[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30093-30095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14006]


========================================================================
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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 30093]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-CE-20-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
1900, 1900C, and 1900D Airplanes

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 certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) 
Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. The proposed AD would 
require you to inspect all four flap flexible shaft assemblies for the 
correct diagonal wrap and the correct installation. The proposed AD 
would also require you to replace any flap flexible shaft assembly that 
has an incorrect diagonal wrap or incorrect installation. The proposed 
AD is the result of several occurrences of flap extension/retraction 
failures on the affected airplanes due to the inner flexible shaft ends 
separating or disengaging. The actions specified by the proposed Ad are 
intended to prevent these flap extension/retraction failures due to 
incorrectly configured flap flexible shaft assemblies. Such failure 
could result in an asymmetric flap condition during flight if the flap 
safety switch fails to function properly.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this rule on or before August 3, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to FAA, Central Region, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-CE-20-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, 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) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. This information 
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul DeVore, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4142; facsimile: 
(316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on the proposed AD? The FAA invites comments on 
this proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
submit your comments in triplicate to the address specified under the 
caption ADDRESSES. The FAA will consider all comments received on or 
before the closing date. We may amend the proposed rule in light of 
comments received. Factual information that supports your ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
proposed AD action and determining whether we need to take additional 
rulemaking action.
    Are there any specific portions of the proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may examine all 
comments we receive before and after the closing date of the rule in 
the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of the proposed AD.
    We are re-examining the writing style we currently use in 
regulatory documents, in response to the Presidential memorandum of 
June 1, 1998. That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate 
more clearly with the public. We are interested in your comments on 
whether the style of this document is clear, and any other suggestions 
you might have to improve the clarity of FAA communications that affect 
you. You can get more information about the Presidential memorandum and 
the plain language initiative at http://www.plainlanguage.gov.
    How can I be sure FAA received my comment? If you want us to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2001-CE-20-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The FAA has received reports of 
flap extension/retraction system failures on Raytheon Model 1900D 
airplanes. The failures occurred when the inner flexible shaft ends 
separated or disengaged. One of these failures resulted in an 
asymmetric flap condition when the flap safety switch failed to 
function properly.
    The flap flexible shafts are designed to carry more torque in one 
direction than the other. If installed on the wrong side of the 
airplane, the excessive torque load leads to these failures. Raytheon 
informed FAA that the flap flexible shafts may have been installed on 
the wrong side of the airplane on certain Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 
1900D airplanes.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? Flap 
extension/retraction failures caused by incorrectly configured flap 
flexible shaft assemblies could result in loss of flap function or an 
asymmetric flap condition during flight if the flap safety switch fails 
to function properly.

Relevant Service Information

    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Raytheon 
has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3397, Issued: January, 
2001.
    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? The service 
bulletin inclues procedures for:

--Inspecting the inner flexible (drive) shaft of all four flap flexible 
shaft assemblies for the correct diagonal wrap and the correct 
installation; and
--Replacing any flap flexible shaft assembly that has an incorrect 
diagonal wrap or incorrect installation.

[[Page 30094]]

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of the 
Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? After examining the circumstances and 
reviewing all available information related to the incidents described 
above, including the referenced service bulletin, we have determined 
that:

--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Raytheon Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes 
of the same type design;
--The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

    What would the proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to incorporate the actions in the previously-referenced service 
bulletin.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would the proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD would affect 205 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of the proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to 
accomplish the proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Total cost per           Total cost on U.S.
             Labor cost                    Parts cost               airplane                  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $120  No parts required for   $120 per airplane.....  $24,600.
                                      the inspection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of 
airplanes that may need such replacements.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Cost per flap
           Labor cost                 Parts cost             shaft
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 workhours per flap shaft  x     $232 per flap       $712 per flap
 $60 per hour = $480.              shaft.              shaft (total of
                                                       four per
                                                       airplane).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The manufacturer will provide warranty credit for labor and parts 
to the extent noted under the Warranty Credit section of Raytheon 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 27-3397, Issued: January, 2001.

Regulatory Impact

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? The regulations 
proposed herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this 
proposed rule would not have federalism implications under Executive 
Order 13132.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? 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, under 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Raytheon Aircraft Company: Docket No. 2001-CE-20-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects the 
following model and serial number airplanes that are certified in 
any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Model                              Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beech Model 1900.............  UA-2 and UA-3.
Beech Model 1900C............  UB-1 through UB-74 and UC-1 through UC-
                                174.
Beech Model 1900C (C-12J)....  UD-1 through UD-6.
Beech Model 1900D............  UE-1 through UE-345; UE-347 through UE-
                                361; UE-364; UN-367; UE-373; and UE-379.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplane must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent flap extension/retraction failures 
due to incorrectly configured flap flexible shaft assemblies. Such 
failure could result in any asymmetric flap condition during flight 
if the flap safety switch fails to function properly.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

[[Page 30095]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the inner         Within the next 200   In accordance with
 flexible (drive) shaft of     hours time-in-        the ACCOMPLISHMENT
 all four flap flexible        service (TIS) after   INSTRUCTIONS
 shaft assemblies for the      the effective date    section of Raytheon
 correct diagonal wrap and     of this AD, unless    Aircraft Mandatory
 the correct installation.     already accomplish.   Service Bulletin SB
                                                     27-3397, Issued:
                                                     January 2, 2001.
(2) Replace any flap          Prior to further      In accordance with
 flexible shaft assembly       flight after the      the ACCOMPLISHMENT
 found to have an incorrect    inspection required   INSTRUCTIONS
 diagonal wrap or incorrect    in paragraph (d)(1)   section of Raytheon
 installation during the       of this AD.           Aircraft Mandatory
 inspection required by                              Service Bulletin SB
 paragraph (d)(1) of this AD.                        27-3397, Issued:
                                                     January, 2001, and
                                                     the applicable
                                                     maintenance manual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Wichita ACO.

    Note: This AD applies to each airplane is identified in 
paragraph (a) of this AD, 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, alternation, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if you have not eliminated the unsafe 
condition, specific actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Paul DeVore, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport 
Road Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 
946-4142; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may obtain copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; 
telephone (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. You may examine these 
documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 25, 2001.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-14006 Filed 6-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M