[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 250 (Friday, December 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-32160]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: December 30, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Beech Aircraft Corporation Model F90,
and 99, 100, and 200 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Beech Aircraft Corporation (Beech)
Model F90, and 99, 100, and 200 series airplanes. The proposed action
would require installing a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor
control panel assembly. A report where excessive current flow caused
the electrical landing gear motor and wiring to catch fire on a Beech
Model 200 airplane prompted the proposed action. The actions specified
by the proposed AD are intended to prevent excessive current flow
through the electrical landing gear motor, which, if not corrected,
could cause an airplane fire.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 27, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 94-CE-24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Information that relates to this AD may be obtained from the Beech
Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. This
information may also be examined at the FAA at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dale A. Vassalli, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport
Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4132;
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-24-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-24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The FAA has received a report where excessive current flow caused
the electrical landing gear motor and wiring to catch fire on a Beech
Model 200 airplane. Investigation revealed that the right main landing
gear actuator assembly jammed, causing the actuator to slow or stall
the landing gear motor. This caused the motor to use excessive current,
which caused smoke to fill the cockpit and cabin.
Other incidents where the landing gear motor used excessive current
have been reported; however, in these incidents, airplane safety was
not an issue.
Beech has issued Service Bulletin No. 2035, Issued: February 1985;
Revised: August 1990, which specifies procedures for preparing the
airplane for the installation of a circuit breaker on the landing gear
motor control panel assembly of certain Beech Model F90, and 99, 100,
and 200 series airplanes. The instructions included with the following
kits specify instructions for installing this circuit breaker: 101-
3069-1 S, 101-3069-3 S, 101-3069-5 S, and 101-3133-1 S.
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 excessive current
flow through the electrical landing gear motor, which, if not
corrected, could result in an airplane fire.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Beech Model F90, and 99, 100, and 200 series
airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require
installing a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor control panel
assembly. The proposed action would be accomplished in accordance with
Beech SB No. 2035, Issued: February 1985; Revised August 1990; and the
instructions to the applicable Landing Gear Motor Circuit Breaker
Installation Kit (specified above).
The FAA estimates that 2,297 airplanes in the U.S. registry would
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6
workhours (varies between 2 to 6 workhours depending on the airplane
model) per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The cost per parts
varies by airplane model; however, for purposes of this proposed AD,
$1,000 is utilized. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of
the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $3,137,702. This
figure is based on the assumption that no U.S. operator of the affected
airplanes has accomplished the proposed installation.
Beech has informed the FAA that approximately 2,100 installation
kits have been sold. Assuming that each of these kits is installed on
one of the affected airplanes, the proposed cost impact on U.S.
operators would be reduced by $2,868,600 from $3,137,702 to $369,102.
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:
Beech Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD.
Applicability: The following Model and serial number airplanes,
certificated in any category:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Models Serial Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
F90.............................. LA-2 through LA-225 equipped with
mechanical landing gear.
99, 99A, A99A, and B99........... U-1 through U-49 equipped with
mechanical landing gear and U-51
through U-164 equipped with
mechanical landing gear.
100 and A100..................... B-1 through B-247.
B100............................. BE-2 through BE-137 with either a
part number (P/N) 115-380002-3 or P/
N 115-380002-5 landing gear motor
installed.
200 and B200..................... BB-2, BB-6 through BB-1157, BB-1159
through BB-1166, and BB-1168 through
BB-1192.
200C and B200C................... BL-1 through BL-72.
200T and B200T................... BT-1 through BT-30.
200CT and B200CT................. BN-1 through BN-4
A-100-1 (U-21J).................. BB-3, BB-4, and BB-5.
A200 (C-12A/C)................... BC-1 through BC-75 and BD-1 through
BD-30.
A200C (UC-12B)................... BJ-1 through BJ-66.
A200CT (C-12D)................... BP-1, BP-22, and BP-24 through BP-45.
A200CT (FWC-12D)................. BP-7 through BP11
A200CT (RC-12D).................. GR-1 through GR-13.
A200CT (RC-12G).................. FC-1, FC-2, and FC-3.
A200CT (RC-12H).................. GR-14 through GR-19.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent excessive current flow through the electrical landing
gear motor, which, if not corrected, could result in an airplane
fire, accomplish the following:
(a) Install a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor control
panel assembly by accomplishing the following:
(1) Prepare the airplane by completing the ACCOMPLISHMENT
INSTRUCTIONS section of Beech Service Bulletin No. 2035, Issued:
February 1985; Revised: August 1990.
(2) Incorporate one of the following Landing Gear Motor Circuit
Breaker Installation Kits, as applicable, in accordance with the
instructions provided with the kits:
(i) 101-3069-1 S for Models 200, B200, 200C, B200C, 200T, B200T,
200CT, B200CT, A200 (C-12A/C), and A200C (UC-12B);
(ii) 101-3069-3 S for Models 100, A100, B100, and A100-1 (U-
21J);
(iii) 101-3069-5 S for Models F90, 99, 99A, A99A, and B99; and
(iv) 101-3133-1 S for Models A200 (C-12A/C), A200CT (C-12D),
A200CT (FWC-12D), A200CT (RC-12D), A200CT (RC-12G), and A200CT (RC-
12H).
(b) 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 requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Wichita 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: 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.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 23, 1994.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-32160 Filed 12-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
