Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model MU-300-10 Airplanes and Model 400 and 400A Series Airplanes; and Raytheon (Mitsubishi) Model MU-300 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13084-13086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6227]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-1142; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-060-AD; 
Amendment 39-15861; AD 2009-07-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model MU-
300-10 Airplanes and Model 400 and 400A Series Airplanes; and Raytheon 
(Mitsubishi) Model MU-300 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), which applies to certain BEECH Model 400, 400A, and MU-300-10 
airplanes. That AD currently requires installation of an improved 
adjustment mechanism on the flightcrew seats and replacement of the 
existing aluminum seat reinforcement assemblies with steel assemblies. 
This new AD would add airplanes to the applicability of the existing 
AD. This AD results from reports of incomplete latching of the existing 
adjustment mechanism and cracked reinforcement assemblies, which could 
result in sudden shifting of a flightcrew seat. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent sudden shifting of a flightcrew seat, which could impair the 
flightcrew's ability to control the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 30, 2009.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 30, 
2009.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication as of March 13, 1996 (61 FR 
5275, February 12, 1996).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Department 62, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, 
Kansas 67201-0085; telephone 316-676-8238; fax 316-676-6706; e-mail 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/service_support/pubs.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is the Document Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Griffith, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe Branch, ACE-118W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 
1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 
67209; telephone (316) 946-4116; fax (316) 946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 96-03-07, amendment 39-
9504 (61 FR 5275, February 12, 1996). The existing AD applies to 
certain BEECH Model 400, 400A, and MU-300-10 airplanes. That NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2008 (73 FR 64899). 
That NPRM proposed to continue to require

[[Page 13085]]

installation of an improved adjustment mechanism on the flightcrew 
seats and replacement of the existing aluminum seat reinforcement 
assemblies with steel assemblies. That NPRM also proposed to require 
the actions on additional airplanes.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the NPRM or 
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Explanation of Changes to NPRM

    The product identification and paragraph (c) of the NPRM have been 
revised to correspond to the identity of the type certificate holder 
and model designation for the affected airplanes.
    We have re-identified Note 1 as paragraph (h) in this final rule to 
emphasize that if deviations occur from the instructions provided in 
Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 25-2536, Revision 2, dated March 
2002, an alternative method of compliance must be requested under the 
provisions of paragraph (i) of this AD. We have re-identified 
subsequent paragraphs accordingly.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described 
previously. We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The actions specified by this AD were previously required by AD 96-
03-07, which was applicable to approximately 121 airplanes. The actions 
required by that AD take about 24 work-hours per airplane at $80 per 
work-hour. Required parts cost up to $7,433 per airplane. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of the current requirements of that 
AD on U.S. operators to be up to $1,131,713, or $9,353 per airplane. In 
consideration of the compliance time and effective date of AD 96-03-07, 
we assume that operators of the 121 airplanes subject to that AD have 
already initiated the required actions. This AD adds no new costs 
associated with those airplanes.
    This AD applies to approximately 76 additional airplanes. The 
existing actions required by this AD take about 24 work-hours per 
airplane. The manufacturer has updated the cost of required parts; the 
required parts now cost up to $24,474 per airplane. Based on the 
figures discussed above, we estimate the current costs of the existing 
actions required by this AD on U.S. operators of the additional 
airplanes to be up to $2,005,944. This figure is based on assumptions 
that no operator of these additional airplanes has yet done any of the 
requirements of this AD, and that no operator would do those actions in 
the future if this AD were not adopted.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    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.
    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 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES 
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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 FAA amends 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. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
removing amendment 39-9504 (61 FR 5275, February 12, 1996) and by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2009-07-02 Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Formerly Raytheon Aircraft 
Company, formerly Beech Aircraft Corporation): Amendment 39-15861. 
Docket No. FAA-2008-1142; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-060-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 30, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 96-03-07.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the airplanes specified in Table 1 of 
this AD, certificated in any category.

                         Table 1--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Manufacturer                  Model              Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hawker Beechcraft             Model 400 series      RJ-1 through RJ-65
 Corporation.                  airplanes.            inclusive.
Hawker Beechcraft             Model 400A series     RK-1 through RK-93
 Corporation.                  airplanes.            inclusive.
Hawker Beechcraft             Model MU-300-10       A1001SA through
 Corporation.                  airplanes.            A1011SA inclusive.
Raytheon (Mitsubishi).......  Model MU-300          A003SA through
                               airplanes.            A091SA inclusive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 13086]]

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of incomplete latching of the 
existing adjustment mechanism and cracked reinforcement assemblies, 
which could result in sudden shifting of a flightcrew seat. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent sudden shifting of a flightcrew seat, 
which could impair the flightcrew's ability to control the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Restatement of the Requirements of AD 96-03-07

    (f) For Hawker Beechcraft Model MU-300-10 airplanes and Model 
400 and 400A series airplanes: Within 200 hours time-in-service 
after March 13, 1996 (the effective date of AD 96-03-07), install an 
improved adjustment mechanism on the flightcrew seat, and replace 
the existing aluminum seat reinforcement assemblies with steel 
assemblies, in accordance with Beechcraft Service Bulletin No. 2536, 
Revision 1, dated April 1995; or Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB 25-2536, Revision 2, dated March 2002.

Requirements for Additional Airplanes

    (g) For Raytheon (Mitsubishi) Model MU-300 airplanes: Within 200 
flight hours or 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first, install an improved adjustment mechanism on 
the flightcrew seats, and replace the existing aluminum seat 
reinforcement assemblies with steel assemblies, in accordance with 
Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 25-2536, Revision 2, dated 
March 2002.
    (h) A note in the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon 
Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 25-2536, Revision 2, dated March 2002, 
instructs operators to contact Raytheon if any difficulty is 
encountered while accomplishing the actions specified in that 
service bulletin. However, any deviation from the instructions 
provided in Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 25-2536, Revision 
2, dated March 2002, must be approved as an alternative method of 
compliance (AMOC) under provisions of paragraph (i) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (i)(1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, ATTN: William Griffith, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, 
ACE-118W, FAA, Wichita ACO, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4116; 
fax (316) 946-4107; has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Beechcraft Service Bulletin No. 2536, Revision 
1, dated April 1995; or Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 25-
2536, Revision 2, dated March 2002; as applicable; to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 
25-2536, Revision 2, dated March 2002, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51. The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of Beechcraft Service Bulletin No. 2536, 
Revision 1, dated April 1995, as of March 13, 1996 (61 FR 5275, 
February 12, 1996).
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Department 62, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, 
Kansas 67201-0085; telephone 316-676-8238; fax 316-676-6706; e-mail 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/service_support/pubs.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference 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 Renton, Washington, on March 16, 2009.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-6227 Filed 3-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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