Document ID: FAA-2014-0187-0003
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Beechcraft Corporation Airplanes
Posted Date: 2014-08-01T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44677-44679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17921]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0187; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-087-AD; 
Amendment 39-17917; AD 2014-15-15]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Beechcraft Corporation Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Hawker 
Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Mitsubishi Heavy 
Industries, Inc. Ltd.) Model MU-300 airplanes, and Beechcraft 
Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft 
Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) 
Model 400, 400A, and 400T airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple 
reports of fatigue cracking in the horizontal stabilizer ribs. This AD 
requires repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer rib 
assemblies for cracking, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing 
this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could result in the 
failure of the horizontal stabilizer and loss of pitch control of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective September 5, 2014.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0187; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Chapman, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ACE-118W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, KS 
67209; phone: 316-946-4152; fax: 316-946-4107; email: 
paul.chapman@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Beechcraft 
Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft 
Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, 
Inc. Ltd.) Model MU-300 airplanes Type Certificate previously held by 
Mitsubishi; Raytheon Aircraft Company) Model MU-300 airplanes, and 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech 
Aircraft Corporation) Model 400, 400A, and 400T airplanes. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2014 (79 FR 18848). The 
NPRM was prompted by multiple reports of fatigue cracking in the 
horizontal stabilizer ribs. The NPRM proposed to require repetitive 
inspections of the horizontal stabilizer rib assemblies for cracking, 
and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct such cracking, which could result in the failure of the 
horizontal stabilizer and loss of pitch control of the airplane.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 18848, April 4, 
2014) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (79 FR 18848, April 4, 2014) for correcting the unsafe condition; 
and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 18848, April 4, 2014).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 735 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 44678]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
              Action                    Labor cost        Parts cost     Cost per  product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection.......................  20 work-hours x $85           $30   $1,730 per            $1,271,550 per
                                    per hour = $1,700                   inspection cycle.     inspection cycle.
                                    per inspection
                                    cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have 
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these 
replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Cost per
                    Action                                   Labor cost                Parts cost      product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement..................................  280 work-hours x $85 per hour =             $8,321       $32,121
                                                $23,800.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
    (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),
    (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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2014-15-15 Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held 
by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech 
Aircraft Corporation); and Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft 
Company; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc. Ltd.): Amendment 39-
17917; Docket No. FAA-2014-0187; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-087-
AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective September 5, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the airplanes, certificated in any category, 
identified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(5) of this AD.
    (1) Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Mitsubishi 
Heavy Industries, Inc. Ltd.) Model MU-300 airplanes, serial numbers 
A003SA through A093SA inclusive.
    (2) Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech 
Aircraft Corporation) Model 400 airplanes, serial numbers RJ-1 
through RJ-65 inclusive.
    (3) Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech 
Aircraft Corporation) Model 400A airplanes, serial numbers RK-1 
through RK-604 inclusive.
    (4) Beechcraft Corporation (Beechcraft Corporation (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; 
Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 400T 
(T-1A) airplanes, serial numbers TT-1 through TT-180 inclusive.
    (5) Beechcraft Corporation Beechcraft Corporation (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; 
Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 400T 
(TX), serial numbers TX-1 through TX-13 inclusive.

 (d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 55, Stabilizers.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by multiple reports of fatigue cracking in 
the horizontal stabilizer ribs. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct such cracking, which could result in the failure of the 
horizontal stabilizer and loss of pitch control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

 (g) Repetitive Inspections

    Before the accumulation of 7,400 total flight hours or within 6 
months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, 
perform a radiographic (x-ray) inspection or a borescope inspection 
for cracking of the horizontal stabilizer rib assemblies, in 
accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), FAA. Repeat the inspection thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 2,400 flight hours. For an inspection

[[Page 44679]]

method to be approved by the Manager, Wichita ACO, as required by 
this paragraph, the Manager's approval letter must specifically 
refer to this AD.

(h) Replacement

    If any cracking is found during any inspection required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD: Before further flight, replace the 
horizontal rib assemblies with new horizontal rib assemblies, in 
accordance with a method approved by the Manager, Wichita ACO. For a 
replacement method to be approved by the Manager, Wichita ACO, as 
required by this paragraph, the Manager's approval letter must 
specifically refer to this AD. This replacement does not terminate 
the repetitive inspection requirements of paragraph (g) of this AD.

(i) 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 repaired (if the operator elects to do so), provided the 
restrictions specified in paragraphs (i)(1) through (i)(4) of this 
AD are followed.
    (1) Do not exceed 10 flight hours of operation.
    (2) Only operations under daylight conditions and under visual 
flight rules are allowed.
    (3) Only operations with the minimum flightcrew and with no 
passengers are allowed.
    (4) Do not exceed maneuver speed as specified in the applicable 
airplane flight manual.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Airframe Branch, ACE-118W, 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, 
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 paragraph (k) 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.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Paul Chapman, 
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ACE-118W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: 316-946-4152; fax: 316-
946-4107; email: paul.chapman@faa.gov.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 14, 2014.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-17921 Filed 7-31-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P