[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 189 (Friday, September 30, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57213-57215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19568]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22558; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-107-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 500, 550, 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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes. 
This proposed AD would require 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 results from a report of mis-wired fire extinguishing 
bottles. 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 November 14, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments 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> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.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, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
    <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.
    Contact Cessna Aircraft Co., P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277, 
for the service information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Adamson, Aerospace Engineer, 
Systems and Propulsion Branch, ACE-116W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4145; fax (316) 
946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Include the docket number ``FAA-
2005-22558; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-107-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 DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may 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 (800) 647-
5227) 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

    We have received a report indicating that the auxiliary power unit 
(APU) fire extinguishing system was mis-wired on some Cessna Model 750 
airplanes. Although the main engine fire extinguishing system on all 
Cessna Model 750 airplanes is wired correctly, further investigation 
revealed that the fire extinguishing systems on the main engines of 
Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, 560 airplanes, and on the main engines and 
APUs of Cessna Model 560XL airplanes may not be wired correctly. 
Therefore, all of these models may be subject to the same or similar 
unsafe condition found on the Cessna Model 750 APU installation. The 
engine and APU fire extinguishing bottles on these airplane models have 
positive and negative terminal studs that are the same size, so it is 
possible to cross-connect the wiring of the positive and negative 
leads. If the wiring is cross-connected and the fire extinguishing 
bottles are activated, the circuit breaker may trip due to the direct 
ground on the positive lead, and no fire extinguishing agent would be 
expelled. In addition, with the exception of the Model 750 APU 
installation, the tripped circuit breaker removes power from the fuel 
and hydraulic firewall shutoff valves, which are powered closed from a 
normally open state, and from the associated cockpit indications. As a 
result, flammable fluids could continue to be supplied to the area 
during a fire. It should be noted that the APU

[[Page 57214]]

installation on the Cessna Model 750 airplanes has a solenoid valve 
that is powered open from the normally closed state and would close to 
shut off fuel with the disruption of power. The circuit breaker that 
provides power to the extinguishing bottle differs from the circuit 
breaker that controls the shutoff valve that is powered on. Finally, 
the flightcrew would know that the fire had not been extinguished 
because the engine fire annunciator would stay illuminated, and the 
annunciators for the firewall shutoff valve may not illuminate if the 
valve does not close. Thus, the flightcrew would not know why the fire 
had not been extinguished. These conditions, if not corrected, could 
result in an unextinguished fire in the nacelle or APU.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed the Cessna service bulletins in the table below.

                                            Cessna Service Bulletins
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   For Cessna airplane model         Service bulletin            Revision                      Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
500............................  500-26-02..............  Original..............  April 1, 2005.
550............................  550-26-05..............  Original..............  April 1, 2005.
S550...........................  S550-26-02.............  Original..............  April 1, 2005.
560............................  560-26-01..............  Original..............  April 1, 2005.
560XL..........................  560XL-26-02............  1.....................  December 22, 2004.
750............................  750-26-05..............  Original..............  November 24, 2004.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The service bulletins describe procedures for installing 
identification sleeves on the wires for the positive and negative 
terminal studs of the engine and/or APU fire extinguishing bottles; re-
connecting the wires to the correct studs; testing the connection; and, 
for all but the Cessna Model 750 airplanes, re-connecting the wires if 
necessary until the connection tests correctly. For Cessna Model 500, 
550, S550, and 560 airplanes, these actions are done for the engine 
fire extinguishing bottles only. For Cessna Model 750 airplanes, these 
actions are done for the APU fire extinguishing bottle only. For Cessna 
Model 560XL airplanes, this action is done for both the engine and the 
APU fire extinguishing bottles. The service bulletins also specify that 
operators should send a maintenance transaction report to the 
manufacturer. 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 exist or develop on other airplanes 
of this same type design. For this reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Bulletins.''

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the 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. We do not need this 
information from operators.

Clarification of Service Bulletin 750-26-05

    Although Cessna Service Bulletin 750-26-05 does not specify 
procedures for re-connecting the wires if necessary until the 
connection tests correctly, that action is implied in the service 
bulletin and would be required in this proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 2,801 airplanes of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.-
             Modification for Cessna model--                Work hours     Average labor       Parts         Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                           rate per hour                     airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
500, 550, S550, and 560 airplanes.......................               3             $65             $50            $245           1,827        $447,615
560XL airplanes.........................................               4              65             100             360             331         119,160
750 airplanes...........................................               2              65              25             155             211          32,705
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

[[Page 57215]]

    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.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Cessna Aircraft Company: Docket No. FAA-2005-22558; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-NM-107-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November 
14, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

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

                                       Table 1.--Cessna Service Bulletins
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cessna model
        Service bulletin                  Revision                        Date                   (airplanes)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
500-26-02.......................  Original................  April 1, 2005..................  500
550-26-05.......................  Original................  April 1, 2005..................  550
S550-26-02......................  Original................  April 1, 2005..................  S550
560-26-01.......................  Original................  April 1, 2005..................  560
560XL-26-02.....................  1.......................  December 22, 2004..............  560XL
750-26-05.......................  Original................  November 24, 2004..............  750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Installation

    (f) Within 100 flight hours or 60 days after the effective date 
of this AD, 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 in Table 1 of this AD.
    (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.

No Reporting Requirement

    (g) 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.

Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Earlier Revision of Service 
Bulletin

    (h) Actions done before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Cessna Service 
Bulletin 560XL-26-02, dated November 22, 2004, are acceptable for 
compliance with the corresponding action in this AD.

Parts Installation

    (i) After the effective date 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) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (j)(1) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
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 Sec.  
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 September 21, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-19568 Filed 9-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P