Airworthiness Directives; Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation 680, 681, 690, and 695 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 183 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48882-48883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23355]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-20-AD; Amendment 39-9379; AD 95-19-18]


Airworthiness Directives; Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation 
680, 681, 690, and 695 Series 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 Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation (Twin Commander) 
680, 681, 690, and 695 series airplanes. This action requires 
installing a placard warning the pilot to observe turbulent air 
penetration speeds. Two accidents involving Model 690 airplanes where 
the affected airplanes encountered turbulence while descending at high 
speeds prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are 
intended to prevent structural damage to the airplane caused by 
excessive turbulence, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 25, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from the Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation, 19010 59th Drive, N.E., 
Arlington, Washington 98223. This information may also be examined at 
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-20-AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 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: Mr. David D. Swartz, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, 1601 Lind Avenue S.W., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (206) 227-2624; facsimile 
(206) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply 
to Twin Commander 680, 681, 690, and 695 series airplanes was published 
in the Federal Register on April 11, 1995 (60 FR 18374). The action 
proposed to require incorporating a placard and Airplane Flight Manual/
Pilot's Operating Handbook (AFM/POH) revisions that warn the airplane 
operator of the importance of observing the Turbulent Air Penetration 
and Maneuvering speeds. The following kits include the placard and AFM/
POH revisions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Kit No.                           Model affected
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB220-1................................................  680T.          
SB220-2................................................  680V.          
SB220-3................................................  680W.          
SB220-4................................................  681.           
SB220-5................................................  690.           
SB220-6................................................  690A.          
SB220-7................................................  690B.          
SB220-8................................................  690C.          
SB220-9................................................  690D.          
SB220-10...............................................  695.           

[[Page 48883]]
                                                                        
SB220-11...............................................  695A.          
SB220-12...............................................  695B.          
------------------------------------------------------------------------



    Interested persons have been 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.
    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has 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.
    The FAA estimates that 566 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 workhour per 
airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor 
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $38 per 
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $55,468. This figure is based on the 
assumption that no affected airplane owner/operator has incorporated 
the placard and AFM/POH revisions included with the applicable SB220 
kit. Twin Commander has informed the FAA that no kits have been 
distributed to the owners/operators of the affected airplanes.
    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects 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, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    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, pursuant to 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 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

95-19-18 Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-9379; 
Docket No. 95-CE-20-AD.

    Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, 
certificated in any category.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Models                             Serial No.        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
680T and 680V...............................  1473 through 1720.        
680W........................................  1721 through 1850.        
681.........................................  6001 through 6072.        
690.........................................  11001 through 11079.      
690A........................................  11100 through 11344.      
690B........................................  11350 through 11566.      
690C........................................  11600 through 11735.      
690D........................................  15001 through 15042.      
695.........................................  95000 through 95084.      
695A........................................  96000 through 96100.      
695B........................................  96201 through 96208.      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability revision, 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 (c) 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 the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required within the next 50 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent structural damage to the airplane caused by excessive 
turbulence, which could result in loss of the airplane, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Install the placard (to the windshield centerpost) and 
incorporate the airplane flight manual/pilot operating handbook (AFM/
POH) revisions that are included with the kits presented below. The 
placard and AFM/POH revisions provide warnings to the airplane operator 
of the importance of observing the Turbulent Air Penetration and 
Maneuvering speeds:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Kit No.                           Model affected
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB220-1................................................  680T.          
SB220-2................................................  680V.          
SB220-3................................................  680W.          
SB220-4................................................  681.           
SB220-5................................................  690.           
SB220-6................................................  690A.          
SB220-7................................................  690B.          
SB220-8................................................  690C.          
SB220-9................................................  690D.          
SB220-10...............................................  695.           
SB220-11...............................................  695A.          
SB220-12...............................................  695B.          
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 2: Twin Commander Service Bulletin No. 220, dated February 
1, 1995, relates to the subject of this AD, and references the SB220 
service kits specified above.

    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, Northwest Mountain Region, 1601 Lind Avenue S.W., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056. The request shall be forwarded 
through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add 
comments and then send it to the Manager, Seattle ACO.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Seattle ACO.

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the kits referenced above that include the placard and the AFM 
revisions upon request to the Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation, 
19010 59th Drive, NE., Arlington, Washington 98223; or may examine 
this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106.
    (e) This amendment (39-9379) becomes effective on October 25, 
1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 13, 1995.
Gerald W. Pierce,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-23355 Filed 9-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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