DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0450; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-013-AD;
Amendment 39-18883; AD 2017-10-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Textron Aviation Inc. Models 402C and 414A airplanes (type certificate
previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company). This AD requires
inspecting the nacelle fittings for cracks, replacing if necessary, and
reporting the results of the inspection to the FAA. This AD was
prompted by reports of cracks found on certain nacelle fittings. We are
issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 7, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 7,
2017.
We must receive comments on this AD by July 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
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 final rule, contact
Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Customer Service, One Cessna
Blvd., Wichita, Kansas 67215; telephone: (316) 517-5800; email:
corpcomm@txtav.com; Internet: www.txtav.com. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2017-0450.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0450;
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 street address for the Docket Office (phone:
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Chapman, Aerospace Engineer,
Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100,
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4152; fax: (316) 946-4107,
email: paul.chapman@faa.gov or Wichita-COS@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We received a report from an operator who discovered a failed
nacelle fitting on a Textron Aviation Inc. Model 402C airplane. The
nacelle fitting was completely cracked through and no longer functioned
as intended.
Investigation revealed that the part was not manufactured in
accordance with the design specification. We have determined that out-
of-tolerance parts may lead to premature failure caused by metal
fatigue.
The Textron Aviation Inc. Model 414A airplanes share a similar
design in the affected area to that of the Model 402C airplanes.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the
nacelle fitting, which could lead to engine nacelle separation and loss
of control. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on
these products.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Textron Aviation Mandatory Multi-engine Service Letter
MEL-54-02, Revision 2, dated March 29, 2017. The service letter
describes procedures for inspecting the nacelle fittings for cracks and
replacing if necessary. This service information is reasonably
available because the interested parties have access to it through
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the
ADDRESSES.

FAA's Determination

We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously. This AD also requires sending the
inspection results to the FAA so that appropriate information can be
evaluated for any possible change in future inspections.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because
cracks in the nacelle fitting may cause the fitting to fail, which
could lead to engine nacelle separation and loss of control. Therefore,
we find that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are
impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendment
effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2017-0450 and
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-013-AD at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
AD because 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 about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 555 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements
that will be required based on the results of the inspection. We have
no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need these
replacements:

Paperwork Reduction Act

A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a current valid OMB control number. The control
number for the collection of information required by this AD is 2120-
0056. The paperwork cost associated with this AD has been detailed in
the Costs of Compliance section of this document and includes time for
reviewing instructions, as well as completing and reviewing the
collection of information. Therefore, all reporting associated with
this AD is mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden
and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA
at 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591. ATTN: Information
Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

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

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 airworthiness
directive (AD):