[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21278-21280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10590]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-75-AD; Amendment 39-12211; AD 2001-09-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 206H and 
T206H Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that applies to certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 
206H and T206H airplanes. This AD requires you to visually inspect the 
horizontal stabilizer attachment reinforcement brackets for the 
existence of seam welds and replace any reinforcement bracket found 
without seam welds. This AD is the result of a report that these parts 
were manufactured without seam welds. The actions specified by this AD 
are intended to detect and replace structurally deficient horizontal 
stabilizer attachment brackets. Continued use of such brackets could 
result in structural failure of the horizontal stabilizer with reduced 
or loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on May 18, 2001.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulation as of May 
18, 2001.
    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any comments 
on this rule on or before June 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to FAA, Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 
2000-CE-75-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    You may get the service information referenced in this AD from 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, 
Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; facsimile: (316) 942-9006. You 
may examine this information at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-75-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, 
DC.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? Cessna recently notified 
FAA of a defect in the manufacturing of the horizontal stabilizer 
attachment reinforcement brackets. Cessna manufactured certain 
reinforcement brackets without seam welds. The seam welds help provide 
the required structural integrity for the horizontal stabilizer 
attachment bracket.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in structural 
failure of the horizontal stabilizer with reduced or loss of control of 
the airplane.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? 
Cessna has issued Service Bulletin SB00-55-03, dated August 28, 
2000. This service bulletin includes procedures for:

    --visually inspecting the right and left horizontal stabilizer 
attachment reinforcement brackets for the existence of seam welds along 
the lower inboard and outboard wall/flange; and
    --removing and replacing the horizontal stabilizer assemblies with 
new parts.

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

    What has FAA decided? The FAA has reviewed all available 
information, including the service information referenced above; and 
determined that:

    --The unsafe condition referenced in this document likely exists on 
Cessna Models 206H and T206H airplanes within the listed serial number 
range;
    --The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information (as specified in this AD) should be accomplished on the 
affected airplanes; and
    --AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe 
condition.

    What does this AD require? This AD requires you to 
accomplish the actions previously specified in accordance with Cessna 
Service Bulletin SB00-55-03, dated August 28, 2000.
    Will I have the opportunity to comment prior to the issuance of 
the rule? Because the unsafe condition described in this document 
could result in structural failure of the horizontal stabilizer with 
possible reduced or loss of control of the airplane, FAA finds that 
notice and opportunity for public prior comment are impracticable. 
Therefore, good cause exists for making this amendment effective in 
less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this AD? Although this action is in the 
form of a final rule and was not preceded by notice and opportunity for 
public comment, we invite your comments on the rule. You may submit 
whatever written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to 
include the rule's docket number and submit your comments in triplicate 
to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. We will 
consider all comments received on or before the closing date specified 
above. We may amend this rule in light of comments received. Factual 
information that supports your ideas and suggestions is extremely 
helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and 
determining whether we need to take additional rulemaking action.
    Are there any specific portions of the AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule 
that might suggest a need to

[[Page 21279]]

modify the rule. You may examine all comments we receive before and 
after the closing date of the rule in the Rules Docket. We will file a 
report in the Rules Docket that summarizes each FAA contact with the 
public that concerns the substantive parts of this AD.
    We are reviewing 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 whether the 
style of this document is clear, 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.plainlanguage.gov.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want us to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2000-CE-75-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Regulatory Impact

    Does this AD impact various entities? These regulations 
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. Therefore, FAA has determined that this final rule does not 
have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
    Does this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? 
The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action 
involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that 
this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will 
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is 
not required). A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules 
Docket.

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 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

2001-09-06  Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-12211; 
Docket No. 2000-CE-75-AD.


    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD 
applies to the following airplane models and serial numbers that are 
certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Model                            Serial Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
206H.....................  20608001 through 20608053, 20608055 through
                            20608086, 20608088 and 20608089.
T206H....................  T20608001 through T20608093, T20608095
                            through T20608145, T20608147, T20608149,
                            T20608150, T20608152, T20608156, T20608157,
                            and T20608160.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to 
operate any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to detect and replace structurally 
deficient horizontal stabilizer attachment brackets. Continued use 
of such brackets could result in structural failure of the 
horizontal stabilizer with reduced or loss of control of the 
airplane.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem? To address 
this problem, you must accomplish the following actions:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Action                 Compliance time       Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Visually inspect the right    Within the next 20  In accordance with
 and left horizontal stabilizer    hours time-in-      the
 attachment reinforcement          service (TIS)       Accomplishment
 brackets, part number (P/N)       after May 18,       Instructions in
 1232624-1, for the existence of   2001 (the           Cessna Service
 seam welds along both the lower   effective date of   Bulletin SB00-55-
 inboard and outboard wall/        this AD), unless    03, dated August
 flange..                          already             28, 2000, and the
                                   accomplished..      applicable
                                                       maintenance
                                                       manual.
(2) If no seam weld is found      Accomplish any      In accordance with
 along both the lower inboard      necessary           the
 and outboard wall/flange on the   replacements        Accomplishment
 right and left horizontal         prior to further    Instructions in
 stabilizer attachment             flight after the    Cessna Service
 reinforcement bracket during      inspection          Bulletin SB00-55-
 the inspection required in        required by this    03, dated August
 paragraph (d)(1) of this AD,      AD, unless          28, 2000, and the
 replace with a new or airworthy   already             applicable
 P/N 1232624-1 horizontal          accomplished..      maintenance
 stabilizer attachment                                 manual.
 reinforcement bracket..
(3) If the right and left         Not applicable....  Not applicable.
 horizontal stabilizer
 attachment reinforcement
 bracket has seam welds along
 both the lower inboard and
 outboard wall/flange, no
 further action is required..
(4) Do not install any P/N        Not applicable....  Not applicable.
 1232624-1 horizontal stabilizer
 attachment reinforcement
 bracket (or FAA-approved
 equivalent part) unless the
 bracket: (i) is inspected as
 required in paragraph (d)(1) of
 this AD; and (ii) has seam
 welds along both the lower
 inboard and outboard wall/
 flange..
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 21280]]

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

    Note: 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? Contact Eual Conditt, 
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 
Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; 
telephone: (316) 946-4128; 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 Sec. Sec. 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 accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in 
accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin SB00-55-03, dated August 28, 
2000. The Director of the Federal Register approved this 
incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
You can get copies from Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, 
P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277. You can look at copies at FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 
506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This 
amendment becomes effective on May 18, 2001.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 20, 2001.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-10590 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
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