[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2825-2826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-894]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 18, 2005 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 2825]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
Raytheon Aircraft Company Beech Models 45 (YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B-
45), and D45 (T-34B) Airplanes; Notice of Public Meeting
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: This document announces a public meeting of interest to owners
and operators of Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Beech Models 45
(YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B-45), and D45 (T-34B) airplanes. The purpose of
the meeting is to discuss technical issues and potential corrective
actions related to the continued operational safety of the affected
airplanes, specifically related to the structural fatigue of critical
structure and Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-25-51.
DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold the public
meeting on Tuesday, February 15, 2005, starting at 1 p.m. at the Hilton
Airport Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, and continuing from 8 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2005. Registration will begin at
12:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
ADDRESSES: We will hold the public meeting at the Hilton Airport Hotel,
8801 NW., 112th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64153; telephone (816)
891-8900.
If you are unable to attend, you may mail comments and information
to FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Continued Operational Safety
Branch, ACE-113, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You
may also send comments electronically to the following addresses:
[email protected] or [email protected]. If you send comments
electronically as attached electronic files, the files must be
formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.
We will give the same consideration to any comments or information
mailed to us as those presented at the public meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For Requests to Present a Statement at the Meeting:
Contact Marvin Nuss, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane
Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;
telephone: (816) 329-4117; facsimile: (816) 329-4090; e-mail:
[email protected].
For Questions Regarding the Previously Proposed ADs:
Contact Steven Litke, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport,
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4127; facsimile: (316) 946-
4107.
For Requests for Special Accommodations: Contact Scott
Wessley, AD Coordinator, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4148;
facsimile: (816) 329-4149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Participation at the Public Meeting
What must I do to make a presentation at the meeting? If you would
like to make a presentation at the meeting, make your request to FAA no
later than 10 days prior to the meeting. Submit these requests to Mr.
Marvin Nuss as listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document. You should include a written summary of your
presentation with a time estimate of your presentation.
Will FAA prepare an agenda? We will prepare an agenda for this
meeting. To accommodate all presenters, we may allocate less time for
your presentation than you requested. If you request to present after
the deadline, we will schedule your presentation as time is available.
However, your name may not appear on the agenda.
What if I need special equipment? You should include in your
presentation request any special audiovisual equipment that you need.
We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Background
Why is FAA conducting this meeting? On December 7, 2004, the left
wing of a Raytheon Beech Model A45 (T-34A), serial number G-13,
separated from the airplane in flight. The airplane, operated by Texas
Air Aces, crashed near Montgomery, Texas. The wing was found about a
quarter mile away from the crash site.
The left wing center section failed 4 inches inboard of the forward
wing attach fitting. FAA investigation revealed visual evidence of
fatigue not previously addressed by Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2001-
13-18 and AD 2001-13-18 R1, which FAA issued as a result of a 2003
accident near Conroe, Texas.
In November 2003, a Raytheon Beech Model A45 (T34A) airplane
crashed after the right wing failed at Wing Station (WS) 34 on the
forward spar and WS 66.00 on the rear spar. The airplane, operated by
Texas Air Aces, crashed near Conroe, Texas. The wing was found about a
quarter mile away from the crash site.
On May 28, 1999, FAA issued priority letter AD 99-12-02 to address
the in-flight separation of the right wing on a Model A45 (T-34A)
airplane. The airplane, operated by Sky Warriors, crashed near Rydall,
Georgia, where the wing was found about a quarter mile away from the
crash site. The left wing remained attached to the airplane following
separation of the right wing. Examination of the right wing revealed
structural fatigue cracks at several of the fracture surfaces. Although
it did not separate from the airplane, the left wing showed several
fatigue cracks at several locations. AD 99-12-02 required operating and
speed restrictions on the affected airplanes and was superseded by AD
2001-13-18.
Based on all data on these accidents including the additional
visual evidence of fatigue not previously addressed by AD 2001-13-18 or
AD 2001-13-18 R1, FAA issued emergency AD 2004-25-51. This emergency AD
required an inspection and/or modification program approved
specifically for this AD by FAA Wichita Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO). In essence, AD 2004-25-51 grounded the T-34 fleet because of
evidence of fatigue in locations not evaluated from the first two
accidents. The FAA took this action until the situation could be more
fully
[[Page 2826]]
understood and proper actions taken to ensure the continued
airworthiness of the fleet.
All the technical aspects of this aging airplane issue need to be
studied and understood in order for FAA to return the fleet to an
airworthy status. The FAA will review and communicate (at the meeting)
the events leading to emergency AD 2004-25-51 and the reasons for our
action. The FAA will also provide its expectations for any actions the
public may propose to restore the fleet to an airworthy and safe
condition.
The meeting will allow the public the opportunity to discuss
technical issues and communicate potential corrective actions related
to the continued operational safety of the affected airplanes,
specifically related to the structural fatigue of critical structure
and AD 2004-25-51.
Public Meeting Procedures
What procedures should I follow for this public meeting? If you
plan to attend the public meeting, please be aware of the following:
There is no admission fee or other charge to attend or
participate in this meeting. You are responsible for your own
transportation and accommodations for the meeting. The meeting is open
to all who requested in advance to present or who register on the day
of the meeting. This is subject to availability of space in the meeting
room.
FAA representatives will conduct the meeting. We will have
a panel of technical experts and managers to discuss information on the
subject.
The public meeting is intended as a forum to seek
additional data and supporting methodologies from industry, the general
public, and operators. You must limit your presentation and submittals
to data of this issue.
The meeting will allow you to present additional
information not currently available to FAA and an opportunity for FAA
to explain to you the methodology and technical assumptions that
support our conclusions.
FAA experts, industry, and public participants are
expected to hold a full discussion of all technical material presented
at the meeting. If you present conclusions on this subject, you must
submit data that supports your conclusions.
We will try and accommodate all speakers. In order to do
this, we may need to limit the time for presenters.
We can make sign and oral interpretation available at the
meeting, as well as an assistive listening device. If you need this
assistance, make your request to FAA at least 10 days prior to the
public meeting.
We will review and consider all material presented.
Position papers or materials may be accepted at the discretion of the
presiding officer. The FAA requests that you provide 10 copies of all
materials for distribution to the panel members. You have the choice on
whether you want to present copies of the material to the audience.
The meetings are designed to solicit public views and
information. Therefore, we will conduct the meeting in an informal and
nonadversial manner.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 10, 2005.
Scott L. Sedgwick,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-894 Filed 1-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P