[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7322-7324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3639]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Model 172R 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Cessna Aircraft Company Model 172R 
airplanes. The proposed action would require modifying lower forward 
doorpost bulkhead by installing rivets. The proposed AD is the result 
of a report from the manufacturer that these rivets were erroneously 
omitted during manufacture of some of the new production airplanes. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent reduced 
structural rigidity at the forward doorpost bulkhead, which, if not 
corrected, could result in structural cracking and possible loss of 
control of the airplane.


[[Page 7323]]


DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
    Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained 
from The Cessna Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277, 
telephone (316) 941-7550, facsimile (316) 942-9008. This information 
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Eual Conditt, Senior Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Rm. 
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas, 67209, telephone (316) 
946-4128; facsimile (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned 
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) notified the FAA of an airplane 
manufacturing error where some rivets were mistakenly omitted from the 
lower forward doorpost on both sides of several new production Cessna 
Model 172R airplanes. The rivets omitted are in an area of the airframe 
(bulkhead and attaching doublers), which is considered critical 
structure. The bulkhead and attaching doubler receive landing loads 
from the wing and flight loads through the lift strut attachment and 
wing.

Relevant Service Information

    Cessna has issued Service Bulletin (SB) SB97-53-02, dated September 
15, 1997, which specifies procedures for modifying the lower forward 
doorpost bulkhead on both sides of the airplane by installing doorpost 
rivets.

The FAA's Determination

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has 
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent reduced structural 
rigidity at the forward doorpost bulkhead, which, if not corrected, 
could result in structural cracking and possible loss of control of the 
airplane.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Cessna Model 172R airplanes of the same type 
design, the proposed AD would require modifying the lower forward 
doorpost bulkhead on both sides of the affected model airplanes by 
installing rivets. Accomplishment of the proposed AD would be in 
accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin No. SB97-53-02, dated September 
15, 1997.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 87 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 14 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $150 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $86,130 
or $990 per airplane. These figures would not apply if the owners/
operators were to accomplish the proposed action prior to May 15, 1998, 
which is the deadline for warranty credit stated in the service 
bulletin. The FAA would assume that none of the owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes have already accomplished this action.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would 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 
proposal would 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) if promulgated, 
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 draft regulatory evaluation 
prepared for this action has been placed 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.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
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.

[[Page 7324]]

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD.

    Applicability: Model 172R airplanes (serial numbers 17280004 
through 17280016, 17280018 through 17280050, 17280052 through 
17280058, 17280060 through 17280062, 17280064, 17280066 through 
17280082, 17280085 through 17280099, 17280101 through 17280113, 
17280115, 17280116, 17280118 through 17280125, 17280128 through 
17280131, and 17280138), certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability 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 (c) 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 100 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent reduced structural rigidity at the lower forward 
doorpost bulkhead, which if not corrected could result in structural 
cracking and possible loss of control of the airplane, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Modify the lower forward doorpost of the affected airplanes 
by installing the specified rivets in accordance with Cessna 
Aircraft Company Service Bulletin (SB) No. SB97-53-02, dated 
September 15, 1997.
    (b) 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.
    (c) 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, 1801 
Airport Road, Rm. 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas, 
67209. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

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

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to The Cessna Aircraft 
Company, P. O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; or may examine this 
document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 6, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3639 Filed 2-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P