[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41305-41307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16542]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0790; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-042-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 150 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 150 series airplanes with the BRS-150 
Parachute System installed via Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
SA64CH. This proposed AD would require the replacement of the pick-up 
collar support and nylon screws for the BRS-150 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

[[Page 41306]]

of the collar. This condition could result in the parachute failing to 
successfully deploy.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 16, 
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 
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, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 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-
2008-0790; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-042-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 
continued operational safety concern on Cessna 150 series airplanes 
that is similar to that which prompted AD 2007-14-03 (72 FR 37999, July 
12, 2007) on the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS), where the 
parachute failed to successfully deploy. We also issued AD 2008-02-18 
(73 FR 4051, January 24, 2008), where a similar situation could occur 
on the Cessna 172 series and 182 series airplanes that are equipped 
with the BRS-172 and BRS-182 Parachute Systems, respectively. 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. Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB 2008-04-01 R1, dated April 24, 2008. The service 
information describes procedures for the replacement of the pick-up 
collar support, launch tube, and nylon 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, launch 
tube, and nylon screws for the BRS-150 Parachute System.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 6 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $400..........  Not applicable..................            $400           $2,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: BRS will provide warranty credit to the extent noted in 
Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 2008-
04-01 R1, dated April 24, 2008.

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

[[Page 41307]]

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-2008-0790; Directorate 
Identifier 2008-CE-042-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by September 16, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Models 150, 150A, 150B, 150C, 150D, 150E, 
150F, 150G, 150H, 150J, 150K, A150K, 150L, A150L, 150M, A150M, 152, 
and A152 airplanes that:
    (1) have a BRS-150 Parachute Systems with a serial number in the 
range of 50001 through 50006 installed via Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) SA64CH; and
    (2) are certificated in any category.

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
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Remove the pick-up collar     Within the next 25    Follow BRS SB 2008-
 support, nylon screws, and    hours time-in-        04-01 R1, dated
 launch tube and replace       service after the     April 24, 2008.
 with a new pick-up collar     effective date of
 support, custom tension       this AD.
 screws, and new launch tube.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Chicago 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: Gregory Michalik, Senior Aerospace Engineer, Chicago ACO, 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 30, 2008.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-16542 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P