Airworthiness directives: Cessna,
[Federal Register: June 26, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 123)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 34833-34836]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26jn98-32]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-138-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 180 and 185 Series Airplanes.
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 80-10-01, which is applied to certain Cessna Aircraft Company 180 and 185 series airplanes that are equipped with Airglas Engineering Company, Inc., (AECI) Model LW3600-180 single position or Model LW3600- 180A two position fixed penetration wheel ski installations. AD 80-10- 01 currently requires: modifying the ski bungee assemblies, safety cables, and check cables; limiting the maximum airspeed to 160 knots with skis installed; and installing an airspeed limitation placard. The proposed AD would retain the actions required in AD 80-10-01, and would require marking the maximum airspeed limits on the airspeed indicator; placing a supplemental airplane flight manual (AFM) and AFM supplement in the cockpit; and adding the Cessna Model 180K airplane to the applicability. Reports that certain airspeeds cause the skis to rotate into a nose-down position during flight prompted the AD action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent one or both wheel skis from rotating into a nose-down position during flight, which could result in loss of control of the airplane and/or possible airplane damage during flight or landing operations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 24, 1998.
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ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-138-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained from Airglas Engineering Company, Inc., P.O. Box 190107, Anchorage, Alaska 99519-0107; telephone: (907) 344-1450; facsimile: (907) 349- 4938. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gordon K. Mandell, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Anchorage Aircraft Certification Office, 222 West 7th Avenue, #14, Annex G, Room A18, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7587; telephone: (907) 271-2670; facsimile: (907) 271-6365.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filedin the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. 97-CE-138-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-138-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
AD 80-10-01, Amendment 39-3762, applies to Cessna 180 and 185 series airplanes that are equipped with AECI Model LW3600-180 or Model LW3600-180A wheel ski installations in accordance with supplemental type certificate (STC) SA213AL. This AD currently requires modifying the ski bungee assemblies and their attachments to the airplane and the skis, safety cables, and check cables and their attachments to the airplane and the skis; and installing a placard adjacent to the airspeed indicator that limits the knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) to never exceed 160 knots with the skis installed.
Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule
Since the issuance of AD 80-10-01, additional field reports of incidents occurring on the affected airplanes with these wheel skis installed has prompted the FAA to review the actions required in AD 80- 10-01. The manufacturer and the FAA have decided that additional measures are needed to ensure that the airspeed limitations are followed.
Relevant Service Information
Airglas Engineering Company, Inc., has issued Service Bulletin No. LW3600-3, originally issued: September 21, 1979; Amended: October 10, 1997, which specifies modifying the ski bungee assemblies, safety cables, and check cables and their attachments to the airplane and the skis in accordance with the procedures specified in AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180A-1 and -2, Revision ``B'', dated September 21, 1979; AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180A-3, Revision ``A'', dated April 30, 1979; and AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180, Revision ``F'', dated September 21, 1979 (for single position wheel ski installations) or AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180A, Revision ``E'', dated September 21, 1979 (for two position wheel ski installations).
AECI Service Bulletin No. LW3600-3, originally issued: September 21, 1979; Amended: October 10, 1997, also specifies:
‹bullet› Reducing the maximum structural cruising speed to 139 knots indicated air speed (KIAS) with the skis installed;
‹bullet› Reducing the never exceed speed to 160 KIAS with the skis installed;
‹bullet› Installing a placard near the airspeed indicator with words prohibiting flight over 160 KIAS when the wheel skis are installed in accordance with AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180A-11, originally issued: September 21, 1979;
‹bullet› Marking the airspeed indicator so that these maximum KIAS limitations are clear to the pilot; and
‹bullet› Placing AECI Document AE97-13FM, ``Supplemental Airplane Flight Manual and Airplane Flight Manual Supplement'', dated October 10, 1997, in the airplane cockpit.
The FAA's Determination
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has determined that AD action should be taken to prevent one or both wheel skis from rotating into a nose-down position during flight, which could result in loss of control of the airplane and/or possible airplane damage during flight or landing operations.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop in other Cessna 180 and 185 series airplanes of the same type design, that are equipped with AECI Model LW3600-180 or Model LW3600-180A wheel ski installations in accordance with STC SA213AL, the proposed AD would supersede AD 80-10-01 with a new AD. The proposed AD would require the following:
--Modifying the ski bungee assemblies and their attachments to the airplane and the skis, the safety cables, and the check cables and their attachments to the airplane and the skis; --Installing a placard adjacent to the airspeed indicator limiting the never exceed speed to 160 knots and the maximum structural cruising speed to 139 knots with the skis installed; --Marking the airspeed indicator to reflect the never exceed speed (160 KIAS) and the maximum structural cruising speed (139 KIAS) with the skis installed; and, --Placing AECI Document No. AE97-13FM, ``Supplemental Airplane Flight Manual and Airplane Flight Manual Supplement'', dated October 10, 1997, in the airplane cockpit.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 170 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $350 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of
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the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $100,300, or $590 per airplane.
Airglas Engineering Company, Inc. has informed the FAA that approximately 12 of the affected airplanes have incorporated the proposed actions. Owners/operators of the affected airplanes that have already completed the proposed actions would reduce the estimated total cost impact by $7,080 from $100,300 to $93,220.
AD 80-10-01 currently requires most of the same actions on the affected airplanes as are proposed in this NPRM. The only differences between the proposed AD and AD 80-10-01 are the addition of the Cessna Model 180K airplane to the applicability and the requirements for marking the airspeed indicator and for placing a supplemental AFM and AFM supplement in the cockpit. These proposed actions can be accomplished for an airplane used under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 91) by an owner/operator who holds at least a private pilot's certificate, and for an airplane used under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 135) by an operator who holds an operating certificate issued under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 135), as authorized by sections 43.3, 43.7, and 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.3, 43.7, and 43.9), if the airspeed indicator is re-marked by painting the outside of the glass. The only cost impact upon the public for airplanes other than affected Cessna Model 180K airplanes, is the time it will take the affected airplane owners/operators to incorporate these actions. Therefore, the proposed AD has additional cost impact over that already required by AD 80-10-01 only for affected Cessna Model 180K airplanes.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
-
The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
-
Section 39.13 is amended by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 80-10-01, Amendment 39-3762, and by adding a new AD to read as follows:
Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. 97-CE-138-AD; Supersedes AD 80- 10-01, Amendment 39-3762.
Applicability: The following airplane models, all serial numbers, certificated in any category, that are equipped with Airglas Engineering Company, Inc., Model LW3600-180 (single position wheel ski installation) or Model LW3600-180A (two position fixed penetration wheel ski installation) in accordance with supplemental type certificate (STC) SA213AL:
Models; 180, 180A, 180B, 180C, 180D, 180E, 180F, 180G, 180H, 180J, 180K, 185, 185A, 185B, 185C, 185D, 185E, A185E, A185F.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent one or both wheel skis from rotating into a nose-down position during flight, which could result loss of control of the airplane and/or possible airplane damage during flight or landing operations, accomplish the following:
(a) Modify the wheel ski bungee assemblies, safety cables, and check cables and their attachments to the airplane and the skis, in accordance with Airglas Engineering Company, Inc. (AECI) Drawing No. LW3600-180A-1 and -2, Revision ``B'', dated September 21, 1979; AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180A-3, Revision ``A'', dated April 30, 1979; and AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180, Revision ``F'', dated September 21, 1979 (for single position wheel ski installations) or AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180A, Revision ``E'', dated September 21, 1979 (for two position wheel ski installations).
Note 2: Airglas Engineering Company, Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) No. LW3600-3, originally issued: September 21, 1979; Amended: October 10, 1997, specifies following the procedures provided in the drawings referenced in paragraph (a) of this AD.
(b) Fabricate and install a placard adjacent to the airspeed indicator with words at least \1/8\-inch in height in accordance with AECI Drawing No. LW3600-180A-11, originally issued: September 21, 1979, and referenced in AECI SB No. LW3600-3, originally issued: September 21, 1979; Amended: October 10, 1997.
(c) Mark the airspeed indicator to reflect the never exceed airspeed (160 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS)) and the maximum structural cruising speed (139 KIAS) in accordance with Airglas Engineering Company, Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) No. LW3600-3, originally issued: September 21, 1979; Amended: October 10, 1997.
(d) Place AECI Document AE97-13FM, ``Supplemental Airplane Flight Manual and Airplane Flight Manual Supplement'', dated October 10, 1997, in the airplane cockpit in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section in AECI SB No. LW3600-3, originally issued: September 21, 1979; Amended: October 10, 1997.
(e) The actions required in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this AD can be accomplished for an airplane used under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 91) by an owner/operator who holds at least a private pilot's certificate, and for an airplane used under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 135) by an operator who holds an operating certificate issued under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 135), as authorized by sections 43.3, 43.7, and 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.3, 43.7, and 43.9), if the airspeed indicator is re-marked by painting the outside of the glass.
(f) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(g) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Anchorage Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 222 West 7th Avenue, #14, Annex G Room A18,
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Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7587. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Anchorage ACO. Alternative methods of compliance approved for AD 80-10-01 are not considered approved as alternative methods of compliance for this AD.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Anchorage ACO.
(h) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of the documents referred to herein upon request to Airglas Engineering Company, Inc., P.O. Box 190107, Anchorage, Alaska 99519-0107 or may examine these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
(i) This amendment supersedes AD 80-10-01, Amendment 39-3762.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 15, 1998. James E. Jackson, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-16591Filed6-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
