DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-29240; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-076-AD] RIN
2120-AA64
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 175 and 175A Air-
planes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportat-
ion (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 175 and 175A airplanes.
This proposed AD would require you to check the airplane logbook to
determine if the original engine mounting brackets have been replaced. If
the original engine mounting brackets are still installed, this proposed
AD would require you to repetitively inspect those brackets for cracks and
replace any cracked engine mounting bracket. After replacing all four
original engine mounting brackets, no further action would be required by
this proposed AD. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the
engine became detached from the firewall during landing on one of the
affected airplanes. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks
in the engine mounting brackets, which could result in failure of the
engine mounting bracket. This failure could lead to the engine detaching
from the firewall.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 9, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this proposed
AD:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions
for sending your comments electronically.
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.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
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.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Cessna
Aircraft Company, Product Support, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277;
telephone: (316) 517-5800; fax: (316) 942-9006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Park, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Wich-
ita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita,
Kansas 67209; telephone: 316-946-4123; fax: 316-946-4107; e- mail address:
gary.park@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- 2007-29240;
Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-076-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://
dms.dot.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
We received a report of the engine detaching from the firewall on a Cessna
Model 175 airplane during landing. Investigation revealed that cracks in
the two top engine mounting brackets behind the firewall caused the
brackets to fail. This resulted in the top half of the firewall failing,
pulling forward and down about 18 inches.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory
examined the cracked brackets. The examination revealed that the metal
content of the brackets did not contain the constituent elements of the
specified material and was approximately 40 percent below the specified
strength. The NTSB determined that reduced structural integrity of the
engine mounting brackets resulted in fatigue cracks developing in the
brackets.
We agree with the NTSB's determination that inadequate materials used in
manufacturing the engine mounting brackets, which were used on Cessna
Models 175 and 175A airplanes manufactured from 1958 through 1960, caused
the engine mounting brackets to crack.
This condition, if not corrected, could cause the engine mounting brackets
to fail. This failure could result in the engine detaching from the
firewall.
RELEVANT SERVICE INFORMATION
We have reviewed Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SEB07-2, Revision
2, dated June 18, 2007. The service information describes procedures for:
Inspecting the upper and lower engine mounting brackets on both the left
and right sides for cracks; and
Replacing cracked engine mounting brackets.
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
require you to check the airplane logbook to determine if the original
engine mounting brackets have been replaced. If the original engine
mounting brackets are still installed, this proposed AD would require you
to repetitively inspect those brackets for cracks and replace any cracked
engine mounting bracket. After replacing all four original engine mounting
brackets, no further action would be required by 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 proposed AD would affect 1,218 airplanes in the U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to do each proposed inspection:
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TOTAL COST PER TOTAL COST ON
LABOR COST PARTS COST AIRPLANE U.S. OPERATORS
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7.5 work-hours x
$80 per hour = $600.. Not applicable... $600 $730,800
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We estimate the following costs to do the proposed replacements.
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TOTAL COST PER
LABOR COST PARTS COST AIRPLANE
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3 work-hours per bracket x $80 $200 per bracket. $440 per bracket.
per hour = $240 per bracket. 4 4 x $200 = $800 $1,760 to replace
brackets per airplane x $240 for all 4 all 4 brackets.
per bracket = $960. brackets.
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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
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://dms.dot.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) 647-5527) 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, 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.
SEC. 39.13 [AMENDED]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD: