[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 212 (Friday, November 2, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62143-62145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21571]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 212 / Friday, November 2, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 62143]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29317; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-079-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Model 172 and 
182 Series Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Cessna Aircraft Company Model 172 and 182 series airplanes that 
are equipped with the BRS-172 and BRS-182 Parachute System. This 
proposed AD would require the replacement of the pick-up collar support 
and nylon screws for the BRS-172 and BRS-182 Parachute System. This 
proposed AD results from notification by Ballistic Recovery Systems, 
Inc. (BRS) that the pick-up collar assembly may prematurely move off 
the launch tube and adversely affect rocket trajectory during 
deployment. We are proposing this AD to prevent premature separation of 
the collar. This condition could result in the parachute failing to 
successfully deploy.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 3, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc., 300 Airport Road, South Saint Paul, 
MN 55075-3551; telephone: (651) 457-7491; fax: (651) 457-8651.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Michalik, Senior Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois, 60018; 
telephone: (847) 294-7135; fax: (847) 294-7834; e-mail: 
[email protected].

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-
2007-29317; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-079-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://www.regulations.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 been notified by Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. of a 
concern similar to that which prompted AD 2007-14-03, dated August 16, 
2007, on the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS), where the 
parachute failed to successfully deploy. Testing indicates that the 
force of the rocket ignition and rocket blast may prematurely break the 
nylon pick up collar/support screws. When functioning properly the 
screws should not break until impacted by a flange at the rocket base. 
A prematurely separated collar/support may bind on the rocket as it 
slides down toward the flange at the base of the rocket. This may alter 
the direction of the rocket.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in the parachute 
failing to successfully deploy upon activation.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. Service Bulletins 
SB 07-01, dated June 8, 2007; and SB 07-02, dated June 8, 2007. The 
service information describes procedures for the replacement of the 
pick-up collar support and screws.

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 the replacement of the pick-up collar support and screws 
for the BRS-172 and BRS-182 Parachute System.
    The BRS-172 and BRS-182 Parachute System could also be installed on 
Cessna 150 series airplanes and Symphony Aircraft Industries Models 
OMF-100-160 and SA 160 airplanes. The corrective actions proposed in 
this NPRM are specific to the Cessna 172 and 182 series airplanes. We 
are evaluating these other BRS installations and, based on this 
evaluation, may consider additional rulemaking on this subject.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 54 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80..............  N/A.............................             $80          $4,320
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 62144]]

    Note: BRS will provide warranty credit to the extent noted in 
Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. Service Bulletins SB 07-01 and SB 
07-02, both dated June 8, 2007.

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://www.regulations.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, 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-2007-29317; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-CE-079-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by December 3, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following airplane models, all serial 
numbers, certificated in any category, that are equipped with:
    (1) BRS-172 Parachute System installed via Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) SA01679CH, or
    (2) BRS-182 Parachute System installed via STC SA01999CH.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Cessna 172 models                    Cessna 182 models
------------------------------------------------------------------------
172.......................................  182
172A......................................  182A
172B......................................  182B
172C......................................  182C
172D......................................  182D
172E......................................  182E
172F (USAF T-41A).........................  182F
172G......................................  182G
172H (USAF T-41A).........................  182H
172I......................................  182J
172K......................................  182K
172L......................................  182L
172M......................................  182M
172N......................................  182N
172P......................................  182P
172Q......................................  182Q
172R......................................  182R
172S......................................  182S
                                            182T
                                            R182
                                            T182
                                            TR182
                                            T182T
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from notification by Ballistic Recovery 
Systems, Inc. (BRS) that the pick-up collar assembly may prematurely 
move off the launch tube and adversely affect rocket trajectory 
during deployment. We are issuing this AD to prevent premature 
separation of the collar. This condition could result in the 
parachute failing to successfully deploy.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove and replace the pick-up    Within the next 25  (i) For Cessna
 collar support and two            hours time-in-      Model 172
 retaining screws.                 service after the   airplanes follow
                                   effective date of   BRS SB 07-01,
                                   this AD.            dated June 8,
                                                       2007.
                                                      (ii) For Cessna
                                                       Model 182
                                                       airplanes, follow
                                                       BRS SB 07-02,
                                                       dated June 8,
                                                       2007.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Chicago 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: Gregory 
Michalik, Senior Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, 
Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-7135; fax: (847) 
294-7834; e-mail: [email protected]. 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 Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc., 300 Airport Road, 
South Saint Paul, MN 55075-3551; telephone: (651) 457-7491; fax: 
(651) 457-8651. 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://www.regulations.gov. The docket number is 
Docket No. FAA-2007-29317; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-079-AD.


[[Page 62145]]


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 26, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-21571 Filed 11-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P