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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0811; Product Identifier 2019-CE-055-AD; Amendment
39-21431; AD 2021-04-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation, Inc. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) (type certificate previously
held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Models 208 and 208B airplanes. This AD
was prompted by reports of loose elevator torque tube attach fasteners.
This AD requires repetitively inspecting the inboard and outboard
elevator torque tube attachments for loose or incorrectly installed
fasteners, replacing all fasteners if loose or incorrectly installed
fasteners are found, and reporting the inspection results to the FAA.
This AD also includes optional actions to terminate the repetitive
inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 12, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 12,
2021.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Textron Aviation Inc., One Cessna Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67215;
phone: 316-517-5800; email: teamturbopropsupport@txtav.com; website:
https://support.cessna.com. You may view this service information at
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901
Locust St., Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability
of this material at the FAA, call 816-329-4148. It is also available at
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2020-0811.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0811; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, any
comments received, and other information. The address for Docket
Operations is 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: Bobbie Kroetch, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, KS
67209; phone: 316-946-4155; fax: 316-946-4107; email:
bobbie.kroetch@faa.gov or Wichita-COS@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Textron (type
certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Models 208 and
208B airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September
22, 2020 (85 FR 59457). The NPRM was prompted by reports of loose
elevator torque tube attach fasteners on low flight time Textron Model
208B airplanes. Textron identified a quality escape affecting certain
serial-numbered Model 208 and 208B airplanes. Fastener holes in the
inboard and outboard elevator torque tube connections may have been
oversized and fasteners at the inboard and outboard torque tube
connections may have been installed incorrectly.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require repetitively inspecting
the inboard and outboard elevator torque tube attachments for loose or
incorrectly installed fasteners, replacing all fasteners if loose or
incorrectly installed fasteners are found, and reporting the inspection
results to the FAA. The NPRM also proposed optional actions to
terminate the repetitive inspections. This condition, if not addressed,
could result in failure of the elevator torque tube fasteners, leading
to loss of elevator control and loss of controlled flight. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Task 27-30-00-290, Left and Right Elevator Torque
Tube Attach Points (Borescope) Special Detailed Inspection, dated
October 1, 2018, of the Cessna Model 208 Maintenance Manual (Task 27-
30-00-290). This service information contains procedures for performing
a detailed borescope inspection of the left and right elevator torque
tube attach points. 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 ADDRESSES.
Other Related Service Information
The FAA also reviewed Textron Aviation Mandatory Caravan Service
Bulletin CAB-27-06, dated October 14, 2019 (CAB-27-06). This service
information contains instructions for visually inspecting the left and
right elevator torque tube attach points for the presence of loose
rivets and replacing loose or incorrectly installed rivets.
Differences Between This AD and the Service Information
Task 27-30-00-290 only specifies replacing loose fasteners. This AD
requires replacement of all 48 fasteners if any single inboard or
outboard elevator torque tube attach fastener is found loose or
incorrectly installed. The FAA determined based on field evidence that
identification of one loose fastener often indicates other fasteners
may be affected.
CAB-27-06, which is not incorporated by reference in this AD,
specifies performing an initial inspection within 800 flight hours or
12 months from date of receipt, whichever occurs first. This AD
requires an initial inspection before the airplane accumulates 800
hours time-in-service (TIS) or within 200 hours TIS after the AD
effectivity date, whichever occurs later.
CAB-27-06 also specifies, without sufficient data, that an
inspection is not required for airplanes that have reached 4,000 hours.
The FAA determined an inspection of high-time airplanes is necessary to
verify whether these airplanes are affected. This AD requires a one-
time visual inspection for airplanes that have already accumulated
4,000 hours TIS.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 232 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
| Inspection |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Not applicable |
$85 per inspection
cycle |
$19,720 per inspection |
| Reporting Requirement |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Not applicable |
$85 per report |
$19,720 per report |
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of airplanes
that might need these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Fastener Replacement: All 48
Fasteners |
16 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $1,360 |
$10
|
$1,370
|
The FAA has included all known costs
in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators.
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 a 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 currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to take
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. All responses to this collection of
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.
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.
The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
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:
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