[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 138 (Thursday, July 19, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39584-39586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13984]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-28433; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-052-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company, Models 172, 
182, and 206 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna), Models 172, 182, and 206 
series airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to remove the 
seats, modify the seat base/back attach brackets, and reinstall the 
seats of all the crew seats of the affected airplanes and seats 3 and 4 
on Model 206 series airplanes. This proposed AD results from reports of 
the seat base/back attach bracket failing where it is welded to the 
seat base. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the seat 
base/back attach brackets, which could result in the seats collapsing 
backwards during flight with consequent loss of control.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 17, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the

[[Page 39585]]

instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, 
Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 942-9006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Park, Aerospace Engineer, 1801 
Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-
4123; fax: (316) 946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA 
2007-28433; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-052-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend the proposed AD in light of those 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 we 
receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received three reports of the seat base/back bracket 
failing on Cessna Models 172, 182, and 206 series airplanes. Inadequate 
penetration of the weld bead may cause the weld to fail where the seat 
back bracket attaches to the seat base.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in the seats 
collapsing backwards during flight with consequent loss of control.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Cessna Service Bulletin, No. SB-7-25-04, dated 
April 23, 2007. The service information describes procedures for 
removing the seats, modifying the seat base/back attach brackets, and 
reinstalling the seats of all the crew seats of the affected airplanes 
and seats 3 and 4 on Model 206 series airplanes.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD 
would require you to remove the seats, modify the seat base/back attach 
brackets, and reinstall the seats of all the crew seats of the affected 
airplanes and seats 3 and 4 on Model 206 series airplanes.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 1,556 airplanes in 
the U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                               Parts cost                airplane     U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Models 172 and 182 series airplanes: 5      $800 (for two seats)............          $1,200      $1,599,600
 work-hours x $80 per hour = $400 (for two
 seats).
For Model 206 series airplanes: 9 work-hours x  1,234 (for four seats)..........           1,954         435,742
 80 per hour = $720 (for four seats).
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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 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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,

[[Page 39586]]

the FAA 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 AD:

Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. FAA 2007-28433; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-CE-052-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by September 17, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Models                            Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 172R.....................  17281211 through 17281356.
(2) 172S.....................  172S9621 through 172S10310, 172S10312
                                through 172S10324, 172S10327 through
                                172S10332, 172S10334 through 172S10349,
                                172S10351 through 172S10374, 172S10376
                                through 172S10386, 172S10388 through
                                172S10408, 172S10410 through 172S10412,
                                172S10414 through 172S10417, and
                                172S10421 through 172S10423.
(3) 182T.....................  18281328 through 18281867, 18281869
                                through 18281871, 18281873 through
                                18281875, and 18281877.
(4) T182T....................  T18208240 through T18208651, T18208654,
                                T18208656 through T18208659, T18208663,
                                T18208664, and T18208667 through
                                T18208668.
(5) 206H.....................  20608216 through 20608283.
(6) T206H....................  T20608445 through T20608662, T20608664
                                through T20608671, T20608673, T20608674,
                                T20608676 through T20608681, T20608683
                                through T20608689, T20608691, T20608692,
                                T20608694 through T20608696, T20608699
                                through T20608701, T20608703, and
                                T20608704.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of the seat base/back attach 
bracket failing where it is welded to the seat base. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the seat base/back attach brackets, 
which could result in the seats collapsing backwards during flight 
with consequent loss of control.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove, modify, and           Within the next 50    Follow Cessna
 reinstall the crew seats      hours time-in-        Aircraft Company
 (and seats 3 and 4 on the     service after the     Service Bulletin
 Model 206 series airplanes).  effective date of     SB07-25-04, dated
                               this AD or within     April 23, 2007.
                               the next 6 months
                               after the effective
                               date of this AD,
                               whichever occurs
                               first.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has 
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Gary 
Park, Aerospace Engineer, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, 
Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4123; fax: (316) 946-4107. Before 
using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, 
notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight 
Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

Related Information

    (g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, 
Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 942-
9006. To view the AD docket, go to U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket 
No. FAA-2007-28433; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-052-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 12, 2007.
Sandra J. Campbell,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13984 Filed 7-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P