AD 2001-11-03

This AD becomes effective on July 20, 2001.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of July 20, 2001.

You may get the service information referenced in this AD from the Raytheon Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085; telephone: (800) 429-5372 or (316) 676-3140. You may examine this information at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-25-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

Todd Dixon, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4152; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

What Events Have Caused This AD?

The FAA has received several reports of blower motors failing, seizing, smoking, and producing a burning odor that enters the cabin and passenger compartment. These events are the result of the blower motor having circuit protection of more than 1 ampere. This amount of circuit protection does not prevent the blower motor from smoking and creating a burning odor should it fail or seize.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

This condition could result in smoke or burning odor entering the cockpit or passenger compartments.

Has FAA Taken any Action to This Point?

We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Raytheon Beech Models F33A, A36, B36TC, 58/58A, C90A, B200, and 1900D airplanes equipped with a KA-33 cooling blower. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on February 14, 2001 (66 FR 10226). The NPRM proposed to require you to incorporate certain electrical parts to protect cooling blowers.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

Interested persons were 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.

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

After careful review of all available information related to the subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. We 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.

What Are the Differences Between the Service Bulletin and This AD?

Raytheon specifies in the service information that you are to do this modification at the next scheduled inspection or before 6 months or 600 hours time-in-service, whichever comes first. We require you do the modification within the next 6 calendar months or 600 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever comes first, after the effective date of this AD. We cannot enforce a compliance time of “at the next scheduled inspection.” We believe that 6 calendar months or 600 hours TIS will give the owners/operators of the affected airplanes enough time to have the required actions done without compromising the safety of the airplanes. This will allow the owners/operators to work this modification into regularly scheduled maintenance.

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

We estimate that this AD affects 3,403 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected Airplanes?

We estimate the following costs to accomplish the inspection for Beech Models F33A, A36, B36TC, and 58/58A airplanes:

For Beech Models F33A, A36, B36TC, and 58/58A airplanes, we estimate the following costs to do any necessary circuit breaker installation that will be required based on the results of the inspection. We have no way of knowing the number of airplanes that will need the circuit breaker installation:

We estimate the following costs to do the installation for Beech Model C90A airplanes. We have no way of knowing how many airplanes will need the in-line fuse holder and 1 ampere slow-blow fuse installation: Labor cost Parts cost Total cost per in-line fuse holder and 1-ampere fuse installation 1 workhour × $60 per hour = $60 to do each in-line fuse holder and 1-ampere slow-blow fuse installation $12 $60 + $12 = $72. We estimate the following costs to do the installation for Beech Models B200 airplanes. We have no way of knowing how many airplanes may need the in-line fuse holder and 1 ampere slow-blow fuse installation: Labor cost Parts cost Total cost per in-line fuse holder, 1-ampere fuse installation, and junction box re-work 2 work­hours × $60 per hour = $120 $19 $120 + $19 = $139. We estimate the following costs to do the installation for Beech Models 1900D airplanes. We have no way of knowing the number of airplanes that will need the in-line fuse holder and 1 ampere slow-blow fuse installation: Labor cost Parts cost Total cost per in-line fuse holder and 1-ampere fuse installation 1 workhour × $60 per hour = $60 $12 $60 + $12 = $72.

The manufacturer will allow warranty credit for labor and parts to the extent noted in the service bulletin.

Does this AD Impact Various Entities?

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

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.

Accordingly, under 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:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. FAA amends § 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows: