[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 110 (Thursday, June 9, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33724-33726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11456]



[[Page 33724]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19694; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cirrus Design Corporation Model SR20 
and SR22 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of 
the comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to revise an earlier proposed 
airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cirrus Design Corporation 
(CDC) Model SR20 and SR22 airplanes. The earlier NPRM would have 
required you to measure and adjust the crew seat break-over bolts and 
to replace the crew seat recline locks on both crew seats. The earlier 
NPRM resulted from CDC discovering that the crew seats, under emergency 
landing dynamic loads, may fold forward at less than the 26 G required 
by the regulations. Since issuing the earlier NPRM, FAA received and 
evaluated new service information that increases the serial number 
effectivity of the earlier NPRM. The new proposed AD includes the 
additional serial numbers in the applicability section. Since the 
change imposes an additional burden over that proposed in the earlier 
NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public 
additional time to comment on the proposed AD.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by July 14, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to submit comments on this proposed 
AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    To get the service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, 
Minnesota 55811; telephone: (218) 727-2737. Service information may 
also be accessed at http://www.cirrusdesign.com.
    To view the comments to this proposed AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. 
The docket number is FAA-2004-19694.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
--Wess Rouse, Small Airplane Project Manager, ACE-117C, Chicago 
Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des 
Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: 847-294-8113; facsimile: (847) 294-
7834; e-mail: [email protected]; or
--Angie Kostopoulos, Composite Technical Specialist, ACE-116C, Chicago 
Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des 
Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-7426; facsimile: (847) 
294-7834; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite you to submit any 
written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. 
Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include the 
docket number, ``FAA-2004-19694; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD'' 
at the beginning of your comments. We will post all comments we 
receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal 
information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed 
rulemaking. Using the search function of our docket Web site, anyone 
can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
This is docket number FAA-2004-19694. You may review the DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD. If you contact us through a nonwritten communication and 
that contact relates to a substantive part of this proposed AD, we will 
summarize the contact and place the summary in the docket. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
proposed AD in light of those comments and contacts.

Docket Information

    Where can I go to view the docket information? You may view the AD 
docket that contains the proposal, any comments received, and any final 
disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m. (eastern standard time), Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5227) is located on 
the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at 
the street address stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    What is the background of the subject matter? CDC performed dynamic 
seat testing on Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes. CDC found that, under 
emergency landing dynamic loads, the crew seats may fold forward at 
less than the 26 Gs required by 14 CFR Section 23.562(b)(2).
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? If not 
prevented, the crew seats folding forward during emergency landing with 
dynamic loads could result in occupant injury.
    Has FAA taken any action to this point? We issued a proposal to 
amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to 
include an AD that would apply to certain CDC Model SR20 and SR22 
airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on January 13, 2005 (70 FR 2370). 
The NPRM proposed to measure and adjust the crew seat break-over bolts 
and to replace the crew seat recline locks on both crew seats.

Comments

    Was the public invited to comment? We provided the public the 
opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no 
comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the 
public.
    What events have caused FAA to issue a supplemental NPRM? Since 
issuing the earlier NPRM, FAA received and evaluated new service 
information that increases the serial number effectivity of the earlier 
NPRM.

[[Page 33725]]

FAA's Determination and Requirements of this 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 CDC Model SR20 and SR22 airplanes of the same type 
design that are on the U.S. registry;
--We should change the NPRM to include the additional serial numbers 
listed in the new service information; and
--We should take AD action to correct this unsafe condition.

The Supplemental NPRM

    How will the changes to the NPRM impact the public? Proposing 
additional serial numbers listed in the applicability section goes 
beyond the scope of what was originally proposed in the NPRM. 
Therefore, we are reopening the comment period and allowing the public 
the chance to comment on these additional actions.
    What are the provisions of the supplemental NPRM? The proposed AD 
would require you to measure and adjust the crew seat break-over bolts 
and to replace the crew seat recline locks on both crew seats.
    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this proposed AD? On 
July 10, 2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 
47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation 
now includes material that relates to altered products, special flight 
permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This material 
previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is 
included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD 
actions.

Costs of Compliance

    How many airplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 1,494 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? CDC will provide warranty credit 
for service bulletins SB A2X-25-08, dated June 22, 2004, and SB 2X-25-
06 R4, dated May 5, 2005. This proposed AD will not have a labor or 
parts cost for the owner or operator.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    What authority does FAA have for issuing this rulemaking action? 
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this AD.

Regulatory Findings

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? We have determined 
that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under 
Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this proposed AD 
and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket FAA-2004-19694; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD'' in 
your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Cirrus Design Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2004-19694; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD

When Is the Last Date I Can Submit Comments on This Proposed AD?

    (a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) by July 14, 2005.

What Other ADs Are Affected By This Action?

    (b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) SR20                            1005 through 1455.
(2) SR22                            0002 through 1044
------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of discovering that the crew seats, 
under emergency landing dynamic loads, may fold forward at less than 
the 26 G required by the regulations, 14 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) Section 23.562 (b) (2). The actions specified in this AD are 
intended to prevent the crew seats from folding forward during 
emergency landing with dynamic loads with consequent occupant 
injury.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) For models SR20, serial   Within 50 hours time- Follow Cirrus Design
 numbers 1005 through 1423,    in-service (TIS) or   Corporation Service
 and SR22, serial numbers      within 180 days,      Bulletin SB A2X-25-
 0002 through 0972, do the     whichever occurs      08, dated June 22,
 following actions:            first, after the      2004.
                               effective date of
                               this AD.

[[Page 33726]]

 
(i) Move the lower portion
 of the crew seat upholstery
 upward to expose the seat
 frame and locking
 mechanism. Measure the
 clearance between the break-
 over bolt and the seat
 frame for a clearance that
 meets the requirements in
 the service bulletin
(ii) If the clearnace does
 not meet the specified in
 the service bulletin,
 perform the crew seat break-
 over bolt adjustment and re-
 cover the crew seat frame
 and locking mechanism with
 the upholstery
(iii) If the clearance does
 meet that specified in the
 service bulletin, re-cover
 the crew seat frame and
 locking mechanism
(iv) Repeat the above
 actions for the opposite
 crew seat
(2) For models SR20, serial   Within 50 hours TIS   Follow Cirrus Design
 numbers 1005 through 1455,    or within 180 days,   Corporation Service
 and SR22, serial numbers      whichever occurs      Bulletin SB 2X-25-
 0002 through 1044, do the     first, after the      06 R4, dated May 5,
 following actions:            effective date of     2005.
                               this AD.
(i) Identify whether the
 recline lock is secured
 with two bolts or three
 bolts
(ii) If the recline locks
 are secured with two bolts,
 remove the existing recline
 locks and replace with the
 new recline locks kit, kit
 number 70084-001
(iii) If the recline locks
 are secured with three
 bolts, remove existing
 recline locks and replace
 with the new recline locks
 kit, kit number 70084-002
(iv) Check break-over pin
 alignment and adjust as
 necessary0
(v) Check that the locks
 engage with the break-over
 bolts with the seat in the
 full recline position. If
 full seat recline is not
 possible or difficult to
 engage, grinding of the
 lower aft seat frame is
 necessary
(iv) Repeat the above
 actions for the opposite
 crew seat
------------------------------------------------------------------------

May I Request An Alternative Method of Compliance?

    (f) You may request a different method of compliance or a 
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in 
14 CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, send your request to 
your principal inspector. The principal inspector may add comments 
and will send your request to the Manager, Chicago Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA. For information on any already approved 
alternative methods of compliance, please contact one of the 
following:

--Wess Rouse, Small Airplane Project Manager, ACE-117C; Chicago 
Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Roon 107, Des 
Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-8113; facsimile: (847) 
294-7834; e-mail: [email protected]; or
--Angie Kostopoulos, Aerospace Engineer, ACE-116C, Chicago Aircraft 
Certification Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, 
Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-7426; facsimile: (847) 294-
7834; e-mail: [email protected].

May I Get Copies of the Documents Referenced in This AD?

    (g) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD, 
contact Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, 
Minnesota 55811; telephone: (218) 727-2737 or on the Internet at 
http://www.cirrusdesign.com. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket 
Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC, or on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2004-19694.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 3, 2005.
Kim Smith,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11456 Filed 6-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P