[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5737-5739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1460]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29138; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-073-AD; 
Amendment 39-15351; AD 2008-03-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R and 
172S Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 172R and 172S airplanes. This 
AD requires you to inspect the fuel return line assembly for chafing; 
replace the fuel return line assembly if chafing is found; and inspect 
the clearance between the fuel return line assembly and both the right 
steering tube assembly and the airplane structure, adjusting as 
necessary. This AD results from reports of chafed fuel return line 
assemblies, which were caused by the fuel return line assembly rubbing 
against the right steering tube assembly during full rudder pedal 
actuation. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct chafing of the 
fuel return line assembly, which could result in fuel leaking under the 
floor and fuel vapors entering the cabin. This condition could lead to 
fire under the floor or in the cabin area.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on March 6, 2008.
    On March 6, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified 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,

[[Page 5738]]

DC 20590, or on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. The docket 
number is FAA-2007-29138; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-073- AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Janusz, Aerospace Engineer, 1801 
Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-
4148; fax: (316) 946-4107; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On October 17, 2007, 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 Cessna Models 172R and 172S airplanes. This 
proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on October 24, 2007 (72 FR 60291). The NPRM proposed 
to require you to detect and correct chafing of the fuel return line 
assembly.

Comments

    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.

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.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The service information permits tube damage up to a depth of 0.0035 
inch. There is no known method to accurately measure the thickness 
damage on a tube. We require replacement of the fuel return line 
assembly if any damage is found.
    If no chafing is found in the inspection of the fuel return line 
assembly, the service information does not require inspection for 
clearance around the fuel return line assembly. We require you to 
inspect the clearance between the fuel return line assembly and both 
the right steering tube assembly and airplane structure, for all 
applicable aircraft.
    The service information does not specify a minimum clearance 
requirement between the fuel return line assembly and the right 
steering tube assembly, only that the fuel return line assembly does 
not touch either the right steering tube assembly or the airplane 
structure. We require a minimum of 0.5 inch of clearance between the 
fuel return line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and 
the airplane structure, during full rudder pedal actuation.
    The requirements of this AD take precedence over the provisions in 
the service information.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 928 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 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          $74,240
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that will be required based on the results of the inspection. We have 
no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need this 
replacement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5 work-hour x $80 per hour = $40....            $123             $163
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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-2007-29138; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-073-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

[[Page 5739]]

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 the following new AD:

2008-03-02 Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-15351; Docket No. 
FAA-2007-29138; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-073-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on March 6, 2008.

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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
172R...............................  17281188 through 17281390.
172S...............................  172S9491 through 172S10489.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of chafed fuel return line 
assemblies caused by the fuel return line assembly rubbing against 
the right steering tube assembly during full rudder pedal actuation. 
We are issuing this AD to detect and correct chafing of the fuel 
return line assembly, which could result in fuel leaking under the 
cabin floor and fuel vapors entering the cabin. This condition could 
lead to fire under the floor or in the cabin area.

Compliance

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

    Note: The requirements of this AD take precedence over the 
actions required in the service information.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the fuel return line  Within the next     Follow Cessna
 assembly (Cessna part number (P/  100 hours time-in-  Service Bulletin
 N) 0500118-49 or FAA-approved     service (TIS)       SB07-28-01, dated
 equivalent P/N) for chafing.      after March 6,      June 18, 2007.
                                   2008 (the
                                   effective date of
                                   this AD) or
                                   within the next
                                   12 months after
                                   March 6, 2008
                                   (the effective
                                   date of this AD),
                                   whichever occurs
                                   first.
(2) If chafing is found in the    Before further      Follow Cessna
 inspection required in            flight after the    Service Bulletin
 paragraph (e)(1) of this AD,      inspection          SB07-28-01, dated
 replace the fuel return line      required in         June 18, 2007.
 assembly (Cessna P/N 0500118-49   paragraph (e)(1)
 or FAA-approved equivalent P/N).  of this AD where
                                   evidence of
                                   chafing was found.
(3) Inspect for a minimum         Before further      Follow paragraph 6
 clearance of 0.5 inch between     flight after:       of the
 the following parts throughout   (A) The inspection   Instructions
 the entire range of copilot       required in         section of Cessna
 rudder pedal travel and adjust    paragraph (e)(1)    Service Bulletin
 the clearance as necessary:       of this AD if no    SB07-28-01, dated
                                   chafing is found;   June 18, 2007.
                                   or.                 This AD requires
                                  (B) The              a minimum
                                   replacement         clearance of 0.5
                                   required in         inch.
                                   paragraph (e)(2)
                                   of this AD..
    (i) The fuel return line
     assembly (Cessna P/N
     0500118-49 or FAA-approved
     equivalent P/N) and the
     steering tube assembly
     (Cessna P/N MC0543022-2C);
     and
    (ii) The fuel return line
     assembly (Cessna P/N
     0500118-49 or FAA-approved
     equivalent P/N) and the
     airplane structure.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
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: Jeff Janusz, Aerospace Engineer, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4148; fax: (316) 946-
4107; 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (g) You must use Cessna Service Bulletin SB07-28-01, dated June 
18, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD 
specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, 
Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 942-9006.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at 
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.>

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 22, 2008.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-1460 Filed 1-30-08; 8:45 am]
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