[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 50 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13486-13488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5005]



[[Page 13486]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0306; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Model 525 
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) Model 525 airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require you to inspect for missing firewall sealant 
between the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly; and, if you find 
that firewall sealant is missing, seal with firewall sealant between 
the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly. This proposed AD results 
from a report that firewall sealant may not have been applied between 
the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly during manufacture of 
certain Model 525 airplanes. We are proposing this AD to detect and 
correct missing firewall sealant between the aft firewall assembly and 
seal assembly, which could result in failure of the fire extinguishing 
system to prevent the spread of fire through the firewall gap. This 
failure could lead to an uncontrolled fire.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 12, 2008.

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.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     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.
     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 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, 
Kansas 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 942-9006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Galstad, Aerospace Engineer, 
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4135; 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-
2008-0306; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-014-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 received a report that firewall sealant may not have been 
applied between the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly during 
manufacture of Model 525 airplanes, serial numbers 525-0600 through 
525-0662.
    A nacelle fire may pass through the gap where the firewall sealant 
is missing. Although the fire detection system and fire extinguishing 
system remain operational, the effectiveness of the fire extinguishing 
system has not been shown to prevent the spread of fire through the 
firewall gap. The fire could pass through the gap in the firewall or 
the effectiveness of the fire extinguishing system be defeated by the 
gap.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in an uncontrolled 
fire.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Cessna Aircraft Company Citation Service Letter 
SL525-71-05, Revision 1, dated February 6, 2008. The service 
information describes procedures for:
     Inspecting for missing firewall sealant between the aft 
firewall assembly and seal assembly; and
     Sealing with firewall sealant between the aft firewall 
assembly and seal assembly.

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 inspect for missing firewall sealant between the 
aft firewall assembly and seal assembly; and, if you find that firewall 
sealant is missing, seal with firewall sealant between the aft firewall 
assembly and seal assembly.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The service information requires compliance within 600 hours time-
in-service (TIS) or 1 year after the date of receipt, whichever occurs 
first. Due to the severity of the safety issue (uncontrolled fire), 
this proposed AD has a compliance of within the next 60 hours TIS after 
the effective date of this AD or 60 days after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first. The requirements of this proposed AD, 
if adopted as a final rule, would take precedence over the provisions 
in the service information.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 45 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:

[[Page 13487]]



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                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                              Parts cost                airplane      U.S. operators
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1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80.............  Not Applicable.................             $80           $3,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 work-hours x $80 per hour = $320....             $30             $350
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-2008-0306; Directorate 
Identifier 2008-CE-014-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by May 12, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model 525 airplanes, serial numbers 525-
0600 through 525-0662, that are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that firewall sealant may not 
have been applied between the aft firewall assembly and seal 
assembly during manufacture of certain Model 525 airplanes. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct missing firewall sealant 
between the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly, which could 
result in failure of the fire extinguishing system to prevent the 
spread of fire through the firewall gap. This failure could lead to 
an uncontrolled fire.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect between the       Within the next 60    Follow Cessna
 6352225 aft firewall          hours time-in-        Aircraft Company
 assembly and 6352226 seal     service (TIS) after   Citation Service
 assembly for missing          the effective date    Letter SL525-71-05,
 firewall sealant.             of this AD or         Revision 1, dated
                               within 60 days        February 6, 2008.
                               after the effective
                               date of this AD,
                               whichever occurs
                               first.
(2) If, as a result of the    Before further        Follow Cessna
 inspection required by        flight after the      Aircraft Company
 paragraph (e)(1) of this      inspection required   Citation Service
 AD, you find there is         by paragraph (e)(1)   Letter SL525-71-05,
 missing firewall sealant      of this AD.           Revision 1, dated
 between the 6352225 aft                             February 6, 2008.
 firewall assembly and
 6352226 seal assembly, seal
 with U000117S firewall
 sealant in the gap between
 the 6352225 aft firewall
 assembly and 6352226 seal
 assembly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 13488]]

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: James Galstad, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO, 1801 Airport 
Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4135; 
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://www.regulations.gov.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 7, 2008.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5005 Filed 3-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P