2012-25670. Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model C90GTi (King Air) airplanes. This 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 AD requires 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 issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

This AD is effective November 27, 2012.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of November 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

For service information identified in this AD, contact Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, 10511 E. Central Ave., Wichita, Kansas 67206; phone: [phone] or [phone]; fax: [phone] or [phone]; email: [e-mail]; 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 [phone].

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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: [phone]) is Document 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:

Richard Rejniak, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2012 (77 FR 47570). That NPRM proposed to 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.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 47570, August 9, 2012) 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 the 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 (77 FR 47570, August 9, 2012) for correcting the unsafe condition, and
• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 47570, August 9, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 85 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

Action	Labor cost	Parts cost	Cost per product	Cost on U.S. operators
Replace incorrect gauge wires and damaged components	15 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,275	$50	$1,325	$112,625

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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

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

2012-21-06 Hawker Beechcraft Corporation: Amendment 39-17222; Docket No. FAA-2012-0830; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-026-AD.

(a) Effective Date

This AD is effective November 27, 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.

(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, and 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 November 27, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within the next 6 calendar months after November 27, 2012 (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

For more information about this AD, contact Richard Rejniak, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(i) Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 24-4050, dated November 2010.

(ii) Reserved.

(3) For Hawker Beechcraft Corporation service information identified in this AD, contact Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, 10511 E. Central Ave., Wichita, Kansas 67206; phone: [phone] or [phone]; fax: [phone] or [phone]; email: [e-mail]; Internet: www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.

(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call [phone].

(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 11, 2012.

John Colomy,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.