DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-0460; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-078-AD;
Amendment 39-18577; AD 2016-13-13]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Beechcraft Corporation (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation; Raytheon
Aircraft Company) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Beechcraft Corporation Model BAe.125 Series 1000A and 1000B airplanes
and Model Hawker 1000 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of
inadvertent stowage of the thrust reversers, which can result in high
forward engine thrust even though the throttle is commanding reverse
thrust. This AD requires installing kits that include relays,
associated wiring, and a thrust reverser fail annunciator. We are
issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent stowage of the thrust reversers,
which could cause a runway overrun during a rejected takeoff or
landing, and consequent structural failure and possible injury to
occupants.

DATES: This AD is effective August 12, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 12,
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Beechcraft Corporation, TMDC, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, KS 67201-
0085; telephone: 316-676-8238; fax: 316-671-2540; email:
tmdc@beechcraft.com; Internet: http://pubs.beechcraft.com. You may view
this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221. It is also
available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-0460.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
0460; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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 address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Englert, Aerospace Engineer,
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Dwight D.
Eisenhower National Airport, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: 316-946-4167; fax:
316-946-4107; email: jeffrey.englert@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Beechcraft
Corporation Model BAe.125 series 1000A and 1000B airplanes and Model
Hawker 1000 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
January 21, 2016 (81 FR 3348) (``the NPRM''). The NPRM was prompted by
reports of inadvertent stowage of the thrust reversers, which can
result in high forward engine thrust even though the throttle is
commanding reverse thrust. The NPRM proposed to require installing kits
that include relays, associated wiring, and a thrust reverser fail
annunciator. We are issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent stowage of
the thrust reversers, which could cause a runway overrun during a
rejected takeoff or landing, and consequent structural failure and
possible injury to occupants.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and
the FAA's response to each comment.

Support for the NPRM

Mr. Kevin Maher expressed support for the NPRM.

Request To Revise NPRM Requirement

Mr. Kenneth Rittenhouse of Becker Aviation LLC requested that we
not require installation of the service kits, but leave the
installation decision up to the individual owner/operator. Mr.
Rittenhouse stated that the NPRM mentions that there have not been any
issues reported involving Model BAe.125 airplanes but does mention that
those airplanes have a similar engine/thrust reverser system to
airplanes on which the problem was reported. Mr. Rittenhouse explained
that if you examine the Learjet Model 60 and the Model Hawker 1000
systems, the Hawker 1000 is much more robust with redundant
capabilities. Mr. Rittenhouse stated that he does not believe the
unsafe condition has ever been an issue with the Model Hawker 1000
airplanes, and that it is extremely unjust to force operators to comply
with this modification that costs 15 percent of the total value of the
airplane.
We do not agree with the commenter's request. We recognize that
maintaining airplanes in an airworthy condition is vital, but sometimes
expensive. Installation of the service kit corrects a potential unsafe
condition that could cause a runway overrun during a rejected takeoff
or landing, and consequent structural failure and possible injury to
occupants. The service kit was designed and proposed by the airplane
original equipment manufacturer as its best correction option. The root
cause of the unsafe condition is incorrect software logic within the
engine's electronic control unit. We acknowledge the commenter's
statement indicating that ``the Hawker 1000 is much more robust with
redundant capabilities,'' however, the commenter did not submit any
substantiating data to support that statement. We have determined that
this unsafe condition exists on the Model Hawker 1000 airplanes as well
as Beechcraft Corporation Model BAe.125 Series 1000A and 1000B
airplanes. We might approve requests to revise the applicability of
this AD if the request includes data that justifies such a revision and
provides an acceptable level of safety. We have not changed this AD in
this regard.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD as proposed, except for minor editorial changes. We have
determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Beechcraft Service Bulletin 78-4133, dated May 2015.
The service information describes procedures for installing kits having
part numbers 140-9005 and 140-9006, which include relays, associated
wiring, and a thrust reverser fail annunciator. This service
information is reasonably available because the interested parties have
access to it through their normal course of business or by the means
identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 38 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

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):