[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 136 (Thursday, July 16, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38295-38298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18868]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-92-AD; Amendment 39-10664; AD 98-15-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company 90, 100, 200, 
and 300 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) 90, 100, 200, 
and 300 series airplanes (formerly known as Beech Aircraft Corporation 
90, 100, 200,

[[Page 38296]]

and 300 series airplanes). This AD requires: checking the airplane 
maintenance records from January 1, 1994, up to and including the 
effective date of this AD, for any MIL-H-6000B fuel hose replacements 
on the affected airplanes; inspecting any replaced rubber fuel hose for 
a spiral or diagonal external wrap with a red stripe the length of the 
hose with 94519 printed along the stripe; and replacing any MIL-H-6000B 
rubber fuel hose matching this description with an FAA-approved hose 
having a criss-cross or braided external wrap. This AD was prompted by 
a report of a product defect by the manufacturer that could cause fuel 
system blockage and engine stoppage. The actions specified by this AD 
are intended to prevent fuel flow interruption, which could lead to 
uncommanded loss of engine power and loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Effective August 28, 1998.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of August 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 625-7043. This information may also be examined 
at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-92-AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office 
of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Randy Griffith, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, Room 100, 1801 
Airport Rd., Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4145; 
facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Raytheon 90, 
100, 200, and 300 series airplanes was published in the Federal 
Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on March 4, 1998 (63 
FR 10573). The NPRM proposed to require: replacing all of the MIL-H-
6000B rubber fuel hoses in the affected airplanes that were 
manufactured from January 1, 1994, and after, with an FAA-approved 
rubber fuel hose that has a criss-cross or braided pattern on the 
external wrap. For airplanes manufactured prior to January 1, 1994, the 
proposed AD would require checking the airplane maintenance records 
from January 1, 1994, up to and including the effective date of the 
proposed AD, for any MIL-H-6000B rubber fuel hose replacements; and, if 
a replacement has been made, checking the replacement hose for diagonal 
or spiral wrap that has a \3/8\-inch-wide red or orange-red, length-
wise stripe, with the manufacturer's code, 94519, printed periodically 
along the line in red letters on one side. In the case of the Raytheon 
Models C90A, B200, and B300 airplanes with this fuel hose installed at 
the factory, the proposed AD would require replacing the fuel hoses 
with FAA-approved MIL-H-6000B fuel hoses that have a criss-cross or 
braided external wrap. Accomplishment of the proposed action as 
specified in the NPRM would be in accordance with Raytheon Aircraft 
Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2718, Rev. 1, Issued: January, 1997, 
Revised: June, 1997.
    The NPRM was the result of a report of a product defect by the 
manufacturer that could cause fuel system blockage and engine stoppage.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the one comment received.
    The FAA received a comment from the manufacturer, Raytheon Aircraft 
Company. Raytheon states that the Model C90B listed in the 
applicability section of the proposed AD should actually be listed as 
Model C90A because the model number C90B was only used as a designation 
on certain airplanes for marketing purposes. There are not actually any 
Raytheon airplanes with the model number C90B.
    The FAA concurs and will change the model number in the 
applicability section of the AD to read:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                             Serial No.             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C90A..............................  LJ-1288, LJ-1295, and LJ-1300       
                                     through LJ-1445.                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The FAA's Determination

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
the model change referenced above and minor editorial corrections. The 
FAA has determined that this change and minor corrections will not 
change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden 
upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 4,868 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 workhour per 
airplane to accomplish this initial check, and that the average labor 
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts and labor cost will be covered 
under the manufacturer's warranty program if the hose is returned to 
the manufacturer. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this 
AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $292,080 or $60 per airplane.
    Since an owner/operator who holds at least a private pilot's 
certificate as authorized by sections 43.7 and 43.9 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7 and 43.9) can accomplish the initial 
check of the airplane maintenance records, the only cost impact upon 
the public is the time it will take the affected airplane owners/
operators of airplanes to check the records. The FAA has not taken into 
account the cost of the inspection of the hoses because this inspection 
would be on the condition a hose replacement had been made within a 
certain time frame. The cost of replacing the hose is not included in 
the initial cost estimate, since the manufacturer is offering warranty 
credit for the hose replacement.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on the assumption 
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this 
AD action, and that no operator will accomplish these actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) 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 final

[[Page 38297]]

evaluation prepared for this action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

98-15-13  Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-10664; Docket No. 
97-CE-92-AD.

    Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, 
certificated in any category.

    Note 1: The airplane models and serial numbers listed in this AD 
take precedence over those listed in Raytheon Aircraft Service 
Bulletin No. 2718, Rev. 1, Issued: January, 1997; Revised: June, 
1997.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Models                             Serial Nos.        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
65-90.....................................  LJ-1 through LJ-75, and LJ- 
                                             77 through LJ-113.         
65-A90....................................  LJ-76, LJ-114 through LJ-   
                                             317, and LJ-178A.          
B90.......................................  LJ-318 through LJ-501.      
C90.......................................  LJ-502 through LJ-1062.     
C90A......................................  LJ-1063 through LJ-1445.    
E90.......................................  LW-1 through LW-347.        
F90.......................................  LA-2 through LA-236.        
H90.......................................  LL-1 through LL-61.         
100.......................................  B-2 through B-89, and B-93. 
A100......................................  B-1, B-90 through B-92, B-94
                                             through B-204, and B-206   
                                             through B-247.             
A100-1 (RU-21J)...........................  BB-3 through BB-5.          
B100......................................  BE-1 through BE-137.        
200.......................................  BB-2, BB-6 through BB-185,  
                                             BB-187 through BB-202, BB- 
                                             204 through BB-269, BB-271 
                                             through BB-407, BB-409     
                                             through BB-468, BB-470     
                                             through BB-488, BB-490     
                                             through BB-509, BB-511     
                                             through BB-529, BB-531     
                                             through BB-550, BB-552     
                                             through BB-562, BB-564     
                                             through BB-572, BB-574     
                                             through BB-590, BB-592     
                                             through BB-608, BB-610     
                                             through BB-626, BB-628     
                                             through BB-646, BB-648     
                                             through BB-664, BB-735     
                                             through BB-792, BB-794     
                                             through BB-797, BB-799     
                                             through BB-822, BB-824     
                                             through BB-828, BB-830     
                                             through BB-853, BB-872, BB-
                                             873, BB-892, BB-893, and BB-
                                             912.                       
200C......................................  BL-1 through BL-23, and BL- 
                                             25 through BL-36.          
200CT.....................................  BN-1.                       
200T......................................  BT-1 through BT-22, and BT- 
                                             28.                        
A200......................................  BC-1 through BC-75, and BD-1
                                             through BD-30.             
A200C.....................................  BJ-1 through BJ-66.         
A200CT....................................  BP-1, BP-7 through BP-11, BP-
                                             22, BP-24 through BP-63, FC-
                                             1 through FC-3, FE-1       
                                             through FE-36, and GR-1    
                                             through GR-19.             
B200......................................  BB-829, BB-854 through BB-  
                                             870, BB-874 through BB-891,
                                             BB-894, BB-896 through BB- 
                                             911, BB-913 through BB-990,
                                             BB-992 through BB-1051, BB-
                                             1053 through BB-1092, BB-  
                                             1094, BB-1095, BB-1099     
                                             through BB-1104, BB-1106   
                                             through BB-1116, BB-1118   
                                             through BB-1184, BB-1186   
                                             through BB-1263, BB-1265   
                                             through BB-1288, BB-1290   
                                             through BB-1300, BB-1302   
                                             through BB-1425, BB-1427   
                                             through BB-1447, BB-1449,  
                                             BB-1450, BB-1452, BB-1453, 
                                             BB-1455, BB-1456, and BB-  
                                             1458 through BB-1536.      
B200C.....................................  BL-37 through BL-57, BL-61  
                                             through BL-140, BU-1       
                                             through BU-10, BV-1 through
                                             BV-12, and BW-1 through BW-
                                             21.                        
B200CT....................................  BN-2 through BN-4, BU-11, BU-
                                             12, FG-1, and FG-2.        
B200T.....................................  BT-23 through BT-27, and BT-
                                             29 through BT-38.          
300.......................................  FA-1 through FA-230, and FF-
                                             1 through FF-19.           
B300......................................  FL-1 through FL-141.        
B300C.....................................  FM-1 through FM-9, and FN-1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 2: 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 (f) 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, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent fuel flow interruption, which if not corrected, could 
lead to uncommanded loss of engine power and loss of control of the 
airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) For airplanes manufactured prior to January 1, 1994: within 
the next 200 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of 
this AD, check the airplane maintenance records for any MIL-H-6000B 
fuel hose replacement from January 1, 1994, up to and including the 
effective date of this AD. Accomplish the following in accordance 
with PART II of the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section in Raytheon 
Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) No. 2718, Rev. 1, Issued: 
January, 1997; Revised: June, 1997:
    (1) If the airplane records show that an MIL-H-6000B fuel hose 
has been replaced, prior to further flight, inspect the airplane 
fuel hoses for a \3/8\-inch-wide red or orange-red, length-wise 
stripe, with the manufacturer's code, 94519, printed periodically 
along the line in red letters on one side. The hoses have a spiral 
or diagonal outer wrap with a fabric-type texture on the rubber 
surface.
    (2) Prior to further flight, replace any fuel hose that matches 
the description in paragraph (a)(1) of this AD with an FAA-approved 
MIL-H-6000B fuel hose that has a criss-cross or braided external 
wrap.

[[Page 38298]]

    (b) An owner/operator holding at least a private pilot 
certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) can accomplish paragraph (a) required by 
this AD, and must enter the accomplished action into the aircraft 
records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with section 
43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
    (c) For Raytheon Models C90A, B200, and B300 airplanes that were 
manufactured on January 1, 1994, and after: within the next 200 
hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the MIL-H-6000B fuel hoses in accordance with PART I of the 
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Raytheon SB No. 2718, Rev. 1, 
Issued: January, 1997, Revised: June, 1997.
    (d) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install 
a rubber fuel hose having spiral or diagonal external wrap with a 
\3/8\-inch-wide red or orange-red, length-wise stripe running down 
the side of the hose, with the manufacturer's code, 94519, printed 
periodically along the line in red letters on any of the affected 
airplanes.
    (e) 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.
    (f) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance times 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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

    (g) The inspection and replacement required by this AD shall be 
done in accordance with Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin 
No. 2718, Rev. 1, Issued: January, 1997; Revised: June, 1997. This 
incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the 
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 
51. Copies may be obtained from to Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. 
Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. Copies may be inspected at the 
FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 
E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, 
Washington, DC.
    (h) This amendment becomes effective on August 28, 1998.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 9, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-18868 Filed 7-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U