Document ID: FAA-2012-1111-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Airplanes
Posted Date: 2012-11-05T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66411-66413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26958]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1111; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-114-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech 
Aircraft Corporation) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate previously held 
by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 400A 
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the wiring 
for the 5-volt direct current (DC) system is undersized and does not 
have adequate circuit protection for the smaller gauge wire. This 
proposed AD would require installing an in-line fuse in the 5-volt DC 
system for each of the five instrument lighting control power supplies. 
We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the wiring, which could 
result in smoke in the cockpit, loss of cockpit lighting, and potential 
damage to surrounding wiring for other cockpit equipment such as the 
stick shaker function or angle-of-attack indicators.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 20, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Department 62, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, KS 
67201-0085; telephone 316-676-8238; fax 316-676-6706; email 
tmdc@hawkerbeechcraft.com; Internet https://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/service_support/pubs. You may review copies of the referenced service 
information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Rejniak, Aerospace Engineer, 
Electrical Systems and Avionics Branch, ACE-119W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: (316) 946-4128; fax (316) 946-
4107; email: richard.rejniak@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-1111; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-114-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We received a report that the wiring for the 5-volt DC system is 
undersized and does not have adequate circuit protection for the 
smaller gauge wire. The wire is adequate for normal electrical loads, 
but it cannot safely handle the power supply's maximum current. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the wiring, 
which could result in smoke in the cockpit, loss of cockpit lighting, 
and potential damage to surrounding wiring for other cockpit equipment 
such as the stick shaker function or angle-of-attack indicators.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 33-
4002, dated October 2010. The service information describes procedures 
for installing an in-line fuse in the 5-volt DC system for each of the 
five instrument lighting control power supplies.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Clarification of Service Bulletin Note

    The Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 33-4002, dated 
October 2010, includes a note in the Accomplishment Instructions to 
inform operators to contact Hawker Beechcraft ``should any difficulty 
be encountered''

[[Page 66412]]

in accomplishing the service bulletin. We have included a statement in 
paragraph (g) of this proposed AD to clarify that any deviation from 
the instructions provided in that service bulletin must be approved as 
an alternative method of compliance under paragraph (i) of this 
proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 421 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Cost per   Cost on U.S.
                  Action                             Labor cost            Parts cost   product      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation..............................  10 work-hours x $85 per hour         $285     $1,135        $477,835
                                             = $850.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation): Docket No. 
FAA-2012-1111; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-114-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 20, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 
and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category.
    (1) Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate previously 
held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 
400A airplanes having serial numbers RK-45, and RK-49 through RK 353 
inclusive.
    (2) Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate previously 
held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 
400A airplanes (marketed as Hawker 400XP airplanes) having serial 
numbers RK-354 through RK-594 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 2497; Electrical Power System Wiring.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that the wiring for the 5-volt 
direct current (DC) system is undersized and does not have adequate 
circuit protection for the smaller gauge wire. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the wiring, which could result in smoke in 
the cockpit, loss of cockpit lighting, and potential damage to 
surrounding wiring for other cockpit equipment such as the stick 
shaker function or angle-of-attack indicators.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Fuse Replacement

    Within 400 flight hours or 12 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first, install an in-line fuse assembly in 
the 5-volt DC output circuit on each of the five instrument lighting 
power supplies, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 33-4002, dated 
October 2010. A note in the Accomplishment Instructions of Hawker 
Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 33-4002, dated October 
2010, instructs operators to contact Hawker Beechcraft if any 
difficulty is encountered in accomplishing the service bulletin. 
However, any deviation from the instructions provided in Hawker 
Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 33-4002, dated October 
2010, must be approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) 
under paragraph (i) of this AD.

(h) Special Flight Permit

    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 airplane 
can be modified (if the operator elects to do so), provided that the 
flight is conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) day conditions.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19,

[[Page 66413]]

send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in the Related Information section of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Richard Rejniak, 
Aerospace Engineer, Electrical Systems and Avionics Branch, ACE-
119W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, 
Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: (316) 
946-4128; fax (316) 946-4107; email: richard.rejniak@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Department 62, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, 
KS 67201-0085; telephone 316-676-8238; fax 316-676-6706; email 
tmdc@hawkerbeechcraft.com; Internet https://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/service_support/pubs. You may review 
copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 24, 2012.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26958 Filed 11-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P