Document ID: FAA-2012-0830-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Airplanes
Posted Date: 2012-08-09T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47570-47572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19495]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0830; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-026-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft 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 Model C90GTi (King Air) 
airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of incorrect gauge 
wires used in certain wiring bundles for the cockpit electrical power 
for backlighting and instrument panel components. This proposed AD 
would require replacing incorrect gauge wires in certain electrical 
power wiring bundles, inspecting associated wiring bundles and 
components for heat damage, and taking all necessary corrective 
actions. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 24, 
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, 10511 E. Central Ave., Wichita, Kansas 
67206; phone: (316) 676-3100 or (888) 727-4344; fax: (316) 676-3222 or 
(316) 676-3327; email: HBC_Parts@hawkerbeechcraft.com; Internet: 
www.hawkerbeechcraft.com. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

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, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, 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-2012-0830; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-026-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,

[[Page 47571]]

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 a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model 
C90GTi (King Air) airplane experienced an in-flight lighting failure of 
the pilot panel, audio panel, flight guidance control panel, and 
display control panel lighting.
    Investigation revealed that incorrect gauge wires were used by the 
wiring fabricators in the wiring bundles for the pilot backlighting and 
instrument panel components. The specific pilot backlighting systems 
directly affected by the incorrect gauge wiring bundles are the 
backlighting for the pilot panel (reversionary switching, radio tuning 
unit, multifunction display (MFD), pilot yoke lights, pilot's primary 
flight display (PFD)), audio panel, flight guidance control panel, and 
display control panel. The instrument panel components affected include 
the MFD and the co-pilot's PFD.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in smoke in the 
cockpit and possibly cause wiring failure for the power to the 
airplane's cockpit lighting, the MFD, the co-pilot's PFD, and their 
respective systems. Failure of the wiring for the power to the 
airplane's cockpit backlighting, the MFD, and the co-pilot's PFD 
systems could also result in potential damage to surrounding wires and 
components.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 24-
4050, dated November 2010. The service bulletin describes procedures 
for replacing incorrect gauge wires in the electrical power wiring 
bundles, inspecting the associated wire bundles and components for heat 
damage, and taking any necessary corrective actions.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 85 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
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Replace incorrect gauge wires and        15 work-hours x $85 per             $50          $1,325        $112,625
 damaged components.                      hour = $1,275.
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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: Docket No. FAA-2012-0830; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-CE-026-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 24, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model C90GTi 
(King Air) airplanes, serial numbers LJ-1847, and LJ-1853 through 
LJ-1997, that are certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 24; Electric power.

[[Page 47572]]

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of incorrect gauge wires used in 
the wiring bundles for the cockpit electrical power for backlighting 
and instrument panel components. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the wiring for the power to the airplane's cockpit 
backlighting and instrument panel components. Failure of the wiring 
for the airplane's cockpit backlighting and instrument panel 
components could cause smoke in the cockpit, loss of power to the 
multifunction display, the co-pilot's primary flight display, 
cockpit lighting, and potential damage to surrounding wires and 
components.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replace Cockpit Electrical Power Wires

    Within the next 50 hours time-in-service after the effective 
date of this AD or within the next 6 calendar months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, do the 
replacements specified below following the Accomplishment 
Instructions in Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 
24-4050, dated November 2010:
    (1) Replace wire part number (P/N) CB41-J11-1 on the A124 fuel 
control panel assembly with a new wire P/N M22759/16-14-9.
    (2) Replace wire P/N J26-4-CB308 on the co-pilot primary flight 
display (PFD), and wire P/N J27-5-CB272 on the multifunction display 
(MFD), with a new wire P/N M22759/16-16-9.

(h) Inspect Associated Wire Bundles and Components

    While doing the replacements required in paragraphs (g)(1) and 
(g)(2) of this AD at the compliance time specified in paragraph (g) 
of this AD, visually inspect the associated wire bundles and 
components for heat damage. Do the inspections following the 
Accomplishment Instructions in Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. SB 24-4050, dated November 2010.

(i) Repair or Replace Damaged Wires and/or Components

    Before further flight after the inspection required in paragraph 
(h) of this AD, repair or replace any heat damaged wires or 
components following the Accomplishment Instructions in Hawker 
Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 24-4050, dated November 
2010.

(j) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are permitted with the following 
limitation: Visual flight rules (VFR) day conditions only.

(k) 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, 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.

(l) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Richard Rejniak, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
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, 10511 E. Central Ave., Wichita, 
Kansas 67206; phone: (316) 676-3100 or (888) 727-4344; fax: (316) 
676-3222 or (316) 676-3327; email: HBC_Parts@hawkerbeechcraft.com; 
Internet: www.hawkerbeechcraft.com. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 3, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-19495 Filed 8-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P