[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60414-60417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16741]



[[Page 60414]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24010; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-14-AD; 
Amendment 39-14787; AD 2006-21-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cirrus Design Corporation Models SR20 
and SR22 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes. This AD 
requires you to check the maintenance records to determine whether the 
brake caliper piston O-ring seals were replaced at the last annual or 
100-hour inspection. If the O-rings were not replaced, this AD requires 
you to replace the O-ring seals with new seals or replace brake 
calipers. This AD also requires you to modify the main landing gear 
wheel fairings to add temperature indicator sticker inspection holes, 
trim the wheel fairings to prevent them from holding fluids, install 
temperature indicator stickers on the brake calipers, and insert 
Revision A6 (with revised preflight walk-around, a limitation on the 
engine speed used to taxi, and brake inspection/servicing intervals) 
into the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). This AD results from several 
reports of airplanes experiencing brake fires and two airplanes losing 
directional control. We are issuing this AD to detect, correct, and 
prevent overheating damage to the brake caliper piston O-ring seals, 
which could result in leakage of brake hydraulic fluid. Consequently, 
this could lead to the loss of braking with loss of airplane 
directional control or brake fire.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on November 17, 2006.
    As of November 17, 2006, the Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed 
in the regulation.

ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified 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 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket No. FAA-2006-24010; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-14-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wess Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, ACE-
117C, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, 
Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-8113; 
facsimile: (847) 294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On May 1, 2006, 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 Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes. This 
proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on May 8, 2006 (71 FR 26707). The NPRM proposed to 
require you to check the maintenance records to determine whether the 
brake caliper piston O-ring seals were replaced at the last annual or 
100-hour inspection. If the O-rings were not replaced, this proposed AD 
would require you to replace the O-ring seals with new seals or replace 
brake calipers. This proposed AD would also require you to modify the 
main landing gear wheel fairings to add temperature indicator sticker 
inspection holes, trim the wheel fairings to prevent them from holding 
fluids, install temperature indicator stickers on the brake calipers, 
and insert Revision A6 (with revised preflight walk-around and taxi 
procedures) into the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH).

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal 
and FAA's response to the comment:

Comment Issue: Increase Emphasis on the Operational Aspects of 
Overheating of the Brakes

    CDC points out that the brakes, as delivered, meet certification 
requirements, and when properly used, will provide the expected 
performance and service. We conclude that CDC believes that the AD 
overemphasizes the required maintenance actions and hardware upgrades, 
without explaining the operational details that will prevent brake 
caliper O-ring damage.
    Our intent is that the AD stress continued operational safety by 
removing and replacing potentially damaged O-rings or replacement of 
existing brake calipers with new heavier duty calipers (with new O-
rings installed), adding brake caliper temperature stickers with a new 
inspection hole in the wheel fairings (to detect potential O-ring 
damage before brake fluid leaks develop), and adding a revision to the 
Pilot's Operating Handbook (to emphasize brake preflight inspections, 
checking the color of the brake caliper temperature sticker for 
evidence of brake caliper overheating, and limiting the engine RPM 
during taxi to 1000 RPM).
    We agree that the operational change to limit engine RPM during 
taxi (found in Revision A6 to the POH) is the most important 
consideration toward preventing brake caliper O-ring seal damage. This 
AD is requiring this action so we are not changing the AD as a result 
of this comment.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed 
except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these 
minor corrections:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 2,135 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the check of maintenance 
records to determine whether the brake caliper piston O-ring seals were 
replaced at the last annual or 100-hour inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                              Parts cost                airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 = $80......................  Not Applicable.................             $80         $170,800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60415]]

    We estimate the following costs to install any necessary O-ring 
seals that would be required based on the results of this check of 
maintenance records. We have no way of determining the number of 
airplanes that may need this seal installation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 work-hours x $80 = $320.............              $8             $328
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to replace any brake calipers on 
Model SR20 airplanes, serial numbers (S/Ns) 1005 through 1194, that 
would be required based on the results of this check of maintenance 
records. We have no way of determining the number of these Model SR20 
airplanes that may need to replace brake calipers:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 work-hours x $80 = $960............          $1,167           $2,127
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to replace any brake calipers on 
Model SR20 airplanes, S/Ns 1195 through 1600, that would be required 
based on the results of this check of maintenance records. We have no 
way of determining the number of these Model SR20 airplanes that may 
need to replace brake calipers:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 work-hours x $80 = $640.............          $1,167           $1,807
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to replace any brake calipers on 
Model SR22 airplanes that would be required based on the results of 
this check of maintenance records. We have no way of determining the 
number of Model SR22 airplanes that may need to replace brake calipers:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 work-hours x $80 = $400.............            $845           $1,245
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do the modification of the MLG 
wheel fairings to add the temperature indicator sticker inspection 
holes, trim the wheel fairings to prevent them from holding fluids, and 
install the temperature indicator sticker on the brake calipers:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 work-hours x $80 = $160....................................              $2             $162         $345,870
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CDC has indicated that CDC will provide warranty credit as 
stated in the service information for modifying the MLG wheel fairings 
by adding the temperature indicator sticker inspection holes, trimming 
the wheel fairings to prevent them from holding fluids, and installing 
the temperature indicator sticker on the brake calipers.
    We estimate the following costs to do the insertion of Revision A6 
into the POH:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                              Parts cost                airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80............................  Not Applicable.................             $80         $170,800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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

[[Page 60416]]

that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this AD.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this 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 AD (and 
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) 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 ``Docket 
No. FAA-2006-24010; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-14-AD'' in your 
request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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

0
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]

0
2. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2006-21-03 Cirrus Design Corporation: Amendment 39-14787; Docket No. 
Docket No. FAA-2006-24010; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-14-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on November 17, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial 
numbers (S/N) that are certificated in any category:
    (1) Group 1: Model SR20 Airplanes, S/N 1005 through 1600.
    (2) Group 2: Model SR22 Airplanes, S/N 0002 through 1739.
    (3) Group 3: Model SR20 Airplanes, S/N 1005 through 1592.
    (4) Group 4: Model SR22 Airplanes, S/N 0002 through 1727.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from several reports of airplanes that 
experienced brake fires and two airplanes that lost directional 
control. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect, 
correct, and prevent overheating damage to the brake caliper piston 
O-ring seals, which could result in leakage of brake hydraulic 
fluid. Consequently, this could lead to the loss of braking with 
loss of airplane directional control or brake fire.

Compliance

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

                 Table 1.--Actions/Compliance/Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) For Group 1 and Group 2       Within 50 hours     No special
 airplanes:                        time-in-service     procedures
 Check the maintenance records     (TIS) after         necessary to
 to determine whether the brake    November 17, 2006   check the
 caliper piston O-ring seals       (the effective      maintenance
 were replaced at the last         date of this AD),   records. The
 annual or 100-hour inspection.    unless already      owner/operator
                                   done.               holding at least
                                                       a private pilot
                                                       certificate as
                                                       authorized by
                                                       section 43.7 of
                                                       the Federal
                                                       Aviation
                                                       Regulations (14
                                                       CFR 43.7) may
                                                       make this check.
                                                       You must make an
                                                       entry into the
                                                       airplane records
                                                       that shows
                                                       compliance with
                                                       this portion of
                                                       the AD in
                                                       accordance with
                                                       section 43.9 of
                                                       the Federal
                                                       Aviation
                                                       Regulations (14
                                                       CFR 43.9).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) For Group 1 and Group 2       Before further      For the
 airplanes: If you find as a       flight after the    replacement,
 result of the check required by   check required by   follow the brake
 paragraph (e)(1) of this AD       paragraph (e)(1)    maintenance
 that there is no record of the    of this AD.         procedures in
 replacement of brake caliper                          Section 32-42 of
 piston O-ring seals at the last                       the SR20 or SR22
 annual or 100-hour inspection,                        Aircraft
 then do the following:                                Maintenance
 (i) Replace the O-ring seals                          Manual. For the
 with new O-ring seals or                              replacement of
 (ii) Replace old brake calipers                       the new brake
 with new brake calipers.                              calipers, follow
                                                       Cirrus Design
                                                       Corporation
                                                       Service Bulletin
                                                       SB 2X-32-13 R1,
                                                       Issued: December
                                                       15, 2005, Revised
                                                       May 16, 2006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) For Group 3 and Group 4       Do the              Follow Cirrus
 airplanes:                        modification        Design
 (i) Modify the main landing       within 50 hours     Corporation
 gear (MLG) wheel fairings to      TIS after           Service Bulletin
 add temperature indicator         November 17, 2006   SB 2X-32-14 R1,
 sticker inspection holes and      (the effective      Issued: January
 trim the wheel fairings to        date of this AD),   18, 2006,
 prevent them from holding         unless already      Revised: February
 fluids; and                       done. Do the        17, 2006.
 (ii) Install a temperature        temperature
 indicator sticker on the brake    indicator sticker
 calipers.                         installation
                                   within 50 hours
                                   TIS after
                                   November 17, 2006
                                   (the effective
                                   date of this AD),
                                   unless already
                                   done, and
                                   thereafter before
                                   further flight
                                   anytime you have
                                   the O-ring seals
                                   replaced due to
                                   overheating of
                                   the brake
                                   assembly
                                   (temperature
                                   indicator sticker
                                   turned black).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 60417]]

 
(4) For all airplanes:            Within 50 hours     The owner/operator
 Insert the appropriate Revision   TIS after           holding at least
 A6 part number (P/N) into the     November 17, 2006   a private pilot
 Pilot's Operating Handbook        (the effective      certificate as
 (POH), as presented in TABLE      date of this AD),   authorized by
 2.--REVISION A6 TO THE PILOT'S    unless already      section 43.7 of
 OPERATING HANDBOOK, in            done.               the Federal
 paragraph (f) of this AD.                             Aviation
                                                       Regulations (14
                                                       CFR 43.7) may
                                                       insert the
                                                       information into
                                                       the POH as
                                                       specified in
                                                       paragraph (e)(4)
                                                       of this AD. Make
                                                       an entry into the
                                                       airplane
                                                       maintenance
                                                       records showing
                                                       compliance with
                                                       this portion of
                                                       the AD in
                                                       accordance with
                                                       section 43.9 of
                                                       the Federal
                                                       Aviation
                                                       Regulations (14
                                                       CFR 43.9).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) For Group 3 and Group 4       As of November 17,  Follow Cirrus
 airplanes:                        2006 (the           Design
 (i) Do not install any MLG        effective date of   Corporation
 fairings without also doing the   this AD).           Service Bulletin
 modifications required by                             SB 2X-32-14 R1,
 paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this AD;                       Issued: January
 and                                                   18, 2006,
 (ii) Do not replace any brake                         Revised: February
 calipers without also                                 17, 2006.
 installing the temperature
 indicator sticker required by
 paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this
 AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) The following table specifies the POH Revision A6 part 
number as required in paragraph (e)(4) of this AD:

         Table 2.--Revision A6 to the Pilot's Operating Handbook
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Model SR20 or
      Affected airplanes       SR22  airplane      Date FAA-approved
                                   POH P/N
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Model SR20, S/N 1148            11934-002  January 18, 2006.
 through 1267.
(2) Model SR20, S/N 1005            11934-002  January 18, 2006.
 through 1147 that have the
 3,000-pound gross weight
 modification following
 Cirrus Design Corporation
 Service Bulletin SB 20-01-
 00, Issued: February 25,
 2003.
(3) SR20, S/N 1268 through          11934-003  January 18, 2006.
 1739.
(4) SR22, S/N 002 through           13772-001  January 18, 2006.
 1739.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
ATTN: Wess Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, ACE-117C, Chicago ACO, 
2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; 
telephone: (847) 294-8113; facsimile: (847) 294-7834, has the 
authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD, 
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in Cirrus Design Corporation Service Bulletin SB 2X-32-
13 R1, Issued: December 15, 2005, Revised May 16, 2006; and Cirrus 
Design Corporation Service Bulletin SB 2X-32-14 R1, Issued: January 
18, 2006, Revised: February 17, 2006. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service 
bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To 
get a copy of this service information, contact Cirrus Design 
Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, Minnesota 55811; telephone: 
(218) 727-2737 or on the Internet at www.cirrusdesign.com. To review 
copies of this service information, go to the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call 
(202) 741-6030. 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 20590-001 or on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket No. 
FAA-2006-24010; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-14-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 3, 2006.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-16741 Filed 10-12-06; 8:45 am]
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