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

7919

Vol. 60, No. 28

Friday, February 10, 1995

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94–CE–31–AD]

Airworthiness Directives; Beech

Aircraft Corporation 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)

91–24–15, which currently requires

modifying the instrument air plumbing

system on Beech Aircraft Corporation

(Beech) Models 1900 and 1900C

airplanes. The proposed action would

require an additional modification to

the plumbing of the instrument air

system on the Models 1900 and 1900C

airplanes, and would add the Model

1900D airplanes to the applicability.

Eight reports of moisture freezing in this

system on airplanes with the

modification required by AD 91–24–15

incorporated prompted the proposed

action. In addition, recent testing on the

Model 1900D indicates that the design

of the instrument air system on these

airplanes is also conducive to moisture

freeze-ups. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent ice

formation in the plumbing of the

instrument air system, which, if not

detected and corrected, could result in

aerodynamic problems and subsequent

loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before April 21, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94–CE–31–

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

Beech Aircraft Corporation, 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.

Harvey E. Nero, Aerospace Engineer,

Wichita Aircraft Certification Office,

FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent

Airport, Wichita, 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. 94–CE–31–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

Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention:

Rules Docket No. 94–CE–31–AD, Room

1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106.

Discussion

AD 91–24–15, Amendment 39–8173

(57 FR 3927, February 3, 1992),

currently requires modifying the

plumbing of the instrument air system

on Beech Models 1900 and 1900C

airplanes. Several reports of moisture

freezing in the plumbing of the

instrument air system on the affected

airplanes prompted that AD.

Since issuance of AD 91–24–15, the

FAA has received eight reports of

moisture freezing in the plumbing of the

instrument air system on airplanes in

compliance with that AD. In addition,

recent testing on the Beech Model

1900D indicates that the design of the

instrument air systems on these

airplanes is also conducive to moisture

freeze-ups.

Beech has developed kits that, upon

installation, make plumbing changes in

the instrument air system, add

additional insulation, and make wing

leading edge core modifications.

Installation of the applicable kit on an

affected airplane will maintain the air

temperatures in the instrument air

system at 50 degrees or higher, and help

eliminate the possibility of moisture

freezing in this system in cold humid

environments. The following presents

each kit and the applicable airplane

model each kit applies to:

Models Kit No.

1900 and

1900C.

118–9003–1 or 118–9003–

3.

1900D .............. 129–9010–1 or 129–9010–

3.

After examining the circumstances

and reviewing all available information

related to the incidents described above,

the FAA has determined that AD action

should be taken to prevent ice formation

in the plumbing of the instrument air

system, which, if not detected and

corrected, could result in aerodynamic

problems and subsequent loss of control

of the airplane.

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Beech Model 1900,

1900C, and 1900D airplanes of the same

type design, the proposed AD would

supersede AD 91–24–15, Amendment

39–8173, with a new AD that would

require modifying the plumbing of the
7920 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Proposed Rules

instrument air system in accordance

with the instructions provided with the

kits specified above.

The FAA estimates that 370 airplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 30 workhours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

action, and that the average labor rate is

approximately $60 an hour. The cost of

the applicable kit ranges from $505 to

$2,261 depending on the airplane

model. Based on these figures (using a

$2,261 part cost for all affected

airplanes), the total cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $1,502,570.

Beech will provide parts free of

charge until December 31, 1995. If all

owners/operators would incorporate

this modification by that date, then the

cost impact of the proposed AD upon

the public would be reduced by

$836,570 (370 airplanes × $2,261) from

$1,502,570 to $666,000.

In addition, Beech has informed the

FAA that it has distributed

approximately 18 kits. Assuming that

each of these distributed kits is

incorporated on one of the affected

airplanes and that each of the remaining

airplanes would have one of the kits

incorporated by December 31, 1995, the

cost of the proposed AD would be

further reduced by $32,400 (30

workhours × $60 × 18 airplanes) from

$666,000 to $633,600.

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 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. App. 1354(a), 1421

and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); and 14 CFR

11.89.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

removing AD 91–24–15, Amendment

39–8173 (57 FR 3927, February 3, 1992),

and by adding a new airworthiness

directive to read as follows:

Beech Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94–

CE–31–AD; Supersedes AD 91–24–15,

Amendment 39–8173.

Applicability: The following airplane

models and serial numbers, certificated in

any category:

Model Serial No.

1900 ............... UA–2 and UA–3.

1900C ............ UB–1 through UB–74 and

UC–1 through UC–174.

1900C (C12J) UD–1 through UD–6.

1900D ............ UE–2 through UE–115.

Compliance: Required within the next

1,000 hours time-in-service after the effective

date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent ice formation in the plumbing

of the instrument air system, which, if not

detected and corrected, could result in

aerodynamic problems and subsequent loss

of control of the airplane, accomplish the

following:

(a) Modify the plumbing of the instrument

air system in accordance with the

instructions provided with the following kits,

as applicable:

Models Kit No.

1900 and

1900C.

118–9003–1 or 118–9003–3.

1900D ............ 129–9010–1 or 129–9010–3.

Note 1: Beech Service Bulletin (SB) No.

2539 and Beech SB No. 2591, both dated

December 1994, reference the kits specified

above.

Note 2: Beech will provide parts free of

charge to the owner/operator until December

31, 1995.

(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. The

request shall be forwarded through an

appropriate FAA Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and

then send it to the Manager, Wichita

ACO.

Note 3: 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 Beech Aircraft

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

67201–0085; or may examine this document

at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E.

12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

(e) This amendment supersedes AD 91–24–

15, Amendment 39–8173.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on

February 6, 1995.

Michael K. Dahl,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 95–3359 Filed 2–9–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 92–CE–13–AD]

Airworthiness Directives; Jetstream

Aircraft Limited (Formerly British

Aerospace, Regional Aircraft Limited)

Jetstream Models 3101 and 3201

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of

proposed rulemaking (NPRM);

reopening of the comment period.

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

reopen the comment period of an earlier

proposed airworthiness directive (AD),

which would have proposed to require

modifying the shear fitting at the top of

each escape hatch on certain Jetstream

Aircraft Limited (JAL) Jetstream Models

3101 and 3201 airplanes. A report of

interference between the shear fitting on

an escape hatch and a ceiling panel

found while removing the escape hatch

on one of the affected airplanes

prompted the earlier proposal. Since

publication of that proposal, the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) has reexamined various service difficulty

reports on the affected airplanes, and