[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 212 (Friday, October 31, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64876-64879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25500]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27628; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-025-AD; 
Amendment 39-15713; AD 2007-07-06 R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing) Models 
LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG, and LC42-550FG 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) to revise 
AD 2007-07-06, which applies to certain Cessna Aircraft Company (type 
certificate previously held by Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing) 
(Cessna) Models LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG, and LC42-550FG airplanes. AD 
2007-07-06 currently requires the following: Adding information to the 
limitations section of

[[Page 64877]]

the airplane flight manual (AFM); repetitively inspecting the aileron 
and the elevator linear bearings and control rods for foreign object 
debris, scarring, or damage; and taking all necessary corrective 
actions. Since we issued AD 2007-07-06, Cessna has issued a new service 
bulletin that contains procedures for installing an access panel to 
facilitate the required inspections. Consequently, this AD retains the 
actions currently required in AD 2007-07-06; allows installing access 
panels; and changes the serial number applicability. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent jamming in the aileron and elevator control systems, 
which could result in failure. This failure could lead to loss of 
control.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on December 5, 2008.
    On December 5, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-
07-002D, dated May 29, 2008, and Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-
07-018, dated May 29, 2008, listed in this AD.
    As of April 9, 2007 (72 FR 15822, April 3, 2007), the Director of 
the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
Columbia Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-07-002, dated March 14, 2007, 
listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, 
Kansas 67227; phone (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. The docket number is FAA-2007-27628; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-025-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Morfitt, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
WA 98057; telephone: (425) 917-6405; fax: (425) 917-6590; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On August 1, 2008, 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 LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG, and LC42-
550FG airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as 
a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on August 7, 2008 (73 FR 45902). 
The NPRM proposed to revise AD 2007-07-06 with a new AD that will 
retain the actions currently required in AD 2007-07-06; allow 
installing access panels; and change the serial number applicability.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 1,495 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Total cost
                   Labor cost                                 Parts cost               Total cost      on U.S.
                                                                                      per airplane    operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 work-hours x $80 per hour = $320..............  Not applicable....................         $320      $478,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do the optional access panel 
installation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Total cost
             Labor cost                    Parts cost       per airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 work-hours x $80 per hour =       Not applicable.......       $1,120
 $1,120.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Warranty credit for installing the access panel may be given to the 
extent noted in Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletins SB-07-018, dated May 
29, 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 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

[[Page 64878]]

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-
2007-27628; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-025-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 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2007-07-06, Amendment 39-15011 (72 FR 15822, April 3, 2007), and adding 
the following new AD:

2007-07-06 R1 Cessna Aircraft Company (type certificate previously 
held by Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing): Amendment 39-15713; Docket 
No. FAA-2007-27628; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-025-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on December 5, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD revises AD 2007-07-06, Amendment 39-15011.

Applicability

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Model                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LC40-550FG............................  40001 through 40079.
LC41-550FG............................  41001 through 41800 and 411001
                                         through 411041.
LC42-550FG............................  42001 through 42569 and 421001
                                         through 421006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD is the result of reports of possible foreign object 
contamination of the linear bearings. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent jamming in the aileron and elevator control systems, which 
could result in failure. This failure could lead to loss of control.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Insert Appendix A of      Before further        Under 14 CFR 43.7,
 Columbia Mandatory Service    flight after April    the owner/operator
 Bulletin SB-07-002, dated     9, 2007 (the          holding at least a
 March 14, 2007, or Appendix   compliance date       private pilot
 A of Cessna Mandatory         retained from AD      certificate is
 Service Bulletin SB-07-       2007-07-06).          allowed to do the
 002D, dated May 29, 2008,                           AFM insertion
 into the limitations                                requirement of this
 section of the airplane                             AD. Make an entry
 flight manual (AFM).                                into the aircraft
                                                     logbook showing
                                                     compliance with
                                                     this portion of the
                                                     AD per compliance
                                                     with 14 CFR 43.9.
(2) Access and inspect the    Initially inspect     Following Columbia
 aileron bearings in both      within the next 35    Mandatory Service
 wings and the elevator        hours time-in-        Bulletin SB-07-002,
 bearings in the fuselage      service (TIS) after   dated March 14,
 for foreign object debris.    April 9, 2007 (the    2007, or Cessna
                               compliance date       Mandatory Service
                               retained from AD      Bulletin SB-07-
                               2007-07-06)           002D, dated May 29,
                               Repetitively          2008, and FAA-
                               inspect thereafter    approved
                               at intervals not to   maintenance
                               exceed 12 calendar    procedures. The
                               months.               appropriate
                                                     maintenance manual
                                                     contains these
                                                     procedures.
(3) Remove any debris found   Before further        Following Columbia
 during any inspection         flight after the      Mandatory Service
 required in paragraph         inspection in which   Bulletin SB-07-002,
 (e)(2) of this AD.            the debris is found.  dated March 14,
                                                     2007, or Cessna
                                                     Mandatory Service
                                                     Bulletin SB-07-
                                                     002D, dated May 29,
                                                     2008, and FAA-
                                                     approved
                                                     maintenance
                                                     procedures. The
                                                     appropriate
                                                     maintenance manual
                                                     contains these
                                                     procedures.
(4) Inspect the aileron and   Initially inspect     Following Columbia
 elevator control rods for     within the next 35    Mandatory Service
 scarring or damage near the   hours TIS after       Bulletin SB-07-002,
 linear bearings.              April 9, 2007 (the    dated March 14,
                               compliance date       2007, or Cessna
                               retained from AD      Mandatory Service
                               2007-07-06).          Bulletin SB-07-
                               Repetitively          002D, dated May 29,
                               inspect thereafter    2008, and FAA-
                               at intervals not to   approved
                               exceed 12 calendar    maintenance
                               months.               procedures. The
                                                     appropriate
                                                     maintenance manual
                                                     contains these
                                                     procedures.
(5) Contact the manufacturer  Make all repairs      Following Columbia
 at the address specified in   before further        Mandatory Service
 paragraph (h)(3) of this AD   flight after the      Bulletin SB-07-002,
 for a repair scheme if any    inspection in which   dated March 14,
 scarring or damage is found   scarring or damage    2007, or Cessna
 during any inspection         is found.             Mandatory Service
 required in paragraph                               Bulletin SB-07-
 (e)(4) of this AD.                                  002D, dated May 29,
                                                     2008, and FAA-
                                                     approved
                                                     maintenance
                                                     procedures. The
                                                     appropriate
                                                     maintenance manual
                                                     contains these
                                                     procedures.
(6) For the inspections       At any time after     Following Cessna
 required in paragraphs        the effective date    Mandatory Service
 (e)(2) and (e)(4) of this     of this AD.           Bulletin SB-07-018,
 AD, you may install a                               dated May 29, 2008.
 linear bearing access panel
 instead of drilling an
 inspection hole. If the
 hole has previously been
 drilled, the access panel
 may also be installed in
 addition to the inspection
 hole.
------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 64879]]

    Note 1: Previous compliance with paragraphs (e)(1) through 
(e)(5) of this AD using Columbia Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-07-
002A, dated August 29, 2007; Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-
07-002B, dated December 10, 2007; or Cessna Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB-07-002C, dated February 18, 2008, are acceptable methods 
of compliance.


    Note 2: Compliance with Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-07-
018, dated May 29, 2008, is not considered terminating action for 
this AD. This AD takes precedence over Cessna Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB-07-018, dated May 29, 2008.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, ATTN: Jeff Morfitt, Aerospace Engineer, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, WA 98057; telephone: (425) 917-6405; fax: (425) 917-6590, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using 
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 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.
    (g) AMOCs approved for AD 2007-07-06 are approved for this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must use Columbia Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-07-002, 
dated March 14, 2007, or Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-07-
002D, dated May 29, 2008, and Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-
07-018, page 1 dated May 29, 2008, pages 2 through 20 dated May 30, 
2008, 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 Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-
07-002D, dated May 29, 2008, and Cessna Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB-07-018, page 1 dated May 29, 2008, pages 2 through 20 dated May 
30, 2008, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) On April 9, 2007 (72 FR 15822, April 3, 2007), the Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of 
Columbia Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-07-002, dated March 14, 2007.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, 
Kansas 67227.
    (4) 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 October 21, 2008.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-25500 Filed 10-30-08; 8:45 am]
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