Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 35-C33A, E33A, E33C, F33A, F33C, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, and A36 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20192-20194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9750]



[[Page 20192]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-63-AD; Amendment 39-12185; AD 2001-08-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 
35-C33A, E33A, E33C, F33A, F33C, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, and A36 
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 all Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Beech Models 35-
C33A, E33A, E33C, F33A, F33C, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, and A36 
airplanes that incorporate a certain Teledyne Continental engine 
configuration. This AD requires you to repetitively replace the 
existing Aeroquip V-band exhaust clamp. The actions specified by this 
AD are intended to prevent the tailpipe from detaching from the 
turbocharger due to failure of the V-band exhaust clamp. Clamp failure 
could result in the release of high temperature gases inside the engine 
compartment with the potential for a consequent fire in the engine 
compartment.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This AD becomes effective on June 7, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service documents referenced in this AD from 
Tornado Alley Turbo, Inc., 300 Airport Road, Ada, Oklahoma 74820; 
telephone: toll free 1-877-359-8284, or (580) 332-3510; facsimile: 
(580) 332-4577. You may examine this information at the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-63-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter W. Hakala, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Special Certification Office, 
2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0190; telephone: (817) 
222-5145; facsimile: (817) 222-5785.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The FAA has received reports of 
two instances where an Aeroquip V-band exhaust clamp (Aeroquip part 
number (P/N) 4404C375-M) failed on Raytheon Models Beech A36 airplanes. 
This V-band exhaust clamp is part of the installation configuration of 
Tornado Alley Turbo, Inc. Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA5223NM 
and STC SE5222NM. The incorporation of these STC's installs a Teledyne 
Continental engine equipped with a turbonormalizing system on Raytheon 
Beech Models 35-C33A, E33A, E33C, F33A, F33C, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, 
and A36 airplanes. The V-band exhaust clamp, P/N 4404C375-M, attaches 
the tailpipe to the turbocharger.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? The 
tailpipe detaching from the turbocharger could result in the release of 
high temperature gases inside the engine compartment with the potential 
for a consequent fire in the engine compartment.
    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 all Raytheon Beech Models 35-C33A, 
E33A, E33C, F33A, F33C, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, and A36 airplanes 
that incorporate a certain Teledyne Continental engine configuration. 
This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on October 18, 2000 (65 FR 62315). The NPRM 
proposed to require you to repetitively replace the V-band exhaust 
clamp, Aeroquip P/N 4404C375-M.
    Was the public invited to comment? The FAA encouraged interested 
persons to participate in the making of this amendment. A summary of 
the comments on the NPRM from the one commenter follows, along with 
FAA's responses.

Comment Issue No. 1: Add the Model 35-G33 to the AD Applicability

    What is the commenter's concern? The commenter requests that FAA 
add the Model 35-G33 airplane to the AD applicability. This commenter 
states that STC SA5223NM applies to the Model 35-G33 airplanes.
    What is FAA's response to the concern? The FAA concurs that the STC 
applies to the Model 35-G33 airplanes. This airplane model was added to 
STC SA5223NM on August 31, 2000. Part of that change called for the 
installation of a tailpipe support on the Model 35-G33 airplanes. This 
tailpipe support installation eliminates the need for the actions of 
this AD for the Model 35-G33 airplanes. Therefore, we are not adding 
the Model 35-G33 airplanes to the AD applicability.

Comment Issue No. 2: Change Reference of Exhaust Stack to Tailpipe 
in the AD

    What is the commenter's concern? The commenter believes that the 
pipe downstream of the turbocharger should be referred to as the 
tailpipe. The FAA referred to it as the exhaust stack in the NPRM.
    What is FAA's response to the concern? We will change all reference 
of the exhaust stack to tailpipe in the final rule AD action.

Comment Issue No. 3: Change the Aeroquip V-Band Exhaust Clamp Part 
Number

    What is the commenter's concern? The commenter states that FAA 
should reference the Aeroquip V-band exhaust clamp as part number 
4404C375-M instead of 00624-4404C375-M. The clamp is referred to as 
part number 4404C375-M in the service information.
    What is FAA's response to the concern? The FAA referenced the 
Aeroquip V-band exhaust clamp as part number 00624-4404C375-M because 
that part number actually appears on the clamp. We have determined that 
part number 4404C375-M is sufficient to identify the affected V-band 
exhaust clamp.
    We are changing the final rule AD action accordingly.

Comment Issue No. 4: Correct the STC Holder's Phone Number

    What is the commenter's concern? The commenter states that the 
phone number of the STC holder, Tornado Alley Turbo, Inc., has changed. 
The commenter requests that FAA incorporate this new phone number, 1-
877-359-8284, into the AD.
    What is FAA's response to the concern? We will change the phone 
number accordingly in the final rule AD action.

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:

--Will not change the meaning of the AD; and
--Will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed.

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Cost Impact

    How many airplanes does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 180 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 each 
repetitive replacement:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Total cost on U.S.
             Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane     airplane operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $120.  $50 per airplane.......  $120 + $50 = $170 per    $170  x  180 = $30,600.
                                                                airplane.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration 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 Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2001-08-08  Raytheon Aircraft Company (The Beech Aircraft 
Corporation previously was the holder of Type Certificate 3A15): 
Amendment 39-12185; Docket No. 99-CE-63-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? Models Beech 35-
C33A, E33A, E33C, F33A, F33C, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, and A36 
airplanes, all serial numbers, that:
    (1) Are certificated in any category;
    (2) Incorporate a Teledyne Continental engine equipped with a 
turbonormalizing system; and
    (3) Have Tornado Alley Turbo, Inc. Supplemental Type Certificate 
(STC) SA5223NM and STC SE5222NM incorporated.

    Note 1: Cessna 185 series airplanes could have the subject clamp 
installed through the incorporation of Tornado Alley Turbo, Inc. STC 
SE00214DE and STC SE00215DE. The FAA has determined that the cracks 
at the weld spots in the V-band clamps are occurring because of the 
specific configuration of the Raytheon airplanes. We have received 
no reports of service problems with the affected V-band clamps 
installed on Cessna 185 series airplanes.

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions required by 
this AD are intended to prevent the tailpipe from detaching from the 
turbocharger due to failure of the V-band exhaust clamp. This could 
result in the release of high temperature gases inside the engine 
compartment with the potential for a consequent fire in the engine 
compartment.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions              Compliance times         Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repetitively replace the V-   Upon accumulating     Use the procedures
 band exhaust clamp,           400 hours time-in-    in the Turbo-
 Aeroquip part number          service (TIS) after   FliteTM 520/550
 4404C375-M.                   incorporating         System Maintenance
                               Tornado Alley         and Troubleshooting
                               Turbo, Inc. STC       manual. Tornado
                               SA5223NM and STC      Alley Turbo, Inc.
                               SE5222NM on the       Mandatory Service
                               airplane or within    Bulletin Number TAT
                               the next 25 hours     98-1, dated
                               TIS after June 7,     November 21, 1998,
                               2001 (the effective   references these
                               date of this AD),     replacements and
                               whichever occurs      procedures.
                               later, and
                               thereafter at
                               intervals not to
                               exceed 400 hours
                               TIS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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, Rotorcraft Directorate, Special Certification 
Office, approves your alternative. Submit your request through an 
FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then 
send it to the Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Special 
Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 
76193-0190.

    Note 2: 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 Mr. Peter Hakala, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Special 
Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 
76193-0190; telephone: (817) 222-5145; facsimile: (817) 222-5785.
    (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.
    (1) In order for this permit to be granted, the airplane must 
pass the push/pull test specified in Tornado Alley Turbo, Inc.,

[[Page 20194]]

Mandatory Service Bulletin Number TAT 98-1, dated November 21, 1998.
    (2) Anyone who holds at least a private pilot certificate, as 
authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 43.7), may accomplish the push/pull test referenced in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this. You must make an entry into the aircraft records 
that shows compliance with this portion of the AD, in accordance 
with section 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may obtain a copy of the service documents referenced in this AD 
from Tornado Alley Turbo, Inc., 300 Airport Road, Ada, Oklahoma 
74820; telephone: toll free 1-877-359-8284, or (580) 332-3510; 
facsimile: (580) 332-4577; or you may examine this document at FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 
506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on June 7, 2001.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 12, 2001.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-9750 Filed 4-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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