E8-12047. Airworthiness Directives; Cirrus Design Corporation Model SR20 Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Model SR20 airplanes. This AD requires you to perform an inspection and replacement as necessary of the heat exchanger. This AD results from the discovery of engine exhaust fumes in the cabin of CDC Model SR20 airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct leaks in the exhaust system, which could result in exhaust gases leaking into the cabin heating system. This condition could lead to carbon monoxide in the cabin and incapacitation of the pilot.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective on July 7, 2008.

On July 7, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES:

For service information identified in this AD, contact Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, Minnesota 55811, telephone: [phone].

To view the AD docket, go to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. The docket number is FAA-2008-0284; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-006-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Downs, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago ACO, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On March 4, 2008, we issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to SR20 airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on March 12, 2008 (73 FR 13157). The NPRM proposed to require an inspection and replacement as necessary of the heat exchanger. This AD results from the discovery of engine exhaust fumes in the cabin of CDC Model SR20 airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct leaks in the exhaust system, which could result in exhaust gases leaking into the cabin heating system. This condition could lead to carbon monoxide in the cabin and incapacitation of the pilot.

Comments

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:

• Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 713 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to do the inspection:

Labor cost	Parts cost	Total cost per airplane	Total cost on U.S. operators
1 work-hour × $80 per hour = $80	$0	$80	$57,040

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacement that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need this replacement:

Labor cost	Parts cost	Total cost per airplane
1 work-hour × $80 per hour = $80	$848	$928

Warranty credit will be given to the extent specified in Cirrus Service Bulletin SB 2X-78-07 R1, Revision 1, dated December 18, 2007.

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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

We have determined that 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 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2008-0284; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-006-AD” in your request.

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 Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-11-18 Cirrus Design Corporation: Amendment 39-15541; Docket No. FAA-2008-0284; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-006-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective on July 7, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Model SR20 airplanes, serial numbers 1005 through 1815, that are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from the discovery of engine exhaust fumes in the cabin of Cirrus Design Corporation Model SR20 airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct leaks in the exhaust system, which could result in exhaust gases leaking into the cabin heating system. This condition could lead to carbon monoxide in the cabin and incapacitation of the pilot.

Compliance

(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done:

Actions	Compliance	Procedures
(1) Perform a pressurization inspection/check on the exhaust system	Initially within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after July 7, 2008 (the effective date of this AD) or within the next 3 months after July 7, 2008 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS	Follow Cirrus Service Bulletin SB 2X-78-07 R1, Revision 1, dated December 18, 2007.
(2) If the exhaust system is found defective during any inspection/check required in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD or an exhaust odor is detected inside the airplane cabin, replace the heat exchanger weldment and shroud with new improved heat exchanger weldment and new shroud	Before further flight after the inspection/check in which the exhaust system is found defective or an exhaust odor is detected	Follow Cirrus Service Bulletin SB 2X-78-07 R1, Revision 1, dated December 18, 2007.

Note:

The replacement of the heat exchanger weldment and shroud may be done instead of the initial inspection but does not eliminate the 100-hour repetitive inspection.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(f) The Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Michael Downs, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago ACO, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(g) You must use Cirrus Service Bulletin SB 2X-78-07 R1, Revision 1, dated December 18, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, Minnesota 55811, telephone: [phone].

(3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/​federal_​register/​code_​of_​federal_​regulations/​ibr_​locations.html.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 22, 2008.

David R. Showers,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.