FR Doc E8-7258

[Federal Register: April 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 68)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19017-19019]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ap08-17]

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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]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 175 and 175A airplanes.
This proposed AD would 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, this
proposed AD would 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 this proposed AD. This proposed AD was prompted by
a report that the engine became detached from the firewall during
landing on one of the affected airplanes. We are proposing 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: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 9, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
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.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
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.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Park, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100,
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: 316-946-4123; fax: 316-946-4107; e-
mail address: gary.park@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2007-29240; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-076-AD'' at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

We received a report of the engine detaching from the firewall on a
Cessna Model 175 airplane during landing. Investigation revealed that
cracks in the two top engine mounting brackets behind the firewall
caused the brackets to fail. This resulted in the top half of the
firewall failing, pulling forward and down about 18 inches.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials
Laboratory examined the cracked brackets. The examination revealed that
the metal content of the brackets did not contain the constituent
elements of the specified material and was approximately 40 percent
below the specified strength. The NTSB determined that reduced
structural integrity of the engine mounting brackets resulted in
fatigue cracks developing in the brackets.
We agree with the NTSB's determination that inadequate materials
used in manufacturing the engine mounting brackets, which were used on

[[Page 19018]]

Cessna Models 175 and 175A airplanes manufactured from 1958 through
1960, caused the engine mounting brackets to crack.
This condition, if not corrected, could cause the engine mounting
brackets to fail. This failure could result in the engine detaching
from the firewall.

Relevant Service Information

We have reviewed Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SEB07-2,
Revision 2, dated June 18, 2007. The service information describes
procedures for:
Inspecting the upper and lower engine mounting brackets on
both the left and right sides for cracks; and
Replacing cracked engine mounting brackets.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD
would 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, this proposed AD would
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 this proposed AD. This proposed AD would require you to use the
service information described previously to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

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

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Total cost per Total cost on
Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators
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7.5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $600......... Not applicable................. $600 $730,800
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We estimate the following costs to do the proposed replacements.

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

Regulatory Findings

We have 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 that the 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); 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527)
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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

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]

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

Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. FAA-2007-29240; Directorate
Identifier 2007-CE-076-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by June 9, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

[[Page 19019]]

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

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Actions Compliance Procedures
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(1) Check the airplane logbook to Within the next 30 days The owner/operator holding at least a
determine if all four of the original after the effective date private pilot certificate as authorized
engine mounting brackets have been of this AD. by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation
replaced. Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) may do this
action.
(2) If you can positively determine that Not applicable............. Make an entry into the aircraft logbook
all four of the original engine mounting showing compliance with this portion of
brackets have been replaced, no further the AD in accordance with section 43.9
action is required. of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 43.9). The owner/operator holding
at least a private pilot certificate as
authorized by section 43.7 of the
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
43.7) may do this action.
(3) If you cannot positively determine Initially inspect within Follow Cessna Single Engine Service
that all four of the original engine the next 12 months after Bulletin SEB07-2, Revision 2, dated
mounting brackets have been replaced, the effective date of this June 18, 2007.
inspect each of the upper and lower AD. If no cracks are
engine mounting brackets on both the found, repetitively
left and right sides for cracks as inspect thereafter at
specified in the service bulletin. 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 any of the Before further flight after Follow Cessna Single Engine Service
engine mounting brackets during any the inspection in which Bulletin SEB07-2, Revision 2, dated
inspection required in paragraph (e)(3) cracks are found. June 18, 2007.
of this AD, replace the cracked engine Replacing the cracked
mounting bracket(s). engine mounting bracket
terminates the repetitive
inspection required in
paragraph (e)(3) of this
AD only for the replaced
engine mounting bracket.
(5) To terminate the repetitive At any time before or after Follow Cessna Single Engine Service
inspections required in paragraph (e)(3) the initial inspection Bulletin SEB07-2, Revision 2, dated
of this AD, you may replace all four required in paragraph June 18, 2007.
original engine mounting brackets. (e)(3) of this AD.
(6) Dispose of every replaced bracket Before further flight after Not applicable.
following 14 CFR 43.10, paragraph the engine mounting
(c)(6), which states the following: bracket is removed for
``Mutilation. The part may be mutilated replacement.
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.''
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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: gary.park@faa.gov. 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.

Related Information

(g) To get copies of the service information referenced 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://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket
No. FAA-2007-29240; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-076-AD.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 31, 2008.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-7258 Filed 4-7-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P