[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3809-3811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1860]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-151-AD; Amendment 39-10292; AD 98-01-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Model 182S 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment 
adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-01-14, which was sent 
previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Cessna Aircraft 
Company (Cessna) Model 182S airplanes. This AD requires replacing the 
left and right Aeroquip engine exhaust mufflers (P/N 71379-1254017-8) 
with an FAA-approved equivalent part. Reports of carbon monoxide gas 
entering the cabin heating system and the cabin of the Cessna Model 
182S airplanes prompted this action. This condition, if not corrected, 
could result in passenger and pilot injury with consequent loss of 
control of the airplane.

DATES: Effective February 23, 1998, to all persons except those to whom 
it was made immediately effective by priority letter AD 98-01-14, 
issued December 30, 1997, which contained the requirements of this 
amendment.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before March 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket 97-CE-151-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained from 
The Cessna Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277, 
telephone (316) 941-7550, facsimile (316) 942-9008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Pendleton, Aerospace 
Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Rm. 
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209, telephone (316) 946-
4128; facsimile (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On December 30, 1997, the FAA issued priority letter AD 98-01-14, 
which applies to Cessna 182S airplanes. Cessna Aircraft Company has 
recently reported that a quality control problem exists with Aeroquip 
engine exhaust mufflers installed on certain Cessna Model 182S 
airplanes. Nineteen Cessna Model 182S airplanes are equipped with these 
mufflers.
    The problem was discovered during a delivery flight from the 
manufacturing facility. Following this incident, three operators have 
reported cracked mufflers during use, and two similar failures occurred 
at Cessna's facility during production acceptance flight tests. Cessna 
subsequently pressure-tested the Aeroquip muffler assemblies, which 
revealed that 7 out of 10 mufflers showed gas leak paths through 
defective weldments.
    These inadequate or failed weldments will permit exhaust gas 
(including carbon monoxide) leakage from the muffler, and consequently 
into the airplane's cabin and cockpit area.
    Cessna reports that 19 of these Model 182S airplanes are directly 
affected. The serial numbers for these models are 18280050 through 
18280060, 18280062, 18280063, 18280066, 18280067 through 18280070, and 
18280083. All other Cessna Model 182S airplanes were manufactured with 
Cessna mufflers, part number (P/N) 1254017-8. After examining the 
circumstances and reviewing all information related to the situation 
described above, the FAA has determined that AD action should be taken 
to prevent carbon monoxide gas from entering the airplane's cabin 
heating system and cabin, which, if not corrected, could result in 
passenger and pilot injury with consequent loss of control of the 
airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Cessna Aircraft Company Service Bulletin No. SB97-78-01, dated

[[Page 3810]]

December 23, 1997, titled ``Engine Exhaust Muffler Inspection'' 
pertains to the subject of this priority letter AD.

The FAA's Determination and Explanation of the AD

    Since an unsafe condition (carbon monoxide leakage into the cabin 
area) has been identified that is likely to exist or develop in other 
Cessna Model 182S airplanes of the same type design, the FAA issued 
priority letter AD 98-01-14 to prevent carbon monoxide gas from 
entering the airplane's cabin heating system and cabin, which, if not 
corrected, could result in passenger and pilot injury with consequent 
loss of control of the airplane. The AD requires replacing the left and 
right Aeroquip engine exhaust mufflers (P/N 71379-1254017-8) with an 
FAA-approved equivalent part.

Determination of the Effective Date of the AD

    Since it was found that immediate corrective action was required, 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment thereon were 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and good cause 
existed to make the AD effective immediately by individual letters 
issued on December 30, 1997, to all known U.S. operators of Cessna 
Model 182S airplanes. These conditions still exist, and the AD is 
hereby published in the Federal Register as an amendment to section 
39.13 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 39.13) to make it 
effective as to all persons.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not 
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications 
received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered, 
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual 
information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is 
extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and 
determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 97-CE-151-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects 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. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this 
action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined 
that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will 
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, may 
be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the 
caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

98-01-14 Cessna Aircraft Company. Amendment 39-10292; Docket No. 97-
CE-151-AD.

    Applicability: Model 182S airplanes (all serial numbers), 
certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished, except to those operators receiving this 
action by priority letter issued December 30, 1997, which made these 
actions effective immediately upon receipt.
    To prevent carbon monoxide gas from entering the airplane's 
cabin heating system and cabin, which, if not corrected, could 
result in passenger and pilot injury with consequent loss of control 
of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) For Cessna Model 182S airplanes with serial numbers 18280050 
through 18280060, 18280062, 18280063, 18280066, 18280067 through 
18280070, and 18280083: Prior to further flight after the effective 
date of this AD, replace the left and right engine exhaust mufflers 
with an FAA-approved equivalent part in accordance with the 
appropriate Cessna maintenance manual.
    (b) For all Cessna Model 182S airplanes: After the effective 
date of this AD, no person may install any Aeroquip engine exhaust 
muffler, part number 71379-1254017-8, on any airplane.

    Note 2: Cessna Aircraft Company Service Bulletin No. SB97-78-01, 
dated December 23, 1997, titled ``Engine Exhaust Muffler 
Inspection'' pertains to the subject of this AD.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 
Airport Road, Rm. 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209. 
The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.


[[Page 3811]]


    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

    (e) Copies of the relative service information may be obtained 
from The Cessna Aircraft Company, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 
67277. Copies of this document also may be inspected at the FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (f) This amendment (39-10292) becomes effective on February 23, 
1998, to all persons except those persons to whom it was made 
immediately effective by priority letter AD 98-01-14, issued 
December 30, 1997, which contained the requirements of this 
amendment.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 20, 1998.
Carolanne L. Cabrini,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-1860 Filed 1-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U