Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208, 208A, 208B, 425, and 441 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63835-63836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31678]



[[Page 63835]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-19-AD; Amendment 39-10227; AD 97-25-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 208, 
208A, 208B, 425, and 441 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, 208A, 208B, 
425, and 441 airplanes. This AD requires amending the Limitations 
Section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit the positioning 
of the power levers below the flight idle stop while the airplane is in 
flight. This AFM amendment will include a statement of consequences if 
the limitation is not followed. This AD results from numerous incidents 
and five documented accidents involving airplanes equipped with 
turboprop engines where the propeller beta was improperly utilized 
during flight. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent 
loss of airplane control or engine overspeed with consequent loss of 
engine power caused by the power levers being positioned below the 
flight idle stop while the airplane is in flight.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Information related to this AD may be examined at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-19-AD, Room 1558, 
601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Schinstock, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4162; facsimile (316) 
946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

    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, 208A, 208B, 425, and 441 airplanes was published in the Federal 
Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on July 2, 1997 (62 
FR 35708). The NPRM proposed to require amending the Limitations 
Section of the AFM to prohibit the positioning of the power levers 
below the flight idle stop while the airplane is in flight, including a 
statement of consequences if the limitation is not followed. This AFM 
amendment shall consist of the following language:

    Positioning of power levers below the flight idle stop while the 
airplane is in flight is prohibited. Such positioning may lead to 
loss of airplane control or may result in an overspeed condition and 
consequent loss of engine power.

    The NPRM was the result of numerous incidents and five documented 
accidents involving airplanes equipped with turboprop engines where the 
propeller beta was improperly utilized during flight.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Compliance Time of This AD

    The FAA has determined that the compliance time of this AD should 
be specified in calendar time instead of hours time-in-service. While 
the condition addressed by this AD is unsafe while the airplane is in 
flight, the condition is not a result of repetitive airplane operation; 
the potential of the unsafe condition occurring is the same on the 
first flight as it is for subsequent flights. The compliance time of 
``30 days after the effective date of this AD'' will not inadvertently 
ground airplanes and would assure that all owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes accomplish this AD in a reasonable time period.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 854 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 1 workhour per 
airplane to incorporate the required AFM amendment, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Since an owner/
operator who holds at least a private pilot's certificate can 
accomplish this AD, as authorized by sections 43.7 and 43.9 of the 
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7 and 43.9), the only cost 
impact upon the public is the time it will take the affected airplane 
owner/operators to amend the AFM.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) 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, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

97-25-04  Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-10227; Docket No. 
97-CE-19-AD.

    Applicability: Models 208, 208A, 208B, 425, and 441 airplanes, 
all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability

[[Page 63836]]

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 (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 the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request 
should include specific proposed actions to address it.
    Compliance: Required within the next 30 days after the effective 
date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent loss of airplane control or engine overspeed with 
consequent loss of engine power caused by the power levers being 
positioned below the flight idle stop while the airplane is in 
flight, accomplish the following:
    (a) Amend the Limitations Section of the airplane flight manual 
(AFM) by inserting the following language:

      Positioning of power levers below the flight idle stop while 
the airplane is in flight is prohibited. Such positioning may lead 
to loss of airplane control or may result in an overspeed condition 
and consequent loss of engine power.

    (b) This action may be accomplished by incorporating a copy of 
this AD into the Limitations Section of the AFM.
    (c) Amending the AFM, as required by this AD, may be performed 
by 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), and must be entered into the aircraft records showing 
compliance with this AD in accordance with section 43.9 of the 
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
    (d) 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.
    (e) 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 
(ACO), FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, Kansas. The request shall be 
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may 
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Wichita ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Wichita ACO.

    (f) Information related to this AD may be examined at the FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (g) This amendment (39-10227) becomes effective on January 21, 
1998.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 25, 1997.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-31678 Filed 12-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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