Airworthiness Directives; Beech Aircraft Corporation Model F90, and 99, 100, and 200 Series Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD]

Airworthiness Directives; Beech Aircraft Corporation Model F90,

and 99, 100, and 200 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain Beech Aircraft Corporation (Beech)

Model F90, and 99, 100, and 200 series airplanes. The proposed action

would require installing a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor

control panel assembly. A report where excessive current flow caused

the electrical landing gear motor and wiring to catch fire on a Beech

Model 200 airplane prompted the proposed action. The actions specified

by the proposed AD are intended to prevent excessive current flow

through the electrical landing gear motor, which, if not corrected,

could cause an airplane fire.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 94-CE-24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th

Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Information that relates to this AD may be obtained from the Beech

Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. This

information may also be examined at the FAA at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dale A. Vassalli, Aerospace

Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport

Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4132;

facsimile (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number

and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All

communications received on or before the closing date for comments,

specified above, will be considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in

light of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All

comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing

date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested

persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned

with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request

to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The FAA has received a report where excessive current flow caused

the electrical landing gear motor and wiring to catch fire on a Beech

Model 200 airplane. Investigation revealed that the right main landing

gear actuator assembly jammed, causing the actuator to slow or stall

the landing gear motor. This caused the motor to use excessive current,

which caused smoke to fill the cockpit and cabin.

Other incidents where the landing gear motor used excessive current

have been reported; however, in these incidents, airplane safety was

not an issue.

Beech has issued Service Bulletin No. 2035, Issued: February 1985;

Revised: August 1990, which specifies procedures for preparing the

airplane for the installation of a circuit breaker on the landing gear

motor control panel assembly of certain Beech Model F90, and 99, 100,

and 200 series airplanes. The instructions included with the following

kits specify instructions for installing this circuit breaker: 101-

3069-1 S, 101-3069-3 S, 101-3069-5 S, and 101-3133-1 S.

After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available

information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has

determined that AD action should be taken to prevent excessive current

flow through the electrical landing gear motor, which, if not

corrected, could result in an airplane fire.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to

exist or develop in other Beech Model F90, and 99, 100, and 200 series

airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require

installing a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor control panel

assembly. The proposed action would be accomplished in accordance with

Beech SB No. 2035, Issued: February 1985; Revised August 1990; and the

instructions to the applicable Landing Gear Motor Circuit Breaker

Installation Kit (specified above).

The FAA estimates that 2,297 airplanes in the U.S. registry would

be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6

workhours (varies between 2 to 6 workhours depending on the airplane

model) per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the

average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The cost per parts

varies by airplane model; however, for purposes of this proposed AD,

$1,000 is utilized. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of

the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $3,137,702. This

figure is based on the assumption that no U.S. operator of the affected

airplanes has accomplished the proposed installation.

Beech has informed the FAA that approximately 2,100 installation

kits have been sold. Assuming that each of these kits is installed on

one of the affected airplanes, the proposed cost impact on U.S.

operators would be reduced by $2,868,600 from $3,137,702 to $369,102.

The regulations proposed herein would 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

proposal would 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) if promulgated,

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 draft regulatory evaluation

prepared for this action has been placed 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.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend

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 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.

106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

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

Beech Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-24-AD.

Applicability: The following Model and serial number airplanes,

certificated in any category:

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Models Serial Numbers

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F90.............................. LA-2 through LA-225 equipped with

mechanical landing gear.

99, 99A, A99A, and B99........... U-1 through U-49 equipped with

mechanical landing gear and U-51

through U-164 equipped with

mechanical landing gear.

100 and A100..................... B-1 through B-247.

B100............................. BE-2 through BE-137 with either a

part number (P/N) 115-380002-3 or P/

N 115-380002-5 landing gear motor

installed.

200 and B200..................... BB-2, BB-6 through BB-1157, BB-1159

through BB-1166, and BB-1168 through

BB-1192.

200C and B200C................... BL-1 through BL-72.

200T and B200T................... BT-1 through BT-30.

200CT and B200CT................. BN-1 through BN-4

A-100-1 (U-21J).................. BB-3, BB-4, and BB-5.

A200 (C-12A/C)................... BC-1 through BC-75 and BD-1 through

BD-30.

A200C (UC-12B)................... BJ-1 through BJ-66.

A200CT (C-12D)................... BP-1, BP-22, and BP-24 through BP-45.

A200CT (FWC-12D)................. BP-7 through BP11

A200CT (RC-12D).................. GR-1 through GR-13.

A200CT (RC-12G).................. FC-1, FC-2, and FC-3.

A200CT (RC-12H).................. GR-14 through GR-19.

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Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service

after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent excessive current flow through the electrical landing

gear motor, which, if not corrected, could result in an airplane

fire, accomplish the following:

(a) Install a circuit breaker on the landing gear motor control

panel assembly by accomplishing the following:

(1) Prepare the airplane by completing the ACCOMPLISHMENT

INSTRUCTIONS section of Beech Service Bulletin No. 2035, Issued:

February 1985; Revised: August 1990.

(2) Incorporate one of the following Landing Gear Motor Circuit

Breaker Installation Kits, as applicable, in accordance with the

instructions provided with the kits:

(i) 101-3069-1 S for Models 200, B200, 200C, B200C, 200T, B200T,

200CT, B200CT, A200 (C-12A/C), and A200C (UC-12B);

(ii) 101-3069-3 S for Models 100, A100, B100, and A100-1 (U-

21J);

(iii) 101-3069-5 S for Models F90, 99, 99A, A99A, and B99; and

(iv) 101-3133-1 S for Models A200 (C-12A/C), A200CT (C-12D),

A200CT (FWC-12D), A200CT (RC-12D), A200CT (RC-12G), and A200CT (RC-

12H).

(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

initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent

level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Wichita ACO, 1801

Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas

67209. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the

Manager, Wichita ACO.

Note: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Wichita ACO.

(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of

the document referred to herein upon request to the Beech Aircraft

Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; 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.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 23, 1994.

Henry A. Armstrong,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-32160 Filed 12-29-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P