Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6003-6005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1451]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1245; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-033-AD; 
Amendment 39-16925; AD 2012-02-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 172R and 172S 
airplanes. That AD currently requires you to inspect the fuel return 
line assembly for chafing; replace the fuel return line assembly if 
chafing is found; and inspect the clearance between the fuel return 
line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and the 
airplane structure, adjusting as necessary. Since we issued that AD, we 
have received a field report of a fuel return line chafing incident on 
a Cessna Model 172 airplane with a serial number (S/N) that was not 
included in the AD. This AD retains the actions of the current AD and 
adds S/Ns to the Applicability section of the AD. Chafing of the fuel 
return line assembly could lead to fire. This new AD requires the 
actions of the current AD and adds S/Ns to the Applicability section of 
the AD. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 13, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of March 13, 
2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of March 
6, 2008 (73 FR 5737, January 31, 2008).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, KS 
67277; telephone: (316) 517-6000; fax: (316) 517-8500; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.cessna.com. 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: (800) 647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trenton Shepherd, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: (316) 946-4143; fax: (316) 946-4107; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2008-03-02, Amendment 39-15351 (73 FR 5737, 
January 31, 2008). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2011 (76 FR 70379). 
That NPRM proposed to continue to require actions of the current AD and 
add S/Ns to the Applicability section of the AD.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (76 FR 70379, November 14, 
2011) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (76 FR 70379, November 14, 2011) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 70379, November 14, 2011).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 768 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 6004]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
             Action                     Labor cost              Parts cost            product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of the fuel return     1 work-hour x $85 per   Not applicable........             $85          65,280
 line assembly for chafing and     hour = $85.
 clearance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The difference in estimated costs of this AD and AD 2008-03-02 (73 
FR 5737, January 31, 2008) is an increase in the estimated labor cost 
for those airplanes affected by AD 2008-03-02 and the costs of the 
additional airplanes added to the AD.
    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have 
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these 
replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                      Action                                 Labor cost             Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of the fuel return line assembly and   0.5 work-hour x $85 per hour             $123         $165.50
 adjustment of the clearance between the fuel       = $42.50.
 return line assembly and both the right steering
 tube assembly and the airplane structure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (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),
    (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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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) 
2008-03-02, Amendment 39-15351 (73 FR 5737, January 31, 2008), and 
adding the following new AD:

2012-02-02 Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-16925; Docket No. 
FAA-2011-1245; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-033-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 13, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2008-03-02, Amendment 39-15351 (73 FR 
5737, January 31, 2008).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following Cessna Aircraft Company 
airplanes, certificated in any category:
    (1) Group 1: Model 172R, serial numbers (S/N) 17281188 through 
17281390;
    (2) Group 2: Model 172S, S/N 172S9491 through 172S10489;
    (3) Group 3: Model 172R, S/N 17281391 through 17281572; and
    (4) Group 4: Model 172S, S/N 172S10490 through 172S11073.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code Fuel, 28.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a field report of a fuel return line 
chafing incident on a Cessna Model 172 airplane with a serial number 
that was not in the Applicability statement of AD 2008-03-02 (73 FR 
5737, January 31, 2008). Chafing of the fuel return line assembly 
could result in fuel leaking and fuel vapors, which could lead to 
fire. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on 
these products.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspection Requirement Retained From AD 2008-03-02, Amendment 39-
15351 (73 FR 5737, January 31, 2008)

    (1) For Group 1 and Group 2 Airplanes: Within the next 100 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) after March 6, 2008 (the effective date 
retained from AD 2008-03-02) or within the next 12 months after 
March 6, 2008 (the effective date retained from AD 2008-03-02), 
whichever occurs first, inspect the fuel return line assembly 
(Cessna part number (P/N) 0500118-49) for chafing. Do the inspection 
following Cessna Service Bulletin SB07-28-01, dated June 18, 2007; 
or Cessna Service

[[Page 6005]]

Bulletin SB07-28-01, Revision 1, dated September 22, 2011.
    (2) For Group 3 and Group 4 Airplanes: Within the next 100 hours 
TIS after March 13, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within 
the next 12 months after March 13, 2012 (the effective date of this 
AD), whichever occurs first, inspect the fuel return line assembly 
(Cessna P/N 0500118-49) for chafing. Do the inspection following 
Cessna Service Bulletin SB07-28-01, Revision 1, dated September 22, 
2011.

(h) Replacement Requirement Retained From AD 2008-03-02, Amendment 39-
15351 (73 FR 5737, January 31, 2008)

    For All Airplanes: Before further flight after the inspection 
required in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD where evidence of 
chafing was found, replace the fuel return line assembly (Cessna P/N 
0500118-49). Do the replacement following Cessna Service Bulletin 
SB07-28-01, dated June 18, 2007; or Cessna Service Bulletin SB07-28-
01, Revision 1, dated September 22, 2011.

(i) Inspection and Adjustment Requirement Retained From AD 2008-03-02, 
Amendment 39-15351 (73 FR 5737, January 31, 2008)

    For All Airplanes: Before further flight after the inspection 
required in paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD if no chafing is 
found or after the replacement required in paragraph (h) of this AD, 
whichever of the previous situations applies, inspect for a minimum 
clearance of 0.5 inch between the following parts throughout the 
entire range of copilot rudder pedal travel. If less than 0.5 inch 
clearance is found, before further flight, adjust the clearance. 
Follow paragraph 6 of the Instructions section of Cessna Service 
Bulletin SB07-28-01, dated June 18, 2007; or Cessna Service Bulletin 
SB07-28-01, Revision 1, dated September 22, 2011. This AD requires a 
minimum clearance of 0.5 inch. The requirements of this AD take 
precedence over the actions required in the service information.
    (1) The fuel return line assembly (Cessna P/N 0500118-49) and 
the steering tube assembly (Cessna P/N MC0543022-2C); and
    (2) The fuel return line assembly (Cessna P/N 0500118-49) and 
the airplane structure.

(j) 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.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Trenton Shepherd, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: (316) 946-4143; fax: (316) 946-4107; 
email: [email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the 
following service information:
    (i) Cessna Service Bulletin SB07-28-01, Revision 1, dated 
September 22, 2011, approved for IBR March 13, 2012.
    (ii) Cessna Service Bulletin SB07-28-01, dated June 18, 2007, 
approved for IBR March 6, 2008 (73 FR 5737, January 31, 2008)
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, KS 
67277; telephone: (316) 517-6000; fax: (316) 517-8500; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.cessna.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the 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.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 18, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-1451 Filed 2-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P?>

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