[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1273-1276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-343]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-26-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172N, 
172P, R172K, 172RG, F172N, F172P, FR172J, and FR172K Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 80-04-08, which currently requires inspecting (one-time) the fuel 
line and map light switch in the left hand forward door post for 
chafing or arcing and repairing any damage found on certain Cessna 
Aircraft Company (Cessna) Model 172N, R172K, F172N, and FR172K 
airplanes. AD 80-04-08 also required providing at least a 0.50-inch 
clearance between the map light switch and the fuel line; and 
installing a switch cover (insulator) over the map light switch. The 
FAA has determined that chafing between the map light switch and the 
fuel line could continue to develop over the life of the affected 
airplanes. The proposed AD would extend the inspections and 
installation of the switch cover requirement to certain 172N, 172P, 
R172K, 172RG, F172N, F172P, FR172J, and FR172K series airplanes. The 
proposed AD would also require replacement of the fuel line, if 
damaged; and would make the switch cover inspection and replacement 
repetitive. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
detect and correct any chafing between the map light switch and the 
bordering fuel line, which could result in a fuel leak and an in-flight 
fire.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule by February 12, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send three copies of comments to FAA, Central Region, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-26-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may read comments at 
this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
holidays.
    You may get the service information referenced in the proposed AD 
from the Cessna Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; 
telephone: (316) 941-7550, facsimile: (316) 942-9008. You may look at 
this information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Clyde Erwin, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209, telephone: (316) 
946-4149; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How Do I Comment on This Proposed AD?

    We invite your comments on the proposed rule. You may send whatever 
written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to include the 
rule's docket number and send your comments in triplicate to the 
address mentioned under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date mentioned above, before acting on 
the proposed rule. We may change the proposals contained in this notice 
because of the comments received.

Are There Any Specific Portions of the Proposed AD I Should Pay 
Attention to?

    The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule that 
might call for a need to change the proposed rule. You may examine all 
comments we receive. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of this proposal.
    The FAA is reexamining the writing style we currently use in 
regulatory documents, in response to the Presidential memorandum of 
June 1, 1998. That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate 
more clearly with the public. We are interested in your comments on the 
ease of understanding this document, and any other suggestions you 
might have to improve the clarity of FAA communications that affect 
you. You can get more information about the Presidential memorandum and 
the plain language initiative at http://www.faa.gov/language/.

How Can I Be Sure FAA Receives My Comment?

    If you want to know that we received your comments, you must 
include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write 
``Comments Docket No. 2000-CE-26-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the 
postcard back to you.

[[Page 1274]]

Discussion

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    The FAA issued AD 80-04-08, Amendment 39-3696, February 16, 1980, 
in order to preclude the possibility of a fuel leak or an in-flight 
fire due to contact between a map light switch and an adjacent fuel 
line of certain Cessna Models 172N, R172K, F172N, and FR172K airplanes. 
AD 80-04-08 requires that you do the following on the affected 
airplanes:

--Visually inspect the fuel line and map light switch located in the 
left hand forward door post for chafing or arcing and replace damaged 
parts as necessary. If not already existing, provide at least a 0.50-
inch clearance between the map light switch and the fuel line in 
accordance with procedures in FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1A.
--Install a cover (insulator), Cessna Part Number 0511080-1, over the 
map light switch in accordance with Cessna Single Engine Service 
Information Letter SE80-3 and Supplement #1 thereto, both dated January 
21, 1980.

    AD 80-04-08 was the result of instances of chafing between the map 
light switch and the adjacent fuel line on the affected airplanes. When 
the chafing caused an electrical short, insulation melted from the map 
light wire and a hole was burned in the fuel line.

What Has Happened To Necessitate Further AD Action?

    Since issuance of AD 80-04-08, FAA has received several reports of 
incidents of electrical shorts on Cessna Model 172N airplanes. These 
electrical shorts have resulted because the mounting screws may be 
elongated or broken out on the affected airplanes or doorpost cover 
shapes have changed over time. Switch covers may:

--Deteriorate over time;
--Receive damage from service activities,
--Be left off after service activities;
--Not be mounted properly; or
--Not be used in after-market interior installations.

    AD 80-04-08 applied to only certain serial numbers and did not 
cover all of the models that have map light switches in the doorpost.

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

    Cessna issued Service Bulletin SEB00-1, dated January 17, 2000.

What Are the Provisions of This Service Bulletin?

    The service bulletin includes procedures for:

--Inspecting for the existence and damage to the cover (insulator) for 
the doorpost map light switch;
--Installing the cover (insulator) if not installed or found damaged; 
and
--Replacing the fuel line, if found damaged.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of the 
Proposed AD

What Has FAA Decided?

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, we have 
determined that:

--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Cessna models 172N, 172P, R172K, 172RG, F172N, F172P, 
FR172J, and FR172K airplanes of the same type designs;
--The actions specified in the previously referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

What Would This Proposed AD Require?

    This proposed AD would supersede AD-80-04-08 with a new AD that 
would require:

--Repetitively inspecting for the existence and damage to the cover 
(insulator) for the doorpost map light switch;
--Installing a cover (insulator) if missing or damaged; and
--Replacing the fuel line, if damaged.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Would This Proposed AD Impact?

    We estimate that the proposed AD would affect at least 7,750 
airplanes.

What Would Be the Cost Impact of the Proposed Initial Inspection for 
the Affected Airplanes on the U.S. Register?

    We estimate that it would take approximately 1 workhour per 
airplane to do the proposed initial inspection, at an average labor 
rate of $60 an hour. Based on the figures presented above, the total 
cost impact of the proposed initial inspection on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $465,000, or $60 per airplane. If any parts are 
required, the estimated cost per airplane for the cover (insulator) is 
$6.00. The cost for a replacement fuel line varies from $26.00 to 
$129.00, plus labor, depending on the airplane model.

What About the Cost of Repetitive Inspections?

    The FAA has no way of determining the number of repetitive 
inspections each owner/operator would incur over the life of each of 
the affected airplanes, or how many covers (insulators) or fuel lines 
would need to be replaced, so the cost impact is based on the initial 
inspection.

What Is the Difference Between the Cost Impact of this Proposed AD and 
the Cost Impact of AD 80-04-08?

    The cost impact of the proposed AD is more than currently required 
by AD 80-04-08. The differences between the proposed AD and AD 80-04-08 
are the additional airplane models that would be affected and the 
repetitive inspections each affected airplane owner/operator would 
incur over the life of the airplane.

Regulatory Impact

Would This Proposed AD Impact Relations Between Federal and State 
Governments?

    The regulations proposed would not have a substantial direct effect 
on the States, on the between the national government and the States, 
or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. We have determined that this proposed rule would 
not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

Would This Proposed 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) if put into 
effect, 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 have placed a copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action in the Rules Docket. You 
may get a copy of it 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

    Therefore, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration

[[Page 1275]]

(FAA) 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
80-04-08, Amendment 39-3696, and by adding a new AD to read as follows:

Cessna Aircraft Company:

 Docket No. 2000-CE-26-AD; Supersedes AD 80-04-08, Amendment 39-3696.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? The following Cessna 
model airplanes, certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Model                             Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
172N......................................  17267585 through 17270049;
                                             17270051 through 17274009;
                                             17261445, 17261578, and
                                             17270050.
172P......................................  17274010 through 17276654.
172RG.....................................  172RG0001 through 172RG1191;
                                             and 691.
F172N.....................................  F17201640 through F17202039.
F172P.....................................  F17202040 through F17202254.
FR172J....................................  FR17200531 through 17200590.
FR172K....................................  FR17200591 through 17200675.
R172K.....................................  R1722000 through R1723454;
                                             and 680.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes on the U.S. Register must comply with 
this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to continue to detect and correct any chafing 
between the map light switch and the bordering fuel line, which 
could result in a fuel leak or an in-flight fire.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem? To address this 
problem, unless already done, you must do the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                Compliance time       Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the doorpost map      Initially inspect   Do this action
 light switch insulator (part      within the next     following the
 number 0511080-1) to verify it    100 hours time-in-  ACCOMPLISHMENT
 is installed and (if installed)   service (TIS)       INSTRUCTIONS
 not damaged.                      after the           section of Cessna
                                   effective date of   Service Bulletin
                                   this AD or within   SEB00-1, dated
                                   the next 12         January 17, 2000.
                                   calendar months
                                   after the
                                   effective date of
                                   this AD,
                                   whichever occurs
                                   first.
                                   Repetitively
                                   inspect
                                   thereafter at
                                   intervals not to
                                   exceed 12
                                   calendar months.
(2) If a switch cover             Before further      Do this action
 (insulator) is not installed or   flight after the    following the
 is damaged in any way, install    inspection where    ACCOMPLISHMENT
 a new insulator (part number      any damage is       INSTRUCTIONS
 0511080-1).                       found or the        section of Cessna
                                   cover is found      Service Bulletin
                                   missing.            SEB00-1, dated
                                                       January 17, 2000,
                                                       and the Cessna
                                                       Manufacturer's
                                                       Maintenance
                                                       Manual.
(3) If the fuel line is damaged   Before further      Do this action
 in any way, install a new fuel    flight after the    following the
 line. The replacement fuel line   inspection where    ACCOMPLISHMENT
 part number varies with           any damage is       INSTRUCTIONS
 aircraft model.                   found.              section of Cessna
                                                       Service Bulletin
                                                       SEB00-1, dated
                                                       January 17, 2000,
                                                       and the Cessna
                                                       Manufacturer's
                                                       Maintenance
                                                       Manual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1: The compliance times specified in Cessna Service 
Bulletin SEB00-1, dated January 17, 2000, are different from those 
required by this AD. The compliance times in this AD take precedence 
over those in the service bulletin.

    (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. Send your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Wichita ACO.

    Note 2: 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? You can contact Mr. Clyde Erwin, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 
Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 
67209, telephone: (316) 946-4149; facsimile: (316) 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 
sections 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 perform the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from the 
Cessna Aircraft Company, P. O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; or 
you may read this document at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (i) Does this AD action affect any existing AD actions? This 
amendment supersedes AD 80-04-08, Amendment 39-3696.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 27, 2000.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-343 Filed 1-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P -