[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16432-16434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6522]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1414; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-227-AD; 
Amendment 39-16982; AD 2012-06-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Cessna Aircraft Company Model 560XL airplanes. This AD was prompted by 
reports of jammed or stiff rudder control due to water freezing on the 
rudder bias cables and pulleys of the stinger. This AD requires 
modification of the drain installation of the tailcone stinger on the 
aft canted bulkhead, inspections for drain holes in the forward and aft 
frames, and modification of the drain holes. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent ice accumulation on the cables and pulleys of the stinger, 
which could result in jamming of the rudder and consequent reduced 
controllability of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective April 25, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 25, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Co., P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone 
316-517-6215; fax 316-517-5802; email [email protected]; 
Internet https://www.cessnasupport.com/newlogin.html. You may review 
copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-
227-1221.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket 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 AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Fairback, Aerospace Engineer, 
Mechanical Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita 
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-
Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: (316) 946-4154; fax: 
(316) 946-4107; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would

[[Page 16433]]

apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register on December 30, 2011 (76 FR 82205). That NPRM proposed to 
require modification of the drain installation of the tailcone stinger 
on the aft canted bulkhead, inspections for drain holes in the forward 
and aft frames, and modification of the drain holes.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We have considered the comment received. The National 
Transportation Safety Board supports the NPRM (76 FR 82205, December 
30, 2011).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD as proposed-except for minor editorial changes. We have determined 
that these minor changes:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (76 FR 82205, December 30, 2011) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 82205, December 30, 2011).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 475 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Cost on
                 Action                              Labor cost             Parts cost    Cost per       U.S.
                                                                                          product     operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification of stinger drain             10 work-hours x $85 per hour =          $489       $1,339     $636,025
 installation.                             $850.
Prior/concurrent modification of drain    5 work-hours x $85 per hour =            255          680      323,000
 holes.                                    $425.
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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

    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 DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2012-06-01 Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-16982 ; Docket No. 
FAA-2011-1414; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-227-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 25, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Cessna Aircraft Company Model 560XL 
airplanes; certificated in any category; serial numbers -5002 
through -5372 inclusive, -5501 through -5830 inclusive, -6002 
through -6080 inclusive, and -6082 through -6086 inclusive.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 53: Fuselage.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of jammed or stiff rudder 
control due to water freezing on the rudder bias cables and pulleys 
of the stinger. We are issuing this AD to prevent ice accumulation 
on the cables and pulleys of the stinger, which could result in 
jamming of the rudder and consequent reduced controllability of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Modification of the Drain Installation

    Within 800 flight hours or 12 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first: Modify the drain installation of 
the tailcone stinger on the aft canted bulkhead (i.e., install a 
drain and rubber seals), in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Cessna Service Bulletin SB560XL-53-16, dated October 
4, 2011.

(h) Modification of the Drain Holes

    For airplanes identified in Cessna Alert Service Letter 
ASL560XL-53-08, dated January 21, 2011: Prior to or concurrently 
with the modification required by paragraph (g) of this AD, modify 
the drain holes, including inspecting for a missing drain hole and, 
before further flight, drilling a larger drain hole as applicable; 
in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Cessna Alert 
Service Letter ASL560XL-53-08, dated January 21, 2011.

    Note 1 to paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD:  After 
accomplishing the actions required by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this 
AD, maintenance and/or preventative maintenance under 14 CFR part 43 
is permitted provided the maintenance does not

[[Page 16434]]

result in changing the AD-mandated configuration (reference 14 CFR 
39.7).

(i) No Reporting

    Although Cessna Service Bulletin SB560XL-53-16, dated October 4, 
2011; and Cessna Alert Service Letter ASL560XL-53-08, dated January 
21, 2011; both specify to submit certain maintenance information to 
the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact David Fairback, 
Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-
116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1801 Airport 
Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; phone: 
(316) 946-4154; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: [email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) on the date specified under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51.
    (i) Cessna Service Bulletin SB560XL-53-16, dated October 4, 
2011, including Service Bulletin Supplemental Data SB560XL-53-16, 
Revision A, dated October 20, 2011.
    (ii) Cessna Alert Service Letter ASL560XL-53-08, dated January 
21, 2011.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Cessna Aircraft Co., P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone 
316-517-6215; fax 316-517-5802; email 
[email protected]; Internet https://www.cessnasupport.com/newlogin.html.
    (3) You may review copies of the referenced service information 
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 9, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6522 Filed 3-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P