AD 95-22-03

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Beech Aircraft Corporation (Beech) Models 60 and A60 airplanes. This action requires incorporating flight manual supplement revisions into the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) that would specify a minimum airspeed for operating the affected airplanes in icing conditions. Reports of several incidents and accidents on the affected airplanes related to flight in icing conditions prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of control of the airplane because of the airplane traveling too slowly in icing conditions.

Final rule

95-22-03 BEECH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-9410; Docket No. 95-CE- 23-AD.

Applicability: Models 60 and A60 airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category.

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

To prevent loss of control of the airplane because of the airplane traveling too slowly in icing conditions, accomplish the following:

(a) Incorporate Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) supplement "FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS", Revised: January 1995, part number (P/N) 60-590001-17, into the AFM, P/N 60-590000-5 or P/N 60-590000-11, as applicable.

(b) Incorporating the AFM supplement "FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS", Revised: January 1995, part number (P/N) 60-590001-17, as required by this AD may be performed by the owner/operator holding at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and must be entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with section 43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.11).

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the FederalAviation 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, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

NOTE 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of the AFM revision referred to herein
upon request to Beech Aircraft Corporation, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; or may examine these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Officeof the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on December 12, 1995.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Beech Models 60 and A60 airplanes was published in the Federal Register on June 5, 1995 (60 FR 29513). The proposed action requires incorporating flight manual supplement revisions into the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) that would specify a minimum airspeed for operating the affected airplanes in icing conditions. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with Beech Model 60 and A60 Pilot's Operating Handbook/Airplane Flight Manual (POH/AFM) supplement "FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS", Revised: January, 1995, part number (P/N) 60-590001-17.

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

After careful review of all available information related to thesubject 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.

The FAA estimates that 243 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take less than 1 workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed action. Since an owner/operator who holds a private pilot's certificate as authorized by sections 43.7 and 43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7 and 43.11) can accomplish this action, the only cost impact upon the public is the time it takes to incorporate these AFM supplement revisions.

The compliance time of the AD is presented in calendar time instead of hours time-in-service. Although the unsafe condition develops as a result of airplane usage, it cannot develop unless the airplane travels too slowly in icing conditions. Therefore, to ensure that all owners/operators of the affected airplanes incorporate the minimum airspeed in icing conditions flight manual supplement revisions in a reasonable amount of time, the compliance time is based on calendar time.

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, 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 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.

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