[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70003-70004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29119]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NM-218-AD; Amendment 39-12949; AD 2002-23-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 750 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Cessna Model 750 airplanes, that requires 
replacement of reset circuit breakers for the auxiliary hydraulic pump 
system and the King KHF 950 high frequency communication system(s) with 
new circuit breakers. This amendment is prompted by a report from the 
airplane manufacturer indicating that the trip levels for the reset 
circuit breakers installed in the auxiliary hydraulic pump system and 
the King KHF 950 high frequency system(s) are too high, which can 
prevent corresponding high current remote control circuit breakers from 
tripping when excessive electrical loads are present. The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to prevent overloading of the 
affected airplane electrical wiring and circuits, which could result in 
a fire.

DATES: Effective December 26, 2002.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of December 26, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Cessna Aircraft Co., PO Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277. 
This information may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Renton, Washington; or at the FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification 
Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, 
Kansas; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose Flores, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4133; fax (316) 
946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Cessna Model 750 airplanes 
was published in the Federal Register on November 4, 1999 (64 FR 
60136). That action proposed to require replacement of reset circuit 
breakers for the auxiliary hydraulic pump system and the King KHF 950 
high frequency communication system(s) with new circuit breakers.

Comment

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comment received.

Request To Withdraw Proposed AD

    One commenter, the airplane manufacturer, states that it has 
verified that 100 percent of the affected Cessna Model 750 airplanes 
have done the replacement required by the proposed AD per Cessna 
Service Bulletin SB750-24-15, dated May 7, 1999 (which is referenced as 
an acceptable means of compliance in the proposed AD). The commenter 
adds that ``production aircraft units; 750-0073 through 750-0100 
received replacement circuit breakers by disposition,'' and that this 
change was serialized on airplanes having serial number 750-0101 in 
production, with the incorporation of the split bus.
    From this comment, the FAA infers that the commenter is requesting 
that the proposed AD be withdrawn. We do not agree. The airplane 
manufacturer provided no data that all affected airplanes, worldwide, 
have had the required replacement incorporated; therefore, this AD is 
necessary to address the identified unsafe condition on the affected 
airplanes.
    Because the language in Note 2 of the proposed AD is regulatory in 
nature, that note has been redesignated as paragraph (b) of this final 
rule.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the available data, including the comment 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule with the change previously 
described. The FAA has determined that this change will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 82 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that 80 airplanes of U.S. registry 
will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 3 work 
hours per airplane to accomplish the required replacement, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. The airplane manufacturer has 
committed previously to its customers that it will bear the cost of 
replacement parts. As a result, the costs of those parts are not 
attributable to this AD. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the 
AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $14,400, or $180 per airplane.
    The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that 
no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this AD, 
and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if 
this AD were not adopted. However, the FAA has been advised that 
manufacturer warranty remedies are available for parts and labor costs 
associated with accomplishing the actions required by this AD. 
Therefore, the future economic cost impact of this rule on U.S. 
operators may be less than the cost impact figure indicated above.

[[Page 70004]]

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 the following new 
airworthiness directive:

2002-23-05 Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-12949. Docket 99-
NM-218-AD.

    Applicability: Model 750 airplanes, serial numbers-0001 through-
0100 inclusive; 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 as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent overloading of certain airplane electrical wiring and 
circuits, which could result in a fire, accomplish the following:

Replacement

    (a) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, replace 
the 5.0-ampere reset circuit breakers for the auxiliary hydraulic 
pump system and the King KHF 950 high frequency communication 
system(s) with 0.5-ampere reset circuit breakers, in accordance with 
Cessna Service Bulletin SB750-24-15, Revision 1, dated May 24, 1999.
    (b) Circuit breaker replacement accomplished prior to the 
effective date of this AD in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin 
SB750-24-15, dated May 7, 1999, is considered acceptable for 
compliance with the applicable action specified in this amendment.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification 
Office, (ACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 
appropriate FAA Principal 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.

Special Flight Permits

    (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.

Incorporation by Reference

    (e) The replacement shall be done in accordance with Cessna 
Service Bulletin SB750-24-15, Revision 1, including Supplemental 
Data, Revision A, dated May 24, 1999. This incorporation by 
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be 
obtained from Cessna Aircraft Co., PO Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 
67277. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

Effective Date

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on December 26, 2002.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 8, 2002.
Vi L. Lipski,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-29119 Filed 11-19-02; 8:45 am]
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