AD 98-26-16

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. This AD requires modifying the emergency exit doors and installing interior and exterior placards on each of the emergency exit doors. Difficulty in opening the emergency exit doors prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent passengers and crew from not being able to open the emergency exit doors during an airplane emergency, which could result in passenger and crew injuries.

Final rule

98-26-16 RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY: Amendment 39-10959; Docket No. 97-CE-153-AD.

Applicability: The following model and serial number airplanes, certificated in any category:

Model
Serial Numbers
1900
UA-2 and UA-3;
1900C
UB-1 through UB-74, and UC-1 through UC-174;
1900C (C-12J)
UD-1 through UD-6;
1900D
UE-1 through UE-271.

NOTE 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required within the next 600 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To help prevent passengers and crew from not being able to open the emergency exit doors during an airplane emergency, which could result in passenger and crew injuries, accomplish the following:

(a) Modify the airplane emergency exit doors by removing and replacing door mechanism pushrods, trimming the existing turnbuckle clevises, and re-rigging the emergency exit doors, in accordance with PART I of the Accomplishment Instructions section in Raytheon Aircraft (Raytheon) Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 2740, Revision 1, Issued: April, 1997; Revised: June, 1997.

(b) Install placards on the interior and exterior of the emergency exit doors in accordance with PART II and PART III of the Accomplishment Instructions section in RaytheonMSB No. 2740, Revision 1, Issued: April, 1997; Revised: June, 1997.

(c) 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.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Wichita ACO.

(e) The modification and installation required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Raytheon Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2740, Revision 1, Issued: April, 1997; Revised: June, 1997. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the Raytheon Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on February 5, 1999.

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Raytheon Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on August 13, 1998 (63 FR 43336). The NPRM proposed to require modifying the emergency exit doors and installing placards on the emergency exit doors within the clear view of the passengers and crew. Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the NPRM would be in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2740, Revision 1, Issued: April, 1997; Revised: June, 1997.

The NPRM was the result of reports of difficulty in opening the emergency exit doors.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. The FAA received one comment on the NPRM, which supports the proposed AD.The FAA's Determination
After careful review of all available information related to the subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 527 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 12 workhours per airplane to accomplish this action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $1,200 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,011,840, or $1,920 per airplane.

The manufacturer has informed the FAA that 94 of the affected airplanes are already in compliance with this action. Therefore,the estimated total cost impact will be reduced by approximately $180,480 from $1,011,840, to $831,360.

Regulatory Impact
The regulations adopted herein will 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 final rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this action is contained 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, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows: