DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0608; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-017-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Textron Aviation Inc. Model 390 airplanes (type certificate
previously held by Beechcraft Corporation). This proposed AD was
prompted by reports of hydraulic fluid loss from the engine driven
pumps (EDPs) on three different airplanes. This proposed AD would
require an inspection to determine if an affected EDP is installed with
replacement as necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 4,
2017.
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 NPRM, contact Textron
Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Customer Service, P.O. Box 7706,
Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; email:
premier@txtav.com; Internet: www.txtavsupport.com. You may view this
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
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-2017-0608;
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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket 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: Paul C. DeVore, Aerospace Engineer,
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100,
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4142; fax: (316) 946-4107,
email: paul.devore@faa.gov or Wichita-COS@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-0608;
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-017-AD" at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM 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 NPRM.
Discussion
We received reports of hydraulic fluid loss from the engine driven
pumps (EDPs) on three different Textron Aviation Inc. Model 390
airplanes. In one incident, the airplane exited the runway at a high
speed, resulting in extensive damage to the airplane. One manufacturing
lot of EDPs has excessive pitting in the aluminum port caps that could
cause multiple-origin fatigue cracking of the port caps. Flammable
hydraulic fluid could leak into the engine compartment, and the leaking
could also cause loss of all normal hydraulic functions, including
normal anti-skid braking, ground spoilers, speedbrakes, and normal
landing gear extension. This condition, if not corrected, could result
in loss of normal hydraulic functions, which could lead to a high-speed
runway overrun and/or an in-flight fire.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Parker Service Bulletin 66179-29-486, dated August 4,
2016, which identifies the affected serial number EDPs. We also
reviewed Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 29-4161, dated
November 18, 2016, which describes procedures for determining if an
affected serial number EDP is installed and procedures for replacing
the EDP if necessary. 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.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing 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.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously except as discussed
under "Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service
Information."
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
The service information specifies a compliance time of 200 hours
time-in-service (TIS) or 12 months, whichever occurs first. This
proposed AD would require a compliance of 100 hours TIS to reduce the
possibility of another incident due to a cracked EDP. We removed the 12
month calendar time from the compliance time because we
determined the unsafe condition is related to flight hours of the
airplane rather than calendar time. The requirements of this proposed
AD take precedence over the requirements of the service information.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 179 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
Inspection to determine if affected
serial number EDP is installed. |
.5 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$42.50 |
Not applicable |
$42.50 |
$7,607.50 |
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary replacement
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
We estimate the affected manufacturer lot of EDPs as 28 EDPs. If an
airplane has two of the affected EDPs installed, both EDPs must be
replaced. However, no more than a total of 28 EDPs will require
replacing for the U.S. fleet:
On-Condition Costs
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Replacement of the EDP |
3 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$255 |
$17,388 |
$17,643 |
According to the manufacturer, some
of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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
We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:
(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Is not a "significant rule" under the 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.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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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