Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 175 and 175A Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 43845-43847] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: E8-16583]

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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 29, 2008 / Rules and Regulations

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29240; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-076-AD; Amendment 39-15618; AD 2008-15-06] RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 175 and 175A Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 175 and 175A airplanes. This AD requires you to check the airplane logbook to determine if the original engine mounting brackets have been replaced. If the original engine mounting brackets are still installed, this AD requires you to repetitively inspect those brackets for cracks and replace any cracked engine mounting bracket. After replacing all four original engine mounting brackets, no further action will be required by this AD. This AD was prompted by a report that the engine became detached from the firewall during landing on one of the affected airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the engine mounting brackets, which could result in failure of the engine mounting bracket. This failure could lead to the engine detaching from the firewall.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on September 2, 2008. On September 2, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 942-9006. To view the AD docket, go to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. The docket number is FAA-2007-29240; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-076-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Park, Aerospace Engineer, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946- 4123; fax: (316) 946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On March 31, 2008, 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 Cessna Models 175 and 175A airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on April 8, 2008 (73 FR 19017). The NPRM proposed to require you to check the airplane logbook to determine if the original engine mounting brackets have been replaced. If the original engine mounting brackets are still installed, the NPRM proposed to require you to repetitively inspect those brackets for cracks and replace any cracked engine mounting bracket. After replacing all four original engine mounting brackets, no further action would be required by the NPRM.

Comments

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections: 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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 1,218 airplanes in the U.S. registry. We estimate the following costs to do the inspection:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total cost per Total cost on Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7.5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $600.......... Not applicable.................. $600 $730,800 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements:

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total cost per Labor cost Parts cost airplane ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 work-hours per bracket x $200 per bracket. 4 $440 per bracket. $80 per hour = $240 per x $200 = $800 for $1,760 to replace bracket. 4 brackets per all 4 brackets. all 4 brackets. airplane x $240 per bracket = $960. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

We have determined that 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 the 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. We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-29240; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-076-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0 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:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0 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]

0 2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-15-06 Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-15618; Docket No. FAA-2007-29240; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-076-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective on September 2, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Model Serial Nos. Year manufactured ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) 175...................... 55001 through 1958. 55703. (2) 175...................... 55704 through 1959. 56238. (3) 175...................... 28700A, 626, 1958 and 1959. and 640. (4) 175A..................... 691, and 56239 1960. through 56777. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

(d) A report that the engine became unattached from the firewall during landing on one of the affected airplanes prompts this AD. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the engine mounting brackets, which could result in failure of the engine mounting bracket. This failure could lead to the engine detaching from the firewall.

Compliance

(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done:

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Actions Compliance Procedures ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) Check the airplane Within the next 30 The owner/operator logbook to determine if all days after holding at least a four of the original engine September 2, 2008 private pilot mounting brackets have been (the effective date certificate as replaced. of this AD). authorized by section 43.7 may do this action. (2) If you can positively Not applicable...... Make an entry into determine that all four of the aircraft the original engine logbook showing mounting brackets have been compliance with replaced, no further action this portion of the is required. AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9. The owner/operator holding at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 may do this action. (3) If you cannot positively Initially inspect Follow Cessna Single determine that all four of within the next 12 Engine Service the original engine months after Bulletin SEB07-2, mounting brackets have been September 2, 2008 Revision 2, dated replaced, inspect each of (the effective date June 18, 2007. the upper and lower engine of this AD). If no mounting brackets on both cracks are found, the left and right sides repetitively for cracks as specified in inspect thereafter the service bulletin. at intervals not to exceed 500 hours time-in-service (TIS) until all four of the original engine mounting brackets are replaced. (4) If cracks are found in Before further Follow Cessna Single any of the engine mounting flight after the Engine Service brackets during any inspection in which Bulletin SEB07-2, inspection required in cracks are found. Revision 2, dated paragraph (e)(3) of this Replacing the June 18, 2007. AD, replace the cracked cracked engine engine mounting bracket(s). mounting bracket terminates the repetitive inspection required in paragraph (e)(3) of this AD only for the replaced engine mounting bracket.

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(5) To terminate the At any time before Follow Cessna Single repetitive inspections or after the Engine Service required in paragraph initial inspection Bulletin SEB07-2, (e)(3) of this AD, you may required in Revision 2, dated replace all four original paragraph (e)(3) of June 18, 2007. engine mounting brackets. this AD. (6) Dispose of every Before further Not applicable. replaced bracket following flight after the 14 CFR 43.10, paragraph engine mounting (c)(6), which states the bracket is removed following: ``Mutilation. for replacement. The part may be mutilated to deter its installation in a type certificated product. The mutilation must render the part beyond repair and incapable of being reworked to appear to be airworthy''. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(f) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Gary Park, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita ACO, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: 316-946-4123; fax: 316-946-4107; e-mail address: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(g) You must use Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SEB07-2, Revision 2, dated June 18, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277. (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202- 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 15, 2008. Kim Smith, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E8-16583 Filed 7-28-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P