Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208 and 208B Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68508-68510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28408]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-CE-23-AD; Amendment 39-12944; AD 2002-22-17]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208 and 
208B Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to all Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 208 and 208B 
airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively inspect the inboard 
forward flap bellcranks for cracks or replace bellcranks depending on 
the amount of usage. This AD is the result of Cessna re-evaluating the 
bellcrank life limit analysis and determining that the original 
estimate is too high. The actions specified by this AD are intended to 
detect, correct, and prevent future cracks in the bellcrank, which 
could result in failure of this part. Such failure could lead to damage 
to the flap system and surrounding structure and result in reduced or 
loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on December 31, 2002.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
December 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, 
Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; facsimile: (316) 942-9006. You 
may view this information at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 
No. 2002-CE-23-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, 
suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209; telephone: 316-946-4125; facsimile: 816-946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    A search by the FAA of the service difficulty database has revealed 
10 cracked bellcrank incidents on Cessna Models 208 and 208B airplanes. 
As a result, Cessna has re-evaluated the bellcrank life limit analysis 
and determined 7,000 landings is more accurate than the original 
estimate of 9,000 landings. Cessna has revised the Models 208 and 208B 
Maintenance Manual and developed a service bulletin to notify the 
public that the inboard forward flap bellcrank life limit has been 
reduced to 7,000 landings. Since some Model 208 airplanes have exceeded 
7,000 landings, we have determined that an AD is necessary to require 
replacement of the bellcrank in those airplanes.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    If not detected and corrected, a cracked bellcrank could fail. Such 
failure could lead to damage to the flap system and surrounding 
structure and result in reduced or loss of control of the airplane.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    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 all 
Cessna Models 208 and 208B airplanes. This proposal was published in 
the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on June 
26, 2002 (67 FR 43056). The NPRM proposed to repetitively inspect the 
inboard forward flap bellcranks for cracks or replace bellcranks 
depending on the amount of usage and reduce the life limits of the 
bellcranks from 9,000 landings to 7,000 landings.

Was the Public Invited to Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. The following presents the comments received on the 
proposal and FAA's response to each comment:

[[Page 68509]]

Comment Issue 1: Which Flap Bellcrank(s) Does the Proposed AD Affect?

What Is the Commenter's Concern?

    A commenter asks if the proposed AD only affects the right inboard 
flap bellcrank or the right and the left flap inboard bellcranks?

What Is FAA's Response to the Concern?

    The Cessna Model 208 airplane has only one inboard flap bellcrank 
assembly and it is located on the right hand side of the aircraft. This 
flap bellcrank assembly controls both the right and left flaps. 
Therefore, inspection of the only flap bellcrank assembly in accordance 
with the Cessna Service Bulletin CABO2-1 will comply with the proposed 
AD.
    We have not changed the final rule as a result of this comment.

Comment Issue 2: The Limits in the Service Information Are Sufficient 
and the Proposed AD Is Not Warranted.

What is the Commenter's Concern?

    A commenter states that Cessna has revised their airworthiness 
limitations to reflect what the NPRM proposes. The limitations now 
include a 7,000 landings limit, with repetitive inspections every 500 
landings until 7,000 landings are accumulated. For this reason, the 
commenter recommends that we withdraw the NPRM.

What is FAA's Response to the Concern?

    We disagree. Airworthiness Directives that apply more restrictive 
limits to products are issued when the current limits contribute to an 
unsafe condition. The AD establishes a deadline to come into compliance 
with the new life limits.
    We have not changed the final rule as a result of this comment.

FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    We carefully reviewed all available information related to the 
subject presented above and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for the 
changes discussed above and minor editorial questions. We have 
determined that these changes and minor corrections:

--Provide 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.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 1,300 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the inspection:

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                                                                                           Total Cost on U.S.
            Labor Cost                     Parts Cost          Total Cost Per Airplane          Operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $60 per hour = $60..  No cost for parts........  $60.....................  $60 x 1,300 = $78,000
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    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the reduced life limits:

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                                                                                           Total Cost on U.S.
            Labor Cost                     Parts Cost          Total Cost Per Airplane          Operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 workhours x $60 per hour = $180  $1,793...................  $180 + $1,793 = $1,973..  $1,973 x $1,300 =
                                                                                         $2,564,900
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Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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

    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. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2002-22-17 Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-12944; Docket No. 
2002-CE-23-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Models 208 and 208B airplanes, all serial numbers, that are 
certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to detect, correct, and prevent cracks in the 
bellcrank, which could result in failure of this part. Such failure 
could lead to damage to the flap system and surrounding structure 
and result in reduced or loss of control of the airplane.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

[[Page 68510]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect, using eddy       Initially inspect     In accordance with
 current inspection, the       upon the              the Inspection
 inboard forward flap          accumulation of       Instructions of
 bellcrank for cracks.         4,000 landings on     Cessna Service
                               the bellcrank or      Bulletin No. CAB02-
                               within the next 250   1, dated February
                               landings after        11, 2002, and the
                               December 31, 2002     applicable
                               (the effective date   maintenance manual.
                               of this AD),
                               whichever occurs
                               later. Repetitively
                               inspect thereafter
                               at every 500
                               landings until
                               7,000 landings are
                               accumulated.
(2) Replace the inboard       Prior to further      In accordance with
 forward flap bellcrank.       flight when cracks    the Inspection
                               are found; and upon   Instructions of
                               the accumulation of   Cessna Service
                               7,000 landings or     Bulletin No. CAB02-
                               within the next 75    1, dated February
                               landings after        11, 2002, and the
                               December 31, 2002     applicable
                               (the effective date   maintenance manual.
                               of this AD),
                               whichever occurs
                               later.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1: Inboard forward flap bellcranks with 7,000 landings or 
more do not have to be replaced until 75 landings after the 
effective date of this AD.


    Note 2: The compliance times of this AD are presented in 
landings instead of hours. If the number of landings is unknown, 
hours time-in-service (TIS) may be used by multiplying the number of 
hours TIS by 1.25.

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Wichita ACO.

    Note 3: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Paul Nguyen, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, 
Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: 316-946-4125; facsimile: 
816-946-4407.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
Sec. Sec.  21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Cessna Service Bulletin No. CAB02-1, dated February 11, 2002. 
The Director of the Federal Register approved this incorporation by 
reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may get 
copies from Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, PO Box 7706, 
Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; facsimile: (316) 
942-9006. You may view copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, 
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on December 31, 2002.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 31, 2002.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-28408 Filed 11-8-02; 8:45 am]
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