[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42912-42913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16349]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39


Cessna Aircraft Company Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 
402C, 411, and 411A, and 414A Airplanes; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This document announces a public meeting of interest to owners 
and operators of Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 401, 401A, 
401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 402C, 411, and 411A, and 414A airplanes. The 
purpose of the meeting is to discuss technical issues and proposed 
corrective actions related to the potential of wing spar cap failure 
due to undetected fatigue cracks.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold the public 
meeting on August 18, 2004, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Kansas City 
Marriott Downtown, in Kansas City, Missouri. Registration will begin at 
8 a.m. on the day of the meeting.

ADDRESSES: We will hold the public meeting at the Kansas City Marriott 
Downtown, 200 NW 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.
    If you are unable to attend, you may mail comments and information 
to FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Continued Operational Safety 
Branch, ACE-113, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You 
may also send comments electronically to the following addresses: 
[email protected] or [email protected]. If you send comments 
electronically as attached electronic files, the files must be 
formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.
    We will give the same consideration to any comments or information 
mailed to us as those presented at the public meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For Requests to Present a 
Statement at the Meeting: Contact Marv Nuss, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4117; facsimile: (816) 329-4090; e-mail: 
[email protected].
     For Questions Regarding the Previously Proposed ADs: 
Contact Paul Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209;

[[Page 42913]]

telephone: (316) 946-4125; facsimile: (316) 946-4107.
     For Requests for Special Accommodations: Contact Larry 
Werth, AD Coordinator, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4147; 
facsimile: (816) 329-4149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Participation at the Public Meeting

    What must I do to make a presentation at the meeting? If you would 
like to make a presentation at the meeting, make your request to FAA no 
later than 10 days prior to the meeting. Submit these requests to Mr. 
Marv Nuss as listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document. You should include a written summary of your 
presentation with a time estimate of your presentation.
    Will FAA prepare an agenda? We will prepare an agenda for this 
meeting. To accommodate all presenters, we may allocate less time for 
your presentation than you requested. If you request to present after 
the deadline, we will schedule your presentation as time is available. 
However, your name may not appear on the agenda.
    What if I need special equipment? You should include in your 
presentation request any special audiovisual equipment that you need. 
We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Background

    Why is the FAA conducting this meeting? There have been concerns 
about fatigue cracking on Cessna 400 series airplanes since the 1970s. 
In 1979, the FAA issued ADs to require periodic inspection of Cessna 
400 series wing spars. The FAA evaluated fatigue and crack growth 
analysis recently performed by the Cessna Aircraft Company and 
determined that the wing spars of the Cessna 400 series require 
modification and periodic inspection to prevent in-flight wing 
separation. The service history includes a 1999 accident caused by a 
wing failure and six other incidents where cracks were found before the 
wing failed. To address this airworthiness concern, the FAA issued two 
NPRMs in May 2003 (that would supersede two existing ADs on the 
affected aircraft) to propose incorporating a spar strap modification 
on each wing spar.
    Many owners of the affected aircraft were vehemently opposed to the 
action due to the high cost. To ensure that the public had the 
opportunity to fully communicate their concerns, the FAA:
     Extended the comment period an additional 30 days beyond 
the initial 60-day comment period;
     Reopened the comment period for another 60 days; and
     Held a public meeting on March 3 and 4, 2004, in Herndon, 
Virginia.
    After analyzing all information related to this subject, the FAA 
decided not to issue the new ADs as proposed. The FAA has determined 
that the best way to address the unsafe condition is for the FAA, the 
public, and industry to develop alternative solutions for addressing 
the unsafe condition. Accordingly, the FAA withdrew the NPRMs on May 
18, 2004 (69 FR 29672, May 25, 2004) and is holding this second meeting 
to continue this effort.

Public Meeting Procedures

    What procedures should I follow for this public meeting? If you 
plan to attend the public meeting, please be aware of the following:
     There is no admission fee or other charge to attend or 
participate in this meeting. You are responsible for your own 
transportation and accommodations for the meeting. The meeting is open 
to all who requested in advance to present or who register on the day 
of the meeting. This is subject to availability of space in the meeting 
room.
     FAA representatives will conduct the meeting. We will have 
a panel of technical experts and managers to discuss information on the 
subject.
     The public meeting is intended as a forum to seek 
additional data and supporting methodologies from industry, the general 
public, and operators. You must limit your presentation and submittals 
to data of this issue.
     The meeting will allow you to present additional 
information not currently available to FAA and an opportunity for FAA 
to explain to you the methodology and technical assumptions that 
support our conclusions.
     FAA experts, industry, and public participants are 
expected to hold a full discussion of all technical material presented 
at the meeting. If you present conclusions on this subject, you must 
submit data that supports your conclusions.
     We will try and accommodate all speakers. In order to do 
this, we may need to limit the time for presenters.
     We can make sign and oral interpretation available at the 
meeting, as well as an assistive listening device. If you need this 
assistance, make your request to FAA at least 10 days prior to the 
public meeting.
     A court reporter will record the discussions of the 
meeting. If you would like to purchase a copy of the transcript, you 
must contact the court reporter directly. We will provide further 
information at the meeting.
     We will review and consider all material presented. 
Position papers or materials may be accepted at the discretion of the 
presiding officer. The FAA requests that you provide 10 copies of all 
materials for distribution to the panel members. You have the choice on 
whether you want to present copies of the material to the audience.
     The meetings are designed to solicit public views and 
information. Therefore, we will conduct the meeting in an informal and 
nonadversarial manner.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 13, 2004.
Scott L. Sedgwick,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16349 Filed 7-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P