Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 390 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 86 (Monday, May 5, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23575-23577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10726]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-18-AD; Amendment 39-13139; AD 2003-09-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 390 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Model 390 
airplanes. This AD requires you to modify the aft power distribution 
box and the aft ram air duct. This AD is the result of reports of two 
incidents involving temporary loss of all attitude display information. 
The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent moisture from 
entering the aft power distribution box through the aft ram air duct, 
which could result in electrical power failure. Such failure could lead 
to loss of all attitude display information during flight.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on May 13, 2003.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulation as of May 
13, 2003.
    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any comments 
on this rule on or before June 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-18-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also send comments 
electronically to the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments sent electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2003-CE-18-AD'' 
in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached 
electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for 
Windows or ASCII text.
    You may get the service information referenced in this AD from 
Raytheon Aircraft Company, 9709 E. Central, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; 
telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. You may view this 
information at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-18-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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Easterwood, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4132; facsimile: (316) 
946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The FAA has received reports of 
two incidents involving temporary loss of all attitude display 
information during flight on certain Raytheon Model 390 airplanes. 
Through investigation and testing, we discovered that moisture is 
entering the aft power distribution box through the aft ram air duct, 
which could freeze and/or cause corrosion to form in the left-hand and 
right-hand generator relays, battery tie relay, and the essential bus 
relay. This condition could cause the relays to fail in the open 
position or fail in the mid position and result in loss of power.
    Raytheon issued Safety Communiqu[eacute] No. 222, dated April 2002, 
to inform the owners/operators that power to the standby electrical bus 
can be restored by placing the Battery switch in the STBY position to 
allow continued flight and landing.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in electrical power failure. 
Such failure could lead to loss of all attitude display information 
during flight.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Raytheon 
has

[[Page 23576]]

issued Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3606, Issued: April, 2003; and 
Mandatory Service Bulletin 24-3544, Issued; November, 2002.
    What are the provisions of this service information? These service 
bulletins include procedures for:
    [sbull] Modifying the aft power distribution box by replacing part 
number SM400D79 (left-hand and right-hand generator relays and battery 
tie relay) with part number SM400D79-1 relays, and replacing part 
number SM150D22 (essential bus relay) with part number SM150D22-1 
relay; and
    [sbull] Modifying the aft ram air duct.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of This AD

    What has FAA decided? The FAA has reviewed all available 
information, including the service information referenced above; and 
determined that:
    [sbull] The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or 
could develop on other Raytheon Model 390 airplanes of the same type 
design;
    [sbull] The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
    [sbull] AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe 
condition.
    What does this AD require? This AD requires you to incorporate the 
actions in the previously-referenced service bulletins.
    In preparation of this rule, we contacted type clubs and aircraft 
operators to obtain technical information and information on 
operational and economic impacts. We did not receive any information 
through these contacts. If received, we would have included, in the 
rulemaking docket, a discussion of any information that may have 
influenced this action.
    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this AD? On July 10, 
2002, FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, July 
22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation now includes 
material that relates to special flight permits, alternative methods of 
compliance, and altered products. This material previously was included 
in each individual AD. Since this material is included in 14 CFR part 
39, we will not include it in future AD actions.
    Will I have the opportunity to comment prior to the issuance of the 
rule? Because the unsafe condition described in this document could 
result in loss of all attitude display information during flight, we 
find that notice and opportunity for public prior comment are 
impracticable. Therefore, good cause exists for making this amendment 
effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this AD? Although this action is in the form of 
a final rule and was not preceded by notice and opportunity for public 
comment, FAA invites your comments on the rule. You may submit whatever 
written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to include the 
rule's docket number and submit your comments to the address specified 
under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received on 
or before the closing date specified above. We may amend this rule in 
light of comments received. Factual information that supports your 
ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the 
effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether we need to take 
additional rulemaking action.
    Are there any specific portions of the AD I should pay attention 
to? We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. You may view all comments we receive 
before and after the closing date of the rule in the Rules Docket. We 
will file a report in the Rules Docket that summarizes each FAA contact 
with the public that concerns the substantive parts of this AD.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want us to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2003-CE-18-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Regulatory Impact

    Does this AD impact various entities? These regulations 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, FAA has determined that this final rule does not have 
federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Does this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? We 
have determined that this regulation is an emergency regulation that 
must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe condition in aircraft, 
and is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. 
It has been determined further that this action involves an emergency 
regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, 
February 26, 1979). If it is determined that this emergency regulation 
otherwise would be significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed 
in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is not required). A copy 
of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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

0
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]

0
2. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
to read as follows:

2003-09-10 Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-13139; Docket No. 
2003-CE-18-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD applies to 
Model 390 airplanes, serial numbers RB-1 through RB-64, that are 
certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent moisture from entering the aft power 
distribution box through the aft ram air duct, which could result in 
electrical power failure. Such failure could lead to loss of all 
attitude display information during flight.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem? To address this 
problem, you must accomplish the following actions:

[[Page 23577]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Remove the aft power      Within the next 10    In accordance with
 distribution box and:         hours time-in-        Raytheon Aircraft
(i) Inspect the left-hand      service (TIS) after   Mandatory Service
 and right-hand generator      May 13, 2003 (the     Bulletin SB 24-
 relays and the battery tie    effective date of     3606, Issued:
 relay to determine if they    this AD), unless      April, 2003.
 are part number SM400D79      already
 (or FAA-approved equivalent   accomplished.
 part number);.
(ii) Replace part number
 SM400D79 with part number
 SM400D79-1 relays (or FAA-
 approved equivalent part
 number);.
(iii) Inspect the essential
 bus relay to determine if
 it is part number SM150D22
 (or FAA-approved equivalent
 part number); and
(iv) Replace part number
 SM150D22 relay with part
 number SM150D22-1 relay (or
 FAA-approved equivalent
 part number) (unless
 already accomplished in
 accordance with Raytheon
 Aircraft Mandatory Service
 Bulletin SB 24-3544,
 Issued: November, 2002)
(2) Remove and modify the     Within the next 10    In accordance with
 aft ram air duct. If the      hours TIS after May   Raytheon Aircraft
 procedures in Raytheon        13, 2003 (the         Mandatory Service
 Aircraft Mandatory Service    effective date of     Bulletin SB 24-
 Bulletin SB 24-3544,          this AD), unless      3606, Issued:
 Issued: November, 2002,       already               April, 2003, and
 have already been             accomplished.         Raytheon Aircraft
 accomplished, only the                              Mandatory Service
 procedures specified in                             Bulletin SB 24-
 Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory                         3544, Issued:
 Service Bulletin SB 24-                             November, 2002.
 3606, Issued: April, 2003,
 Issued: April, 2003, need
 be accomplished.
(3) Only install part number  As of May 13, 2003    Not applicable.
 SM400D79-1 (left-hand and     (the effective date
 right-hand generator relays   of this AD).
 and battery tie relay) (or
 FAA-approved equivalent
 part number); and part
 number SM150D22-1
 (essential bus relay) (or
 FAA-approved equivalent
 part number).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? To use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time, 
follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Send these requests to the 
Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO). For 
information on any already approved alternative methods of 
compliance, contact Bryan Easterwood, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4132; facsimile: (316) 
946-4107.
    (f) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3606, 
Issued: April, 2003, and Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 24-3544, Issued; November, 2002. 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, 9709 E. Central, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; 
telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. You may view this 
information at 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.
    (g) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on May 13, 2003.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 23, 2003.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10726 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 am]
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