of intent to modify or

develop a voluntary standard, to address

the risks of injury and death described

in this ANPR.

DATES: Written comments and

submissions in response to this ANPR

must be received by the Commission by

April 7, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

mailed, preferably in five copies, to the

Office of the Secretary, Consumer

Product Safety Commission,

Washington, D.C. 20207–0001, or

delivered to the Office of the Secretary,

Consumer Product Safety Commission,

Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway,

Bethesda, Maryland; telephone (301)

504–0800. Comments also may be filed

by telefacsimile to (301) 504–0127 or by

email to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. Comments

should be captioned ‘‘ANPR for Bunk

Beds.’’ 1