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AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes.
This emergency AD was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and
operators of these airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the elevator
bob-weight and attaching linkage for correct installation and for
damage or deformation to the weight and/or weight bracket with
corrective action as necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of the
elevator bob-weight (stabilizer weight) traveling past its stop bolt,
which allowed the attaching linkage to move over-center, resulting in
reduced nose down elevator control, which could result in loss of
control of the airplane. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct
conditions that could result in reduced nose down elevator control and
loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: This AD is effective January 18, 2012 to all persons except
those persons to whom it was made immediately effective by Emergency AD
2011-27-51, issued on December 23, 2011, which contained the
requirements of this amendment.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication identified in the AD as of January
18, 2012.
We must receive comments on this AD by March 5, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in
14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions
for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Hawker
Beechcraft Corporation at P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085;
telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140; Internet: http://pubs.hawkerbeechcraft.com.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov;
or in person at the Docket Operations Office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Operations Office (phone: (800) 647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
Paul DeVore, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801
Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-
4142; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: paul.devore@faa.gov; or
Don Ristow, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 Airport
Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4120; fax:
(316) 946-4107; email: donald.ristow@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On December 23, 2011, we issued Emergency AD 2011-27-51, which
requires inspecting the elevator bob-weight and attaching linkage for
correct installation and for damage or deformation to the weight and/or
weight bracket with corrective action as necessary. This AD was
prompted by the following reports of the elevator bob-weight
(stabilizer weight) traveling past its stop bolt, which allowed the
attaching linkage to move over-center, reducing nose down elevator
control.
In one instance, a Model 1900C airplane experienced jammed
elevators on take-off after a loud bang was heard in the cockpit
shortly after rotation. The flight crew noticed that they were unable
to move the control column to a nose down position. Elevator movement
was only available between neutral to full deflection nose up. The
airplane pitch was controlled with the elevator trim and the airplane
returned to base, landing safely. Upon inspection, mechanics noticed
that the bob-weight interconnect link, part number (p/n) 101-524112-1,
was upside down and trailing forward from the control column weld
assembly instead of trailing aft as it should. With the link traveled
over-center, the geometry of the bob-weight was completely changed
relative to its stop. This condition made the bob-weight hit its stop
mid-travel, where it should actually have positive clearance from its
stop at the full nose down position. The elevator could now only move
between nose full up and neutral.
In another instance, on a Model 1900D airplane, during the takeoff
roll the elevator controls felt heavy and appeared to be jammed/
sticking, requiring more force than usual to rotate. The crew then
aborted the takeoff run. Subsequent investigation revealed that the
elevator bob-weight attaching link assembly traveled over-center, thus
preventing full nose down elevator control authority.
The Model 1900 airplanes have the same type design and thus are
subject to this unsafe condition.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced nose down
elevator control and loss of airplane control.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Safety Communique
321, dated December 2011. The service information provides
information to assist in doing the actions of this AD.
FAA's Determination
We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires inspecting the elevator bob-weight and attaching
linkage for correct installation and for damage or deformation to the
weight and/or weight bracket with corrective action as necessary.
Interim Action
We consider this AD interim action to address the immediate unsafe
condition affecting these airplanes. We may take further AD action at
a
later date.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the
elevator stabilizer weight (bob-weight) could move over-center
resulting in reduced nose down elevator control, which could result in
loss of control of the airplane. Therefore, we find that notice and
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and that good
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2012-0014 and
Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-044-AD at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 300 airplanes.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
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Parts cost
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Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
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| Inspection of the elevator bob-weight
and attaching linkage. |
1 work-hour x $85 per
hour = $85. |
Not applicable
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$85
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$25,500
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The on-condition costs for any corrective
action that may be
necessary based on the above inspection would vary from airplane to
airplane, and we have no way of determining that cost.
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
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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
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