Summary
This document provides additional time for the public to comment on a proposal to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 99-12- 02, which currently requires flight and operating limitations on Raytheon Aircraft Corporation (Raytheon) Beech Models 45 (YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B-45), and D45 (T-34B) airplanes. AD 99-12-02 resulted from a report of an in-flight separation of the right wing on a Raytheon Beech Model A45 (T-34A) airplane. AD 99-12-02 was issued as an interim action until the development of FAA-approved inspection procedures. Raytheon has developed such procedures. The proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the wing spar assembly for cracks, with replacement of any wing spar assembly found cracked (unless the spar assembly has a crack indication in the filler strip where the direction of the crack is toward the outside of the filler strip); require reporting the results of the initial inspection; and change the flight and operating limitations that AD 99-12-02 currently requires. Several comments received on the original notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) specify additional time to respond to the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect and correct cracks in the wing spar assemblies and assure the operational safety of the above-referenced airplanes.