E7-2628. Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 500, 501, 550, 551, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires installing identification sleeves on the wires for the positive and negative terminal studs of the engine and/or auxiliary power unit (APU) fire extinguishing bottles, as applicable, and re-connecting the wires to the correct terminal studs. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of the existing AD; add airplanes to the applicability; and, for certain airplanes only, require a review of wiring changes made using the original issue of one service bulletin and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from a determination that additional airplanes are subject to the unsafe condition described in the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the fire extinguishing bottles are activated in the event of an engine or APU fire, and that flammable fluids are not supplied during a fire, which could result in an unextinguished fire in the nacelle or APU.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on this proposed AD.

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590.
• Fax: [phone].
• Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Contact Cessna Aircraft Co., P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277, for service information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Trenton Shepherd, Mechanical Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number “Docket No. 2007-27258; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-213-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 with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone [phone]) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System receives them.

Discussion

On February 7, 2006, we issued AD 2006-04-10, amendment 39-14491 (71 FR 8443, February 17, 2006), for certain Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes. That AD requires installing identification sleeves on the wires for the positive and negative terminal studs of the engine and/or auxiliary power unit (APU) fire extinguishing bottles, as applicable, and re-connecting the wires to the correct terminal studs. That AD resulted from a report of mis-wired fire extinguishing bottles. We issued that AD to ensure that the fire extinguishing bottles are activated in the event of an engine or APU fire, and that flammable fluids are not supplied during a fire, which could result in an unextinguished fire in the nacelle or APU.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

Since we issued AD 2006-04-10, we have determined that two affected airplane models, Models 501 and 551, were not included in the applicability of that AD. Model 501 and 551 airplanes could be subject to the same unsafe condition as other airplanes subject to AD 2006-04-10; therefore, we have added those airplanes to the applicability of this proposed AD.

We have also determined that, as written, Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, dated April 1, 2005, would not entirely correct the unsafe condition. Therefore, any actions done using the original issue of the service bulletin would not be considered acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this proposed AD, unless the actions are confirmed to be in accordance with Revision 1 of the service bulletin, as described below.

Relevant Service Information

We have reviewed Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, Revision 1, dated July 7, 2005, including Service Bulletin Supplemental Data, dated April 1, 2005, which clarifies and corrects certain instructions and wiring references in the text and Figure 1 of the original issue of the service bulletin. Accomplishing the actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe condition.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to develop on other airplanes of the same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, which would retain the requirements of AD 2006-04-10; add airplanes to the applicability; and, for certain airplanes only, require a review of wiring changes made using Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, dated April 1, 2005. This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions described previously, except as discussed under “Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletins.”

Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Bulletins

Operators should note that, although the Accomplishment Instructions of the referenced service bulletins describe procedures for submitting a maintenance transaction report to the manufacturer, this proposed AD would not require that action.

Costs of Compliance

There are about 3,801 airplanes of the affected design in the worldwide fleet, including about 3,071 airplanes of U.S. Registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour.

Estimated Costs

Cessna Model	Action	Work hours	Parts	Cost per airplane	Number of U.S.- registered airplanes	Fleet cost
500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes (action required by AD 2006-04-10)	Re-identify and reconnect wires	3	$50	$290	1,827	$529,830
560XL airplanes (action required by AD 2006-04-10)	Re-identify and reconnect wires	4	100	420	331	139,020
750 airplanes (action required by AD 2006-04-10)	Re-identify and reconnect wires	2	25	185	211	39,035
501 and 551 airplanes (action required by this proposed AD)	Re-identify and reconnect wires	3	50	290	702	203,580
500 airplanes (action required by this proposed AD)	Verify wiring changes	1	No parts required	80	195	15,600

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. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends § 39.13 by removing amendment 39-14491 (71 FR 8443, February 17, 2006) and adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. 2007-27258; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-213-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 2, 2007.

Affected ADs

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-04-10.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Cessna Model 500, 501, 550, 551, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes, certificated in any category; as identified in the service bulletins specified in Table 1 of this AD.

Table 1.—Cessna Service Bulletins

Cessna Service Bulletin	Revision	Date	Cessna model
SB500-26-02	1	July 7, 2005	500/501 airplanes.
SB500-26-02	Original	April 1, 2005	500/501 airplanes.
SB550-26-05	Original	April 1, 2005	550/551 airplanes.
SB560-26-01	Original	April 1, 2005	560 airplanes.
SB560XL-26-02	1	December 22, 2004	560XL airplanes.
SB750-26-05	Original	November 24, 2004	750 airplanes.
SBS550-26-02	Original	April 1, 2005	S550 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from a report of mis-wired fire extinguishing bottles. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the fire extinguishing bottles are activated in the event of an engine or auxiliary power unit (APU) fire, and that flammable fluids are not supplied during a fire, which could result in an unextinguished fire in the nacelle or APU.

Compliance

(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

Requirements of AD 2006-04-10

Installation

(f) For Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes: Within 100 flight hours or 60 days after March 24, 2006 (the effective date of AD 2006-04-10), whichever occurs first, install identification sleeves on the wires for the positive and negative terminal studs of the applicable fire extinguishing bottles identified in paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), and (f)(3) of this AD; re-connect the wires to the correct studs; test the connection; and re-connect the wires again as applicable until the connection tests correctly. Do all actions in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin identified in Table 1 of this AD; except that, for Model 500 airplanes, Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, Revision 1, dated July 7, 2005 may be used. After the effective date of this AD, only Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, Revision 1, may be used to accomplish the requirements of this paragraph for Model 500 airplanes.

(1) For Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes: The engine fire extinguishing bottles.

(2) For Cessna Model 560XL airplanes: The engine and the APU fire extinguishing bottles.

(3) For Cessna Model 750 airplanes: The APU fire extinguishing bottle.

Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Earlier Revision of Service Bulletin

(g) For Model 560XL airplanes: Actions done before March 24, 2006, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Cessna Service Bulletin SB560XL-26-02, dated November 22, 2004, are acceptable for compliance with the corresponding actions in this AD.

New Requirements of This AD

Actions for Additional Airplane Models

(h) For Model 501 and 551 airplanes: Within 100 flight hours or 60 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, do the actions required by paragraph (f) of this AD for the engine fire extinguishing bottles in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, Revision 1, dated July 7, 2005, or Cessna Service Bulletin SB550-26-05, dated April 1, 2005; as applicable.

Verification of Actions Accomplished Using Original Issue of Service Bulletin

(i) For Model 500 airplanes on which the actions specified in Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, dated April 1, 2005, have been done before the effective date of this AD: Within 100 flight hours or 60 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, verify that wiring changes previously done in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, dated April 1, 2005, conform to the changes described in Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, Revision 1, dated July 7, 2005; and, if any non-conforming wiring changes are discovered, before further flight, correct the wiring changes as applicable to conform to the changes described in Cessna Service Bulletin SB500-26-02, Revision 1, dated July 7, 2005.

No Reporting Requirement

(j) Although the Accomplishment Instructions of the service bulletins identified in Table 1 of this AD describe procedures for submitting a maintenance transaction report to the manufacturer, this AD does not require that action.

Parts Installation

(k) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) of this AD, no person may install on any airplane a fire extinguishing bottle unless identification sleeves on the wires for the positive and negative terminal studs have been installed in accordance with paragraph (f) or (h) of this AD, as applicable.

(1) For Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes: After March 24, 2006.

(2) For Model 501 and 551 airplanes: After the effective date of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(l)(1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with § 39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards Certificate Holding District Office.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 8, 2007.

Ali Bahrami,

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.