[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60669-60671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24714]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0954; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-078-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech
Aircraft Corporation) Model 400A and 400T Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Model 400A, and 400T airplanes. This proposed AD would require
a detailed inspection for proper sealant of the left and right pylon
firewall structures, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed
AD results from reports of missing sealant on the left and right pylon
firewall structures. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct
missing sealant on the left and right pylon firewall structures, which,
in the event of an engine fire, could result in flames penetrating the
seams in the firewall between the engine and the aft fuselage, and a
subsequent uncontrolled fire in the aft fuselage.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 15,
2010.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed 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/
[[Page 60670]]
service--support/pubs. You may review copies of the referenced 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.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Teplik, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4196; fax (316)
946-4107.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0954;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-078-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
We have received reports of missing sealant on the left and right
pylon firewall structures. The sealant may not have been applied on the
firewall at the seams in production. Pylon firewall structures that do
not have this sealant do not meet the applicable design intent. In the
event of an engine fire, flames could penetrate the seams in the
firewall between the engine and the aft fuselage. Missing or inadequate
sealant, if not corrected, combined with the event of an engine fire
could result in an uncontrolled fire in the aft fuselage.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB
54-3946, Revision 2, dated February 2010. This service bulletin
describes procedures for doing an inspection of the left and right
pylon for coverage of firewall sealant on the seams, and corrective
actions. While Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 54-3946,
Revision 1, dated May 2009, provides the procedures for doing the
inspection of the left and right pylon for coverage of firewall sealant
on the seams and applying sealant, it does not specify the dimensions
of the sealant. Corrective actions include cleaning, sealing, or
recoating affected areas; and recoating sealant. Figure 4 of Hawker
Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 54-3946, Revision 2, dated
February 2010, contains the specifications of the sealant depth.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type
designs. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions
specified in the service information described previously, except as
discussed under ``Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service
Information.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD and Service Information
Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 54-3946, Revision
2, dated February 2010, specifies a compliance time of the next
scheduled inspection, but no later than 12 months after the date of the
service bulletin revision. This proposed AD would require a compliance
time of within 200 flight hours or within 12 months after the effective
date of this AD, whichever occurs first. The service bulletin also does
not specify what type of inspection to perform. This AD requires that a
detailed inspection be performed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 165 airplanes of
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour
per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is
$85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this
proposed AD to the U.S. operators to be $14,025, or $85 per product.
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 determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
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.
You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of
compliance in the AD Docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
[[Page 60671]]
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate Previously Held by
Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation): Docket No.
FAA-2010-0954; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-078-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by November 15, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type
Certificate previously held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech
Aircraft Corporation), certificated in any category; as identified
in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD.
(1) Model 400A airplanes having serial numbers RK-337 through
RK-484, RK-486 through RK-570 inclusive, RK-572, RK-573, and RK-575
through RK-577 inclusive.
(2) Model 400T airplane having serial number TX-13.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 54:
Nacelles/Pylons.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from reports of missing sealant on the left
and right pylon firewall structures. The Federal Aviation
Administration is issuing this AD to detect and correct missing
sealant on the left and right pylon firewall structures, which, in
the event of an engine fire, could result in flames penetrating the
seams in the firewall between the engine and the aft fuselage, and a
subsequent uncontrolled fire in the aft fuselage.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
Inspection and Corrective Action
(g) Within 200 flight hours or 12 months after the effective
date of this AD, whichever occurs first: Do a detailed inspection
for appropriate coverage of firewall sealant of the left and right
pylon firewall structure, as specified in the figures of Hawker
Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 54-3946, Revision 2, dated
February 2010, and all applicable corrective actions; in accordance
with the Accomplishment Instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory
Service Bulletin SB 54-3946, Revision 2, dated February 2010. Do all
applicable corrective actions before further flight.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is:
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning
and elaborate procedures may be required.''
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
ATTN: Thomas Teplik, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Propulsion
Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas
67209; telephone (316) 946-4196; fax (316) 946-4107.
(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 principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or
principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a
principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office.
The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on September 23, 2010.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-24714 Filed 9-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P