[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7322-7324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3639]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Model 172R
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Cessna Aircraft Company Model 172R
airplanes. The proposed action would require modifying lower forward
doorpost bulkhead by installing rivets. The proposed AD is the result
of a report from the manufacturer that these rivets were erroneously
omitted during manufacture of some of the new production airplanes. The
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent reduced
structural rigidity at the forward doorpost bulkhead, which, if not
corrected, could result in structural cracking and possible loss of
control of the airplane.
[[Page 7323]]
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 24, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from The Cessna Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277,
telephone (316) 941-7550, facsimile (316) 942-9008. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Eual Conditt, Senior Aerospace
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Rm.
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas, 67209, telephone (316)
946-4128; facsimile (316) 946-4407.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) notified the FAA of an airplane
manufacturing error where some rivets were mistakenly omitted from the
lower forward doorpost on both sides of several new production Cessna
Model 172R airplanes. The rivets omitted are in an area of the airframe
(bulkhead and attaching doublers), which is considered critical
structure. The bulkhead and attaching doubler receive landing loads
from the wing and flight loads through the lift strut attachment and
wing.
Relevant Service Information
Cessna has issued Service Bulletin (SB) SB97-53-02, dated September
15, 1997, which specifies procedures for modifying the lower forward
doorpost bulkhead on both sides of the airplane by installing doorpost
rivets.
The FAA's Determination
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent reduced structural
rigidity at the forward doorpost bulkhead, which, if not corrected,
could result in structural cracking and possible loss of control of the
airplane.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Cessna Model 172R airplanes of the same type
design, the proposed AD would require modifying the lower forward
doorpost bulkhead on both sides of the affected model airplanes by
installing rivets. Accomplishment of the proposed AD would be in
accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin No. SB97-53-02, dated September
15, 1997.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 87 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 14
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $150 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $86,130
or $990 per airplane. These figures would not apply if the owners/
operators were to accomplish the proposed action prior to May 15, 1998,
which is the deadline for warranty credit stated in the service
bulletin. The FAA would assume that none of the owners/operators of the
affected airplanes have already accomplished this action.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
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) if promulgated,
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 draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.
[[Page 7324]]
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD.
Applicability: Model 172R airplanes (serial numbers 17280004
through 17280016, 17280018 through 17280050, 17280052 through
17280058, 17280060 through 17280062, 17280064, 17280066 through
17280082, 17280085 through 17280099, 17280101 through 17280113,
17280115, 17280116, 17280118 through 17280125, 17280128 through
17280131, and 17280138), certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent reduced structural rigidity at the lower forward
doorpost bulkhead, which if not corrected could result in structural
cracking and possible loss of control of the airplane, accomplish
the following:
(a) Modify the lower forward doorpost of the affected airplanes
by installing the specified rivets in accordance with Cessna
Aircraft Company Service Bulletin (SB) No. SB97-53-02, dated
September 15, 1997.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801
Airport Road, Rm. 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas,
67209. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to The Cessna Aircraft
Company, P. O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; or may examine this
document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 6, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3639 Filed 2-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P