[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 45 (Thursday, March 7, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14726-14729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05287]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1052; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of
comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive
(AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 172R, 172S,
182S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H airplanes. That NPRM proposed to
supersede an existing AD that currently requires an inspection of the
engine oil pressure switch and, if applicable, replacement with an
improved engine oil pressure switch. Since we issued the existing AD,
we have received new reports of internal failure of the improved engine
oil pressure switch, which could result in complete loss of engine oil
with consequent partial or complete loss of engine power or fire. The
NPRM proposed to increase the applicability of the AD and place a life-
limit of 3,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) on the engine oil pressure
switch, requiring replacement when the engine oil pressure switch
reaches its life limit.
[[Page 14727]]
This action revises that NPRM by changing the applicable serial numbers
ranges. Since these actions impose an additional burden over that
proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the
public the chance to comment on these proposed changes. We are
proposing this supplemental NPRM to correct the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this supplemental NPRM by April 22,
2013.
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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita,
Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax (316) 942-9006; Internet:
www.cessna.com/customer-service/technical-publications.html. You may
review copies of the referenced 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; 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 proposed AD, 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: Jeff Janusz, Sr. Propulsion Engineer,
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita,
KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4148; fax: (316) 946-4107; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite 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-2012-1052;
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-014-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD 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 proposed AD.
Discussion
We issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that
would apply to certain Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R, 172S, 182S,
182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H airplanes. That NPRM published in the
Federal Register on October 2, 2012 (77 FR 60062). That NPRM proposed
to supersede an existing AD that currently requires an inspection of
the engine oil pressure switch and, if applicable, replacement with an
improved engine oil pressure switch. Since we issued that AD, we
received new reports of internal failure of the improved engine oil
pressure switch, which could result in complete loss of engine oil with
consequent partial or complete loss of engine power or fire. The NPRM
proposed to increase the applicability of the existing AD and place a
life-limit of 3,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) on the engine oil
pressure switch, requiring replacement when the engine oil pressure
switch reaches its life limit.
Actions Since Previous NPRM Was Issued
Since we issued the previous NPRM (77 FR 60062, October 2, 2012),
the serial number applicability has been changed for Cessna Aircraft
Company Models 172R, 172S, 182T, T182T, and 206H airplanes.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to comment on the previous NPRM.
The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's
response to each comment.
Stated Maintenance Activity
Robert A. Hecht stated that he replaced the oil pressure switch on
his 2000 Cessna 206H at 1,006 hours TIS because of light oil leaking
from the case.
The commenter is making a pronouncement about maintenance activity
on his airplane and offered no further explanation as to what his
intent was.
Request for Replacement at Next Inspection
Stuart B. Harnden stated he believes the replacement of the oil
switch should be mandatory at the next inspection, regardless of hours
or condition of the oil pressure switch, since it cannot be predicted
when a switch may fail.
We do not agree because we would expect to see oil pressure
switches removed from service on condition anyway at whatever TIS they
become unairworthy. The goal of the AD action is to remove all switches
with more than 3,000 hours TIS, and, if they are removed earlier for
condition, that is an acceptable maintenance practice and does not
affect this rulemaking activity.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this supplemental NPRM 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. Certain changes described above expand the scope of the
original NPRM. As a result, we have determined that it is necessary to
reopen the comment period to provide additional opportunity for the
public to comment on this supplemental NPRM.
Proposed Requirements of the Supplemental NPRM
This proposed AD would increase the applicability statement of the
existing AD, require an inspection of the engine oil pressure switch
and place a life limit of 3,000 hours TIS on the engine oil pressure
switch. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on
these products.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 6,156 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
[[Page 14728]]
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of the airplane or .5 work-hour x $85 per Not applicable....... $42.50 $261,630
engine records. hour = $42.50.
Inspection of the engine oil .5 work-hour x $85 per Not applicable....... 42.50 261,630
pressure switch installation. hour = $42.50.
Removal and replacement of the .5 work-hour x $85 per $54.................. 96.50 594,054
engine oil pressure switch and hour = $42.50.
logbook entry.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD)
2000-04-01, Amendment 39-11583 (65 FR 8649, February 22, 2000), and
adding the following new AD:
Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. FAA-2012-1052; Directorate
Identifier 2012-CE-014-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by April 22, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD supersedes AD 2000-04-01, Amendment 39-11583 (65 FR
8649, February 22, 2000).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R, serial
numbers (S/N) 17280001 through 17281618; 172S, S/N 172S8001 through
172S11256; 182S, S/N 18280001 through 18280944; 182T, S/N 18280945
through 18282357; T182T, S/N T18208001 through T18209089; 206H, S/N
20608001 through 20608349; and T206H, S/N T20608001 through
T20609079; certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 7931, Engine Oil Pressure.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by new reports of internal failure of the
improved engine oil pressure switch, which could result in complete
loss of engine oil with consequent partial or complete loss of
engine power or fire. We are issuing this AD to increase the
applicability of the AD and place a life-limit of 3,000 hours time-
in-service (TIS) on the engine oil pressure switch, requiring
replacement when the engine oil pressure switch reaches its life
limit.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
following Cessna Service Bulletin SB 07-79-01, dated January 29,
2007, unless already done.
(g) Actions
(1) At the next scheduled oil change, annual inspection, or 100-
hour time-in-service (TIS) inspection after the effective date of
this AD, whichever occurs later, but in no case later than 12 months
after the effective date of this AD, inspect the engine oil pressure
switch to determine if it is part-number (P/N) 77041 or P/N 83278.
(2) If after the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this
AD, P/N 77041 engine oil pressure switch is installed, before
further flight, replace the engine oil pressure switch with a new,
zero time, P/N 83278 engine oil pressure switch. Record the engine
oil pressure switch part number, date, and airplane hours TIS in the
airplane log book. The recorded engine oil pressure switch TIS will
be used as the benchmark for calculation of the 3,000 hour TIS limit
on the engine oil pressure switch.
(3) After the effective date of this AD, do not install a P/N
77041 engine oil pressure switch on any affected airplane.
(4) If after the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this
AD it is confirmed that P/N 83278 engine oil pressure switch is
installed, through inspection of the airplane or engine logbooks
determine the TIS of the engine oil pressure switch.
(5) If after the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this
AD you cannot positively identify the hours TIS on the P/N 83278
engine oil pressure switch, before further flight, replace the
engine oil pressure switch with a new, zero time, P/N 83278 engine
oil pressure switch. Record the engine oil pressure switch part
number, date, and airplane hours in the airplane log book. The
recorded engine oil pressure switch TIS will be used as the
benchmark for calculation of the 3,000 hour TIS limit on the engine
oil pressure switch.
(6) When the engine oil pressure switch is at or greater than
3,000 hours TIS or within 50 hours TIS after the effective date of
this AD, whichever occurs later, and repetitively thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 3,000
[[Page 14729]]
hours TIS on the P/N 83278 engine oil pressure switch, replace it
with a new, zero time, P/N 83278 engine oil pressure switch. Record
the engine oil pressure switch part number, date, and airplane hours
in the airplane log book. The recorded engine oil pressure switch
TIS will be used as the benchmark for calculation of the 3,000 hour
TIS limit on the engine oil pressure switch.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) 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. In accordance with 14
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the
attention of the person identified in the Related Information
section of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Jeff Janusz, Sr.
Propulsion Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita,
KS 67209 phone: (316) 946-4148; fax: (316) 946-4107; email:
[email protected].
(2) 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;
Internet: www.cessna.com/customer-service/technical-publications.html html. You may review copies of the referenced 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.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 27, 2013.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-05287 Filed 3-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P