[Federal Register: July 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 139)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 41305-41307]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy08-25]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0790; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-042-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 150 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Cessna Aircraft Company 150 series airplanes with the BRS-150
Parachute System installed via Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)
SA64CH. This proposed AD would require the replacement of the pick-up
collar support and nylon screws for the BRS-150 Parachute System. This
proposed AD results from notification by Ballistic Recovery Systems,
Inc. (BRS) that the pick-up collar assembly may prematurely move off
the launch tube and adversely affect rocket trajectory during
deployment. We are proposing this AD to prevent premature separation
[[Page 41306]]
of the collar. This condition could result in the parachute failing to
successfully deploy.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 16,
2008.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD:
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 proposed AD, contact
Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc., 300 Airport Road, South Saint Paul,
MN 55075-3551; telephone: (651) 457-7491; fax: (651) 457-8651.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Michalik, Senior Aerospace
Engineer, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 2300 East Devon
Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois, 60018; telephone: (847) 294-7135; fax:
(847) 294-7834; e-mail: gregory.michalik@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-
2008-0790; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-042-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://
www.regulations.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 have been notified by Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. of a
continued operational safety concern on Cessna 150 series airplanes
that is similar to that which prompted AD 2007-14-03 (72 FR 37999, July
12, 2007) on the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS), where the
parachute failed to successfully deploy. We also issued AD 2008-02-18
(73 FR 4051, January 24, 2008), where a similar situation could occur
on the Cessna 172 series and 182 series airplanes that are equipped
with the BRS-172 and BRS-182 Parachute Systems, respectively. Testing
indicates that the force of the rocket ignition and rocket blast may
prematurely break the nylon pick up collar/support screws. When
functioning properly the screws should not break until impacted by a
flange at the rocket base. A prematurely separated collar/support may
bind on the rocket as it slides down toward the flange at the base of
the rocket. This may alter the direction of the rocket.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in the parachute
failing to successfully deploy upon activation.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. Mandatory Service
Bulletin SB 2008-04-01 R1, dated April 24, 2008. The service
information describes procedures for the replacement of the pick-up
collar support, launch tube, and nylon screws.
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 the replacement of the pick-up collar support, launch
tube, and nylon screws for the BRS-150 Parachute System.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 6 airplanes in the
U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed modification:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost per Total cost on
Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $400.......... Not applicable.................. $400 $2,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: BRS will provide warranty credit to the extent noted in
Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 2008-
04-01 R1, dated April 24, 2008.
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
[[Page 41307]]
received, and other information on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.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:
Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. FAA-2008-0790; Directorate
Identifier 2008-CE-042-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by September 16, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Models 150, 150A, 150B, 150C, 150D, 150E,
150F, 150G, 150H, 150J, 150K, A150K, 150L, A150L, 150M, A150M, 152,
and A152 airplanes that:
(1) have a BRS-150 Parachute Systems with a serial number in the
range of 50001 through 50006 installed via Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC) SA64CH; and
(2) are certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from notification by Ballistic Recovery
Systems, Inc. (BRS), that the pick-up collar assembly may
prematurely move off the launch tube and adversely affect rocket
trajectory during deployment. We are issuing this AD to prevent
premature separation of the collar. This condition could result in
the parachute failing to successfully deploy.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
already done:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actions Compliance Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove the pick-up collar Within the next 25 Follow BRS SB 2008-
support, nylon screws, and hours time-in- 04-01 R1, dated
launch tube and replace service after the April 24, 2008.
with a new pick-up collar effective date of
support, custom tension this AD.
screws, and new launch tube.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: Gregory Michalik, Senior Aerospace Engineer, Chicago ACO, FAA,
2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone:
(847) 294-7135; fax: (847) 294-7834; e-mail:
gregory.michalik@faa.gov. 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.
Related Information
(g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this
AD, contact Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc., 300 Airport Road,
South Saint Paul, MN 55075-3551; telephone: (651) 457-7491; fax:
(651) 457-8651. 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.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 30, 2008.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-16542 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P