[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57994-57995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22337]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0644; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-011-AD; 
Amendment 39-17193; AD 2012-18-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The 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 
The Cessna Aircraft Company Model 750 airplanes. This AD was prompted 
by reports of direct current (DC) generator overvoltage events. This AD 
requires replacing the auxiliary power unit (APU) generator control 
unit (GCU). We are issuing this AD to prevent DC generator overvoltage 
events, which could result in smoke in the cockpit and loss of avionics 
and electrical systems.

DATES: This AD is effective October 24, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of October 24, 
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, WA. 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: Christine Abraham, Aerospace Engineer, 
Electrical Systems and Avionics Branch, ACE-119W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: 316-946-4165; 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 apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2012 (77 FR 
37827). That NPRM proposed to require replacing the auxiliary power 
unit (APU) generator control unit (GCU).

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 37827, June 25, 
2012) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 58 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement...........................  2 work-hours x $85 per            $2,400          $2,570        $149,060
                                         hour = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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

[[Page 57995]]

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):

2012-18-16 The Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-17193; Docket 
No. FAA-2012-0644; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-011-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 24, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to The Cessna Aircraft Company Model 750 
airplanes, certificated in any category, having serial numbers -
0222, -0225 through -0306 inclusive, and -0308.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical power.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of direct current (DC) generator 
overvoltage events. We are issuing this AD to prevent DC generator 
overvoltage events, which could result in smoke in the cockpit and 
loss of avionics and electrical systems.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Replacement

    Except as required by paragraph (h) of this AD: Within 6 months 
after the effective date of this AD, replace the auxiliary power 
unit generator control unit (GCU) having part number (P/N) 9914752-2 
with one having P/N 9914752-6, in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Cessna Service Bulletin SB750-24-30, dated December 
5, 2011.

(h) Exceptions

    (1) Where the Accomplishment Instructions of Cessna Service 
Bulletin SB750-24-30, dated December 5, 2011, state that operators 
must return the GCU having P/N 9914752-2 to the manufacturer, this 
AD does not require that action.
    (2) Where the Accomplishment Instructions of Cessna Service 
Bulletin SB750-24-30, dated December 5, 2011, state that the 
operator must record that the service bulletin has been completed, 
this AD does not require that action.

(i) 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.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Christine Abraham, 
Aerospace Engineer, Electrical Systems and Avionics Branch, ACE-
119W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, 
Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: 
316-946-4165; fax: 316-946-4107; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Cessna Service Bulletin SB750-24-30, dated December 5, 2011.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) 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.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
425-227-1221.
    (5) You may view this 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 September 4, 2012.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-22337 Filed 9-18-12; 8:45 am]
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