Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 1900C Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26020-26022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10179]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD; Amendment 39-13620; AD 2004-09-30]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 1900C 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Raytheon Model 1900C airplanes. This AD requires you to replace the 
200-amp electrical power current limiter in the landing gear with a 60-
amp electrical power circuit breaker. This AD is the result of reports 
about the inability to automatically lower the landing gear and the 
inability to operate other related electrical systems. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent heat damage to the electrical wiring in and around 
the landing gear electrical systems components, which could result in 
the inability to operate critical control systems. This failure could 
lead to loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on June 18, 2004.
    As of June 18, 2004, the Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the 
regulation.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information identified 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 the AD docket at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Office hours are 8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? We have received a report where 
the landing gear would not extend using normal operations and another 
report where certain electrical system components on the left generator 
and the center bus became inoperable.
    The 200-amp current limiter, which protects the landing gear power 
wiring, did not operate correctly. This caused heat damage to the 
wiring in the landing gear power relay and surrounding electrical 
systems components.
    The electrical system components that this condition potentially 
could affect include prop deice, surface deice, flaps, and left-hand 
windshield anti-ice.
    Installing a 60-amp circuit breaker will protect the landing gear 
motor and associated circuitry from welding of the landing gear power 
relay contacts and sticking.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? If not 
corrected, this condition could cause heat damage to the electrical 
wiring in and around the landing gear electrical systems components. 
This condition could lead to loss of control of the airplane.
    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 Model 1900C 
airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on November 5, 2003 (68 FR 62544). 
The NPRM proposed to require you to replace the 200-amp electrical 
power current limiter in the landing gear with a 60-amp electrical 
power circuit breaker.

Comments

    Was the public invited to comment? We provided the public the 
opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We received 
no comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the 
public.

[[Page 26021]]

Conclusion

    What is FAA's final determination on this issue? We have carefully 
reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor 
editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:

--Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for 
correcting the unsafe condition; and
--Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the AD

    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this AD? On July 10, 
2002, the FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, 
July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. This regulation now 
includes material that relates to altered products, special flight 
permits, and alternative methods of compliance. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    How many airplanes does this AD impact? We estimate that this AD 
affects 25 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 
modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Total cost per
             Labor cost                 Parts cost            airplane            Total cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 workhours x $65 per hour = $780.             $672   $780 + $672 = $1,452..  $1,452 x 25 = $36,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Findings

    Will this AD impact various entities? We have determined that 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.
    Will this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? 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 the 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2003-CE-27-AD'' in your request.

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 AD to read as follows:

2004-09-30 Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-13620; Docket No. 
2003-CE-27-AD.

When Does This AD Become Effective?

    (a) This AD becomes effective on June 18, 2004.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects Model 1900C airplanes, serial numbers UB-1 
through UB-35, that are certificated in any category.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of reports about the inability to 
automatically lower the landing gear and the inability to operate 
other related electrical systems. The actions specified in this AD 
are intended to prevent heat damage to the electrical wiring in and 
around the landing gear electrical systems components, which could 
result in the inability to operate critical control systems. This 
failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incorporate Kit No. 114-3036- Within the next 600   Following the
 1, which replaces the 200-    hours time-in-        procedures in
 amp landing gear electrical   service (TIS) after   Raytheon Mandatory
 power current limiter with    June 18, 2004 (the    Service Bulletin SB
 a 60-amp circuit breaker.     effective date of     24-2616, Rev. 1,
                               this AD), unless      Revised: April,
                               already done.         2002.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

May I Request an Alternative Method of Compliance?

    (f) You may request a different method of compliance or a 
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in 
14 CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, send your request to 
your principal inspector. The principal inspector may add comments 
and will send your request to the Manager, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), FAA. For information on any already 
approved alternative methods of compliance, contact Bryan 
Easterwood, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4132; facsimile: (316) 
946-4107.

Does This AD Incorporate Any Material by Reference?

    (g) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-
2616, Rev. 1, Revised: April, 2002. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service 
bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You 
may get a copy from Raytheon Aircraft Company, 9709 E. Central, 
Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-
3140. You may review copies at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional

[[Page 26022]]

Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 29, 2004.
Scott L. Sedgwick,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-10179 Filed 5-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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