[Federal Register: March 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 47)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10949-10951]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12mr07-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-27071; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-004-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Models C90A,
B200, B200C, B300, and B300C Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-23-
02 which applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) (formerly
Beech) Models C90A, B200, B200C, B300, and B300C airplanes. AD 2006-23-
02 currently requires you to inspect the flight controls for improper
assembly or damage, and if any improperly assembled or damaged flight
controls are found, take corrective action. Since we issued AD 2006-23-
02, we have determined the need to add airplane serial numbers that
were not previously included in the applicability. Consequently, this
proposed AD would retain the actions of AD 2006-23-02 and add airplane
serial numbers to the applicability. We are proposing this AD to detect
and correct improperly assembled or damaged flight controls, which
could result in an unsafe condition by reducing capabilities of the
flight controls and lead to loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 11, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085;
telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris B. Morgan, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita,
Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4154; fax: (316) 946-4107.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2007-27071; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-004-AD'' at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive concerning this proposed AD.
Discussion
A report from an FAA Manufacturing Inspection District Office that
describes numerous nonconformities during the manufacture of RAC Models
C90A, B200, B200C, B300, and B300C airplanes caused us to issue AD
2006-23-02, Amendment 39-14814 (71 FR 65390, November 8, 2006). AD
2006-23-02 currently requires that you inspect the flight controls for
improper assembly or damage, and if any improperly assembled or damaged
flight controls are found, take corrective action on certain RAC Models
C90A, B200, B200C, B300, and B300C airplanes.
Since issuing AD 2006-23-02, we have determined the need to add
airplane serial numbers that were not previously included in the
applicability.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in an unsafe
condition by reducing capabilities of the flight controls.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed:
--Raytheon Aircraft Company Mandatory Service Bulletin Number SB 27-
3761, Issued: February 2006; and
--Raytheon Aircraft Company Mandatory Service Bulletin Number SB 27-
3761, Issued: February 2006, Revised: December 2006. This revision adds
additional serial numbers to the effectivity.
The service information describes procedures for inspecting the
flight control systems to ensure conformity with type design and
correct the unsafe condition.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD
would supersede AD 2006-23-02 with a new AD that would retain the
actions of AD 2006-23-02 and add airplane serial numbers to the
applicability. This proposed AD would require you to use the service
information described previously to perform these actions.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
We are requiring all phases of the flight control system be
inspected at one time. The service information as presented allows some
sections of the system to go 800 hours time-in-service before they are
scheduled for inspection. We feel this time is excessive to allow
potential safety items and nonconformities to exist. We have determined
that the proposed compliance time will not inadvertently ground the
affected airplanes.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 138 airplanes in the
U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:
[[Page 10950]]
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Total cost per Total cost on
Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators
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80 work-hours x $80 per hour = $6,400.. Not Applicable....................... $6,400 $883,200
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We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need
any corrective action that would be required based on the results of
the proposed inspection.
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 have 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 that the 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); and
3. 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227)
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
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 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 removing Airworthiness Directive
(AD) 2006-23-02, Amendment 39-14814 (71 FR 76575, December 21, 2006),
and adding the following new AD:
Raytheon Aircraft Company (Formerly Beech): Docket No. FAA-2007-
27071; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-004-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by May 11, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-23-02, Amendment 39-14814.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial
numbers that are certificated in any category:
(1) Group 1 Airplanes (maintains the actions from AD 2006-23-
02):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model Serial numbers
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(i) C90A............................... LJ-1697 through LJ-1726, LJ-
1728, LJ-1729, and LJ-1731
through LJ-1739
(ii) B200.............................. BB-1827 through BB-1912
(iii) B200C............................ BL-148 and BL-149
(iv) B300.............................. FL-379 through FL-423, FL-426,
FL-428 through FL-450, and FL-
452
(v) B300C.............................. FM-11
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(2) Group 2 Airplanes: Model C90A, serial numbers LJ-1741
through LJ-1743.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from our determination to add airplane
serial numbers that were not previously included in the
applicability. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
improperly assembled or damaged flight controls, which could result
in an unsafe condition by reducing capabilities of the flight
controls and lead to loss of control of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
already done:
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Actions Compliance Procedures
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(1) Inspect the entire flight (i) For Group 1 Follow Raytheon
control system for improper Airplanes: At Aircraft Company
assembly and any damage. whichever of the Mandatory Service
following occurs Bulletin Number
first: SB 27-3761,
(A) Within 100 Issued: February
hours time-in- 2006; or Raytheon
service (TIS) Aircraft Company
after December Mandatory Service
13, 2006 (the Bulletin Number
effective date of SB 27-3761,
AD 2006-23-02); Issued: February
or. 2006, Revised:
(B) At the next December 2006.
annual inspection
that occurs at
least 30 days
after December
13, 2006 (the
effective date of
AD 2006-23-02)..
(ii) For Group 2
Airplanes: At
whichever of the
following occurs
first:
(A) Within 100
hours TIS after
the effective
date of this AD;
or
[[Page 10951]]
(B) At the next
annual inspection
that occurs at
least 30 days
after the
effective date of
this AD.
(2) If you find any improperly Before further Follow Raytheon
assembled or damaged flight flight after the Aircraft Company
controls as a result of the inspection Mandatory Service
inspection required by required by Bulletin Number
paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, paragraph (e)(1) SB 27-3761,
take corrective action as of this AD. Issued: February
specified in the service 2006; or Raytheon
information Aircraft Company
Mandatory Service
Bulletin Number
SB 27-3761,
Issued: February
2006, Revised:
December 2006.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, ATTN: Chris B. Morgan, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita ACO,
1801 Airport Road, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4154;
fax: (316) 946-4107, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD,
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Before
using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies,
notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight
Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
(g) AMOCs approved for AD 2006-23-02 are approved for this AD.
Related Information
(h) To get copies of the service information referenced in this
AD, contact Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas
67201-0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. To view the
AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, Washington, DC, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The
docket number is Docket No. FAA-2007-27071; Directorate Identifier
2007-CE-004-AD.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 6, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4404 Filed 3-9-07; 8:45 am]
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