DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0718; Product Identifier 2019-CE-045-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Beechcraft Corporation)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) (type certificate
previously held by Beechcraft Corporation) Models F90, 65-90, 65-A90,
B90, C90, H90 (T-44A), E90, 65-A90-1 (JU-21A, U-21A, RU-21A, RU-21D, U-
21G, RU-21H), 65-A90-2 (RU-21B), 65-A90-3 (RU-21C), 65-A90-4 (RU-21E,
RU-21H), 99, 99A, 99A (FACH), A99, A99A, B99, C99, 100, A100 (U-21F),
and B100 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of fatigue
cracks in the lower forward wing fitting. This proposed AD would
require a one-time inspection for the presence of washer part number
(P/N) 90-380058-1 on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) lower
forward wing bolt and, if applicable, removing washer P/N 90-380058-1,
inspecting the wing fitting, bolt, and nut, replacing the wing fitting
if it is cracked, and replacing the washer with washer P/N 90-380019-1.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September
14, 2020.

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 https://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., P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, KS 67277: phone: 316-517-5800;
internet: https://txtav.com/. You may view this service information at
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901
Locust St, Kansas City, MO 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 https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0718;
or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this NPRM, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian C. Adamson, Aerospace Engineer,
Wichita ACO Branch, AIR-7K3, FAA, 1801 Airport Rd, Wichita, KS 67209;
phone: 316-946-4193; fax: 316-946-4107; email: brian.adamson@faa.gov or
Wichita-COS@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2020-0718;
Product Identifier 2019-CE-041-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this proposed AD because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to
https://regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact it receives about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552),
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page
of your submission containing CBI as "PROPIN." The FAA will treat
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing
CBI should be sent to Brian C. Adamson, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO
Branch, AIR-7K3, FAA, 1801 Airport Rd, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: 316-
946-4193; fax: 316-946-4107; email: brian.adamson@faa.gov or Wichita-COS
@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.

Discussion

Textron has received reports of fatigue cracks in the lower forward
wing fitting on two airplanes. Investigation revealed that installing
washer P/N 90-380058-1 on the wing bolt will cause a premature torque
indication. This washer may have been installed as part of kit 101-
4024-3 on Models F90, 65-90, 65-A90, B90, C90, H90 (T-44A), E90, 65-
A90-1 (JU-21A, U-21A, RU-21A, RU-21D, U-21G, RU-21H), 65-A90-2 (RU-
21B), 65-A90-3 (RU-21C), 65-A90-4 (RU-21E, RU-21H), 99, 99A, 99A
(FACH), A99, A99A, B99, C99, 100, A100 (U-21F), and B100 airplanes, or
as part of kit 90-4077-1 on Models 65-90, 65-A90, 65-A90-1 (JU-21A, U-
21A, RU-21A, RU-21D, U-21G, RU-21H), 65-A90-2 (RU-21B), 65-A90-3 (RU-21C),
65-A90-4 (RU-21E, RU-21H), B90, C90, and E90 airplanes. Under-torque of
the wing bolt causes a reduced clamping force that changes the load path
reacted by the RH and LH lower forward wing fitting.

This condition, if not addressed, could result in fatigue cracks that
lead to failure of the forward lower wing fitting, wing separation, and
loss of airplane control.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Beechcraft Mandatory Service Letter MTL-57-01,
Revision 1, dated September 19, 2018. The service information contains
procedures for a one-time inspection for the presence of washer P/N 90-
380058-1 on the LH and RH lower forward wing bolt and, if applicable,
removing washer P/N 90-380058-1; inspecting the wing fitting, bolt, and
nut; replacing the wing fitting if it is cracked; and replacing the
washer with washer P/N 90-380019-1. 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

The FAA is proposing this AD because it evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of this same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

The service information specifies inspecting within 200 flight
hours or 12 months, whichever occurs earlier. This proposed AD would
require inspecting within the next 200 flight hours or 12 months,
whichever occurs later.

The service information applies to Models A100A and A100C
airplanes, and to Model F90 with S/N LA-1. This proposed AD would not
apply to these airplanes because they do not have an FAA type
certificate.

This proposed AD would apply to military models T-44A, JU-21A, RU-
21A, RU-21B, RU-21C, RU-21D, RU-21E, RU-21H, U-21A, U-21F, U-21G, and
FACH airplanes, because these models have a civil counterpart that is
subject to the unsafe condition. The service information does not apply
to all of these military models.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 1,319 airplanes
of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
proposed inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
airplanes that might need these replacements:

On-Condition Costs

According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost
impact on affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty
coverage for affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included
all costs in this 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.

The FAA is 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

The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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):