[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 95 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27766-27768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2438]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27976; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-042-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cirrus Design Corporation Models SR20 
and SR22 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes. 
This proposed AD would require you to replace the pick-up collar 
support and nylon screws, of the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System 
(CAPS), with a new design pick-up collar support and custom tension 
screws. This proposed AD results from a CDC report of an in-flight CAPS 
activation where the parachute failed to successfully deploy. We are 
proposing this AD to correct pick-up collar support fasteners of the 
CAPS, which could result in the premature separation of the collar. 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in the parachute failing 
to successfully deploy (CAPS failure).

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 18, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,

[[Page 27767]]

Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instruction for submitting comments.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, Minnesota 55811; 
telephone (218) 727-2737; internet address: http://www.cirrusdesign.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wess Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, 2300 
East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: 
(847) 294-8113; fax: (847) 297-7834.

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-
2007-27976; Directorate Identifier 2007-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://dms.dot.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 received a CDC report of an in-flight CAPS activation where 
the parachute failed to successfully deploy. A CDC airplane in 
Australia had an engine failure and was making an off airport landing. 
The pilot activated the CAPS, and evidence indicates that the parachute 
was not properly extracted from the airplane.
    Testing indicates that the force of the CAPS rocket ignition and 
rocket blase 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 (CAPS failure).

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed CDC's Alert Service Bulletin No. SB A2X-95-10 R2, 
Issued April 2, 2007, Revised: April 24, 2007.
    The service information describes procedures for replacing the 
pick-up collar support of the CAPS with a new design pick-up collar 
support and replacing the nylon screws with custom aluminum tension 
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 you to do a replacement of the pick-up collar support and 
associated fastening screws of the CAPS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 2,677 airplanes in 
the U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed replacement of 
the pick-up collar support of the CAPS:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 work-hours x $80 per hour = $160...........................             $17             $177         $473,829
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: CDC will provide warranty credit to the extent noted in 
Cirrus Alert Service Bulletin No. SB A2X-95-10 R2, Issued April 2, 
2007, Revised: April 24, 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 
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 porposed 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 received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.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) 647-5227) 
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,

[[Page 27768]]

the FAA proposed 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:

Cirrus Design Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2007-27976; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-CE-042-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by June 18, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model SR20 airplanes, serial numbers (SN) 
1005 through 1798, and Model SR22 airplanes, SN 0002 through 2437, 
that are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) 
report of an in-flight Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS) 
activation where the parachute failed to successfully deploy. We are 
issuing this AD to correct pick-up collar support fasteners of the 
CAPS, which could result in the premature separation of the collar. 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in the parachute 
failing to successfully deploy (CAPS failure).

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the pick-up collar    Within the next 25    Follow Cirrus Alert
 support of the CAPS with      hours time-in-        Service Bulletin
 the new design pick-up        service (TIS), or     No. SB A2X-95-10
 collar support and the two    within 60 days,       R2, Issued April 2,
 nylon collar support screws   whichever occurs      2007, Revised:
 with new custom aluminum      first after the       April 24, 2007.
 tension screws. One of the    effective date of
 following must do the         this AD.
 replacement:
    (1) A CDC trained and
     authorized parachute
     system technician who
     also holds an Airframe
     and Powerplant (A&P)
     mechanic license; or
    (2) a CDC trained and
     authorized parachute
     system technician who
     is supervised by an A&P
     mechanic.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: Wess Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, 
Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-8113; 
fax: (847) 297-7834. 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 Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, 
Minnesota 55811; telephone: (218) 727-2737; internet address: 
www.cirrusdesign.com. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket 
Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC, or on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket No. FAA-
2007-27976; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-042-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 11, 2007.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 07-2438 Filed 5-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M