AD 98-10-05

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models B200, B200C, and B200T airplanes (formerly referred to as Beech Models B200, B200C, and B200T airplanes). This AD requires replacing the wiring for the engine fire detector system with fire resistant wiring. This AD is the result of the discovery during aircraft production of the potential for the existing engine fire detector system wiring on the affected airplanes to fail because of high heat and/or fire. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the engine fire detector system if high heat and/or fire stopped an electrical signal between the engine fire detectors and the engine fire warning annunciator lights located in the cockpit, which could result in passenger injury in the event of an airplane fire.

Final rule.

98-10-05 RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY: Amendment 39-10516; Docket No. 97-CE-72-AD.

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

Model
Serial Numbers
B200
BB-1439, BB-1444 through BB-1447, BB-1449, BB-1450, BB-1452, BB-1453, BB-1455, BB-1456, and BB-1458 through BB-1512;
B200C
BL-139 and BL-140;
B200C (C-12R)
BW-1 through BW-5; and
B200T
BT-35 through BT-38.

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 (c) 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 200 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent failure of the engine fire detector system if high heat and/or fire stopped an electrical signal between the engine fire detectors and the engine fire warning annunciator lights located in the cockpit, which could result in passenger injury in the event of an airplane fire, accomplish the following:

(a) Replace the existing engine fire protection system wiring with fire resistant wiring by incorporating Engine Fire Detector Harness Kit, part number 101-3208-1. Accomplish this replacement in accordance with the instructions included with the above kit, as referenced in Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2701, Issued: May, 1997.

(b) Special flightpermits 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 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.

(d) The replacement required by this AD shall be done in accordance with the instructions to Raytheon Engine Fire Detector Harness Kit, part number 101-3208-1, as referenced in RaytheonMandatory Service Bulletin No. 2701, Issued: May, 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 Raytheon Aircraft Company, 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.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on June 27, 1998.

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 B200, B200C, and B200T airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 3, 1997 (62 FR 63914). The NPRM proposed to require replacing the wiring for the engine fire detector system with fire resistant wiring by incorporating Engine Fire Detector Harness Kit, part number 101-3208-1. Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the NPRM would be in accordance with Raytheon Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 2701, Issued: May, 1997.

The NPRM was the result of the discovery during aircraft production of the potential for the existing engine fire detector system wiring on the affected airplanes to fail because of high heat and/or fire.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in themaking of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

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 77 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the modification required by this AD, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts will be provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the owners/operators of the affected airplanes. Based on these figures, the total cost impactof this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $18,480, or $240 per airplane. These figures are based on the presumption that no owner/operator of the affected airplanes has incorporated this modification.

Raytheon has informed the FAA that approximately 40 kits have been shipped from the Raytheon Aircraft Authorized Service Center. Presuming that each of the 40 kits is incorporated on an affected airplane, this will reduce the cost impact of this AD by $9,600, from $18,480, to $8,880.

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: