[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42912-42913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16349]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
Cessna Aircraft Company Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, 402B,
402C, 411, and 411A, and 414A Airplanes; Notice of Public Meeting
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: This document announces a public meeting of interest to owners
and operators of Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 401, 401A,
401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 402C, 411, and 411A, and 414A airplanes. The
purpose of the meeting is to discuss technical issues and proposed
corrective actions related to the potential of wing spar cap failure
due to undetected fatigue cracks.
DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold the public
meeting on August 18, 2004, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Kansas City
Marriott Downtown, in Kansas City, Missouri. Registration will begin at
8 a.m. on the day of the meeting.
ADDRESSES: We will hold the public meeting at the Kansas City Marriott
Downtown, 200 NW 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.
If you are unable to attend, you may mail comments and information
to FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Continued Operational Safety
Branch, ACE-113, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You
may also send comments electronically to the following addresses:
[email protected] or [email protected]. If you send comments
electronically as attached electronic files, the files must be
formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.
We will give the same consideration to any comments or information
mailed to us as those presented at the public meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Requests to Present a
Statement at the Meeting: Contact Marv Nuss, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4117; facsimile: (816) 329-4090; e-mail:
[email protected].
For Questions Regarding the Previously Proposed ADs:
Contact Paul Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport,
Wichita, Kansas 67209;
[[Page 42913]]
telephone: (316) 946-4125; facsimile: (316) 946-4107.
For Requests for Special Accommodations: Contact Larry
Werth, AD Coordinator, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4147;
facsimile: (816) 329-4149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Participation at the Public Meeting
What must I do to make a presentation at the meeting? If you would
like to make a presentation at the meeting, make your request to FAA no
later than 10 days prior to the meeting. Submit these requests to Mr.
Marv Nuss as listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document. You should include a written summary of your
presentation with a time estimate of your presentation.
Will FAA prepare an agenda? We will prepare an agenda for this
meeting. To accommodate all presenters, we may allocate less time for
your presentation than you requested. If you request to present after
the deadline, we will schedule your presentation as time is available.
However, your name may not appear on the agenda.
What if I need special equipment? You should include in your
presentation request any special audiovisual equipment that you need.
We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Background
Why is the FAA conducting this meeting? There have been concerns
about fatigue cracking on Cessna 400 series airplanes since the 1970s.
In 1979, the FAA issued ADs to require periodic inspection of Cessna
400 series wing spars. The FAA evaluated fatigue and crack growth
analysis recently performed by the Cessna Aircraft Company and
determined that the wing spars of the Cessna 400 series require
modification and periodic inspection to prevent in-flight wing
separation. The service history includes a 1999 accident caused by a
wing failure and six other incidents where cracks were found before the
wing failed. To address this airworthiness concern, the FAA issued two
NPRMs in May 2003 (that would supersede two existing ADs on the
affected aircraft) to propose incorporating a spar strap modification
on each wing spar.
Many owners of the affected aircraft were vehemently opposed to the
action due to the high cost. To ensure that the public had the
opportunity to fully communicate their concerns, the FAA:
Extended the comment period an additional 30 days beyond
the initial 60-day comment period;
Reopened the comment period for another 60 days; and
Held a public meeting on March 3 and 4, 2004, in Herndon,
Virginia.
After analyzing all information related to this subject, the FAA
decided not to issue the new ADs as proposed. The FAA has determined
that the best way to address the unsafe condition is for the FAA, the
public, and industry to develop alternative solutions for addressing
the unsafe condition. Accordingly, the FAA withdrew the NPRMs on May
18, 2004 (69 FR 29672, May 25, 2004) and is holding this second meeting
to continue this effort.
Public Meeting Procedures
What procedures should I follow for this public meeting? If you
plan to attend the public meeting, please be aware of the following:
There is no admission fee or other charge to attend or
participate in this meeting. You are responsible for your own
transportation and accommodations for the meeting. The meeting is open
to all who requested in advance to present or who register on the day
of the meeting. This is subject to availability of space in the meeting
room.
FAA representatives will conduct the meeting. We will have
a panel of technical experts and managers to discuss information on the
subject.
The public meeting is intended as a forum to seek
additional data and supporting methodologies from industry, the general
public, and operators. You must limit your presentation and submittals
to data of this issue.
The meeting will allow you to present additional
information not currently available to FAA and an opportunity for FAA
to explain to you the methodology and technical assumptions that
support our conclusions.
FAA experts, industry, and public participants are
expected to hold a full discussion of all technical material presented
at the meeting. If you present conclusions on this subject, you must
submit data that supports your conclusions.
We will try and accommodate all speakers. In order to do
this, we may need to limit the time for presenters.
We can make sign and oral interpretation available at the
meeting, as well as an assistive listening device. If you need this
assistance, make your request to FAA at least 10 days prior to the
public meeting.
A court reporter will record the discussions of the
meeting. If you would like to purchase a copy of the transcript, you
must contact the court reporter directly. We will provide further
information at the meeting.
We will review and consider all material presented.
Position papers or materials may be accepted at the discretion of the
presiding officer. The FAA requests that you provide 10 copies of all
materials for distribution to the panel members. You have the choice on
whether you want to present copies of the material to the audience.
The meetings are designed to solicit public views and
information. Therefore, we will conduct the meeting in an informal and
nonadversarial manner.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 13, 2004.
Scott L. Sedgwick,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16349 Filed 7-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P