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

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 15, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34216-34218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16465]



[[Page 34216]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0638; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-038-AD; 
Amendment 39-15968; AD 2009-15-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 208 and 208B airplanes. This AD 
requires you to measure the roll and the yaw bridle cable tension 
(adjusting as necessary) and to torque the clamp screws. This AD 
results from two reported incidences of slack bridle cables with the 
swaged balls unseating from their drum recesses. We are issuing this AD 
to detect and correct loose bridle cable clamps, which could result in 
the swaged ball unseating from the recess in the servo drum and 
contacting the cable guard pin. This failure could lead to very limited 
control of the rudder and/or aileron with consequent loss of control.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on July 27, 2009.
    On July 27, 2009, the Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by September 14, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD.
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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.
    To get the service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706; Wichita, 
Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 942-9006; Internet: 
http://www.cessna.com.
    To view the comments to this AD, go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
The docket number is FAA-2009-0638; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-038-
AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Johnson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4105; fax: (316) 946-
4107; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We received reports on two Cessna Models 208 and 208B production 
airplanes with autopilot heading squawks. Upon investigation by the 
manufacturer, technicians found in both cases the bridle cable for the 
autopilot aileron servo was slack, and the swaged ball was unseated 
from the drum recess.
    The cause of the bridle cables going slack was insufficient torque 
on the bridle cable clamp screws, allowing slippage of the bridle cable 
clamps on the roll bridle cable. Since the rudder and aileron autopilot 
interface are similar, the same condition could exist with the yaw 
bridle cable.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in the swaged ball 
unseating from the recess in the servo drum and contacting the cable 
guard pin. This failure could lead to very limited control of the 
rudder and/or aileron with consequent loss of control.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Cessna Aircraft Company Caravan Service Bulletin CAB08-
9, dated November 24, 2008. The service information describes 
procedures for inspecting the bridle cables for looseness, adjusting 
the bridle cable tension, and tightening the bridle cable clamp screws 
to the correct torque. The manufacturer intends that the actions 
specified in the service information adequately address the unsafe 
condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This AD requires 
you to measure the autopilot roll and yaw bridle cable tensions 
(adjusting as necessary) and to torque the bridle cable clamp screws.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the 
swaged ball on the bridle cable could unseat from the servo drum and 
contact the cable guard pin. This failure could lead to very limited 
control of the rudder and/or aileron. Therefore, we determined that 
notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are 
impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendment 
effective in fewer than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, 
or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2009-0638; 
Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-038-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider 
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light 
of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive concerning this AD.

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

[[Page 34217]]

products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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); 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 AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information 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 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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 
airworthiness directive (AD):

2009-15-05 Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-15968; Docket No. 
FAA-2009-0638; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-038-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on July 27, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Model                              Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
208..............................  20800500 through 20800504.
208B.............................  208B1216, 208B2001, 208B2003 through
                                    208B2023, 208B2025 through 208B2029,
                                    208B2031 through 208B2037, 208B2040,
                                    208B2042, and 208B2043.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD is the result of two reported incidences of slack 
bridle cables with the swaged balls unseated from their drum 
recesses. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loose bridle 
cable clamps, which could result in the swaged ball unseating from 
the recess in the servo drum and contacting the cable guard pin. 
This failure could lead to very limited control of the rudder and/or 
aileron with consequent loss of control.

Compliance

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless 
already done:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Measure and adjust as     Within the next 10    Follow
 necessary, the roll bridle    hours time-in-        Accomplishment
 cable tension and yaw         service after July    Instructions,
 bridle cable tension, and     27, 2009 (the         paragraphs 2.
 torque the 12 bridle cable    effective date of     through 7., of
 clamp screws.                 this AD).             Cessna Aircraft
                                                     Company Caravan
                                                     Service Bulletin
                                                     CAB08-9, dated
                                                     November 24, 2008.
(2) Use the form (Figure 1    Within 10 days after  Send the report to
 of this AD) to report the     the inspection        the FAA at the
 results of the inspections    required in           address specified
 required in paragraph         paragraph (e)(1).     in paragraph (f) of
 (e)(1) of this AD. The        If Cessna Aircraft    this AD.
 Office of Management and      Company Caravan
 Budget (OMB) approved the     Service Bulletin
 information collection        CAB08-9, dated
 requirements contained in     November 24, 2008,
 this regulation under the     was done before
 provisions of the Paperwork   July 27, 2009 (the
 Reduction Act of 1980 (44     effective date of
 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and      this AD) the report
 assigned OMB Control Number   is not required.
 2120-0056.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                     AD 2009-15-05 Inspection Report
  [If the SB was done before the effective date of this AD, this report
     does not need to be completed and returned to the Wichita ACO]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airplane Model                              ............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airplane Serial Number                      ............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you find the yaw bridle cable tension   ............................
 to be within the range of 15-25 lbs?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you find the roll bridle cable tension  ............................
 to be within the range of 10-14 lbs?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Were any other discrepancies noted during   ............................
 the inspection?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 34218]]

 
Name                                        ............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone and/or e-mail address             ............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date                                        ............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Send report to:
                     Ann Johnson, Aerospace Engineer
             ACE-116W, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office
                       1801 Airport Road, Room 100
                            Wichita, KS 67209
                           fax: (316) 946-4107
                       e-mail: [email protected]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Figure 1

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: Ann Johnson, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4105; fax: (316) 946-4107; E-
mail: [email protected]. 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (g) You must use Cessna Aircraft Company Caravan Service 
Bulletin CAB08-9, dated November 24, 2008, to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706; Wichita, 
Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 942-9006; 
Internet: http://www.cessna.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
Central Region, call (816) 329-3768.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference for this AD 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 6, 2009.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-16465 Filed 7-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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