Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 150 and 152 Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-10-09, which applies to certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) 150 and 152 series airplanes. AD 2009-10-09 requires either installing a placard prohibiting spins and other acrobatic maneuvers in the airplane or replacing the rudder stop, the rudder stop bumper, and the attachment hardware with a new rudder stop modification kit and replacing the safety wire with jamnuts. Since we issued AD 2009-10-09, we became aware of a need to clarify certain model and serial number designations, remove the duplicate requirement of replacing the safety wire with jamnuts, and clarify the conditional acceptability of using Modification Kit part number (P/N) SK152-25 as a terminating action to this proposed AD. Consequently, this proposed AD would retain the actions currently required in AD 2009-10-09, correct model designation for certain serial numbers, remove the duplicate requirement of replacing safety wire with jamnuts, and clarify the conditional acceptability of using Modification Kit P/N SK152-25 as a terminating action to this proposed AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent the rudder from traveling past the normal travel limit. Operation in this non-certificated control position is unacceptable and could cause undesirable consequences, such as contact between the rudder and the elevator.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 28, 2009.

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 Cessna Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, KS 67277; telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 517-7271; Internet: http://www.cessna.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ann Johnson, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4105; fax: (316) 946-4107; e-mail: ann.johnson@faa.gov.

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-2007-27747; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-030-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

Investigations of two spin accidents involving Cessna Model 152 airplanes revealed the rudder was found in the over-travel position with the stop plate hooked over the stop bolt heads. After examining the accident airplanes and other Cessna Models 150 and 152 airplanes, accident investigators determined that, under certain conditions, it is possible to jam the rudder past its normal travel limit. The jam occurs when the stop plate is forced aft of the stop bolt head. The forward edge of the stop plate can then become lodged under the head of the stop bolt causing the rudder to jam in this over-travel position. Recovery from a spin may not be possible with the rudder jammed beyond the normal rudder travel stop limits. This condition caused us to issue AD 2009-10-09, Amendment 39-15904 (74 FR 22429, May 13, 2009) on certain Cessna 150 and 152 series airplanes. AD 2009-10-09 currently requires the following:

• Installing a placard prohibiting spins and other acrobatic maneuvers in the airplane; or
• Replacing the rudder stop, the rudder stop bumper, and the attachment hardware with a new rudder stop modification kit; and
• Replacing the safety wire with jamnuts.

Since we issued AD 2009-10-09, we became aware of a need to clarify certain model and serial number designations and to remove the duplicate requirement to replace safety wire with jamnuts since this procedure is already included in the modification kit instructions. We also became aware of a need to clarify the conditional acceptability of using Modification Kit P/N S152-25 as a terminating action to this proposed AD.

This condition, if not corrected, could cause contact between the rudder and the elevator and result in loss of control.

Relevant Service Information

The service information referenced in AD 2009-10-09 is still applicable for this proposed AD.

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 revise AD 2009-10-09 with a new AD that would retain the actions currently required in AD 2009-10-09, correct model designation for certain serial numbers, remove the duplicate requirement to replace the safety wire with jamnuts, and clarify the conditional acceptability of using the P/N SK152-25 kit as a terminating action to this proposed AD. This proposed AD would require you to use the service information described previously to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 17,090 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to do the proposed insertion of the operational limitation:

We estimate the following costs to do the proposed modification:

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 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) 647-5227) 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
• Incorporation by reference
• 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.