Airworthiness Directives; Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP airplanes. This AD requires inspecting to determine if the correct fuse is installed on the hydraulic over-temperature switch on panel ZK in the rear equipment bay, and replacing the existing fuse if necessary. This AD results from a report of the installation of an incorrect fuse on the over-temperature switch on panel ZK in the rear equipment bay during airplane maintenance. We are issuing this AD to prevent a short circuit in the fuse and consequent heat damage to associated wiring and surrounding equipment, which could result in smoke or fire on the airplane.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective February 24, 2006.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of February 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, Washington, DC.

Contact Raytheon Aircraft Company, Department 62, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas, 67201-0085, for service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Philip Petty, Aerospace Engineer, Electrical Systems and Avionics, ACE-119W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4139; fax (316) 946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2005 (70 FR 61914). That NPRM proposed to require inspecting to determine if the correct fuse is installed on the hydraulic over-temperature switch on panel ZK in the rear equipment bay, and replacing the existing fuse if necessary.

Comments

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

Conclusion

We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

There are about 138 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. This AD will affect about 110 airplanes of U.S. registry. The required actions will take about 2 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Required parts cost is negligible. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the AD for U.S. operators is $14,300, or $130 per airplane.

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

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-02-03 Raytheon Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-14455. Docket No. FAA-2005-22749; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-188-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective February 24, 2006.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers 258541, 258556, and 258567 through 258713 inclusive.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from a report of the installation of an incorrect fuse on the over-temperature switch on panel ZK in the rear equipment bay during airplane maintenance. We are issuing this AD to prevent a short circuit in the fuse and consequent heat damage to associated wiring and surrounding equipment, which could result in smoke or fire on 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.

Inspect and Replace if Necessary

(f) Within 50 flight hours or 30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever is first: Do a general visual inspection to determine if a 20-amp fuse is installed on the hydraulic over-temperature switch on panel ZK in the rear equipment bay in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 24-3724, dated May 2005. If a 20-amp fuse is installed, before further flight, replace it with a 3-amp fuse in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletin.

Note 1:

For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection is: “A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to enhance visual access to all exposed surfaces in the inspection area. This level of inspection is made under normally available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain proximity to the area being checked.”

Note 2:

A note in the Accomplishment Instructions of the Raytheon service bulletin instructs operators to contact Raytheon if any difficulty is encountered in accomplishing the service bulletin. However, any deviation from the instructions provided in the service bulletin must be approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) under paragraph (g) of this AD.

Repair Approval

(g) Where the Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 24-3724, dated May 2005, says to contact the manufacturer if any sign of damage is found on associated terminals and wires: Before further flight, contact the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, for applicable repair actions; then, before further flight, accomplish the applicable repair actions specified, according to a method approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(h)(1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(i) You must use Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 24-3724, dated May 2005, to perform the actions that are required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this document in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Raytheon Aircraft Company, Department 62, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas, 67201-0085, for a copy of this service information. You may review copies at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov ; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.