Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models A36 and B36TC Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 199 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60846-60848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25549]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-15-AD; Amendment 39-11925; AD 2000-20-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
A36 and B36TC Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Corporation (Raytheon) Beech 
Models

[[Page 60847]]

A36 and B36TC airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect for the 
installation of firewall sealant and install firewall sealant if not 
present. This AD is the result of a report that firewall sealant was 
not found during a routine production inspection. The actions specified 
by this AD are intended to correct the absence of sealant and prevent 
the consequent entry of smoke or fire into the flight compartment or 
cabin in the event of an engine compartment fire.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on November 28, 2000.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
November 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-
0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140; on the Internet at 
http://www.raytheon.com/rac/servinfo/53-3375.pdf>. This file is in 
Adobe Portable Document Format. The Acrobat Reader is available at 
http://www.adobe.com/>. You may examine this information at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-15-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC 20001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Pretz, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4153; 
facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? Raytheon recently notified FAA 
that a Beech Model A36 airplane did not have sealant between the faying 
surfaces of the part number (P/N) 109-361023-13 tube assembly fitting 
and the P/N 36-430054-69 upper firewall panel. Raytheon found this 
condition during a routine production process inspection.
    Other airplanes that were part of this particular production 
process are:

Beech Model A36: Serial numbers E-3113 through E-3231, E-3233 through 
E-3263, E-3265 through E-3267, E-3269, E-3271, E-3273, and E3277
Beech Model B36TC: Serial numbers EA-594 through EA-644

    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in smoke or fire penetrating 
the firewall and entering the flight compartment or cabin.
    Has FAA taken any action to this point? We issued a proposal to 
amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to 
include an AD that would apply to certain Raytheon Beech Models A36 and 
B36TC airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as 
a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on August 16, 2000 (65 FR 
49952). The NPRM proposed to require you to inspect for the 
installation of firewall sealant; and install firewall sealant if not 
present.
    Was the public invited to comment? Interested persons were afforded 
an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No 
comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination 
of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination

    What is FAA's Final Determination on this Issue? After careful 
review of all available information related to the subject presented 
above, we have determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial 
corrections. We determined that these minor corrections:
    <bullet> Will not change the meaning of the AD; and
    <bullet> Will not add any additional burden upon the public than 
was already proposed.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 134 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What is the cost impact of this AD on owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to accomplish the 
inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane    airplane  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 workhour  x  $60 per hour = $60...  No parts required for    $60 per airplane.......  $60  x  134 = $8,040.
                                        the inspection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane    airplane  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $120.  No parts required for    $120 per airplane......  $120  x  134 = $16,080.
                                        the modification.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

    Does this AD impact various entities? The regulations adopted 
herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not 
have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Does this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
Reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration

[[Page 60848]]

amends 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. FAA amends Section 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2000-20-14 Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-11925; Docket No. 
2000-CE-15-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects the 
following airplanes, certificated in any category:

Beech Model A36: Serial numbers E-3113 through E-3231, E-3233 
through E-3263, E-3265 through E-3267, E-3269, E-3271, E-3273, and 
E3277.
Beech Model B36TC: Serial numbers EA-594 through EA-644.

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes on the U.S. Register must comply with 
this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to correct the lack of a firewall seal and 
consequent progression of fire and smoke through the firewall panel 
into the flight compartment or cabin in the event of an engine 
compartment fire.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions               Compliance time         Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Inspect for sealant      Inspection required   Accomplish all
 between the faying surfaces   within 50 hours       actions in
 of the part number (P/N)      time-in-service       accordance with the
 109-361023-13 tube assembly   after November 28,    ACCOMPLISHMENT
 fitting and the P/N 36-       2000 (the effective   INSTRUCTIONS
 430054-69 upper firewall      date of this AD),     section of Raytheon
 panel.                        and sealant           Mandatory Service
                               application           Bulletin SB 53-
                               required before       3375, Issued:
                               further flight        December 1999.
                               after the
                               inspection.
 (i) If sealant is present,
 no further action is
 necessary
(ii) If sealant is not
 present, apply sealant to
 the tube assembly and the
 upper firewall panel.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Wichita ACO.

    Note: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, 
or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For 
airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the 
performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/
operator must request approval for an alternative method of 
compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of this AD. The request 
should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, 
alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; 
and, if you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? You can contact Jeff Pretz, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 
Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; 
telephone: (316) 946-4153; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB 53-3375, dated 
December 1999. The Director of the Federal Register approved this 
incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
You can get copies from Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, 
Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-
3140; on the Internet at http://www.raytheon.com/rac/servinfo/53-3375.pdf>. This file is in Adobe Portable Document Format. The 
Acrobat Reader is available at http://www.adobe.com/>. You can look 
at copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 
700, Washington, DC 20001.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on November 28, 2000. Issued in Kansas City, 
Missouri, on September 28, 2000.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 28, 2000.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25549 Filed 10-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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