[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 395-397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6265]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0379; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-331-AD; 
Amendment 39-15318; AD 2007-26-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 680 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Cessna Model 680 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the routing of 
the aft fairing wire bundle assembly for adequate separation between 
the wiring and the hydraulic line; inspecting for chafing or damage of 
the wire bundle

[[Page 396]]

assembly and for damage to the hydraulic line, and doing corrective 
actions if necessary. This AD results from an incident report which 
indicated that a hydraulic leak and wire chafing, including signs of 
heat damage, were found within the lower tail cone fairing area. 
Similar wire chafing has also been found on other airplanes. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct wire chafing, and inadequate 
separation of the wiring and hydraulic line, which could lead to 
electrical arcing and a hydraulic leak and could result in a potential 
source of ignition and consequent fire.

DATES: This AD is effective January 18, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of February 7, 
2008.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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 AD, contact Cessna 
Aircraft Co., P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket 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 AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarrett Larrow, Aerospace Engineer, 
Electrical Systems and Avionics, ACE-119W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft 
Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent 
Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4128; fax (316) 
946-4107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We received an incident report which indicated that a hydraulic 
leak and wire chafing, including signs of heat damage, were found 
within the lower tail cone fairing area on a Cessna Model 680 airplane. 
The incident occurred while the airplane was on the ground. Wire 
chafing has also been found on other airplanes. Chafing of the wiring, 
and inadequate separation of the wiring and hydraulic line, could lead 
to electrical arcing and a hydraulic leak and could result in a 
potential source of ignition and consequent fire.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Cessna Alert Service Letter ASL680-24-02, dated October 
1, 2007. The service letter describes procedures for inspecting the 
routing of the aft fairing wire bundle assembly for adequate separation 
between the wiring and the hydraulic line; inspecting for chafing or 
damage of the wire bundle assembly and for damage to the hydraulic 
line; and corrective actions if necessary. The corrective actions 
include repairing the wiring if any damage to the wire bundle is found, 
replacing the hydraulic line if any damage is found, and re-routing the 
wire bundle so there is a minimum of two inches from the hydraulic 
line. The service letter refers to the Model 680 wiring diagram and 
maintenance manuals, which contain the procedures for doing the 
corrective actions.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design. 
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Differences Between the AD and the Service Information.''

Differences Between the AD and the Service Information

    The service information refers only to an ``inspection'' for 
routing and chafing or damage of the wire bundles and hydraulic line. 
We have determined that the procedures in the service information 
should be described as a ``general visual inspection.'' Note 1 has been 
included in this AD to define this type of inspection.
    The Accomplishment Instructions of the service information describe 
procedures for completing a maintenance transaction report and 
submitting a copy to the manufacturer. This AD would not require that 
action.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. If final action is later 
identified, we might consider further rulemaking then.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD; therefore, providing notice and opportunity for public comment 
before the AD is issued is impracticable, and good cause exists to make 
this AD effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send 
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
``Docket No. FAA-2007-0379; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-331-AD'' at 
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the 
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this AD because 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 about this AD.

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

[[Page 397]]

products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    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 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.
    You can find our regulatory evaluation and the estimated costs of 
compliance in the AD Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2007-26-16 Cessna Aircraft Company: Amendment 39-15318. Docket No. 
FAA-2007-0379; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-331-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 18, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Cessna Model 680 airplanes, certificated 
in any category, serial numbers -0001 through -0152 inclusive, -
0157, and -0158.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an incident report which indicated that 
a hydraulic leak and wire chafing, including signs of heat damage, 
were found within the lower tail cone fairing area. Similar wire 
chafing has also been found on other airplanes. We are issuing this 
AD to detect and correct wire chafing, and inadequate separation of 
the wiring and hydraulic line, which could lead to electrical arcing 
and a hydraulic leak and could result in a potential source of 
ignition and consequent fire.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Inspections/Corrective Actions

    (f) Within 10 days after the effective date of this AD: Do a 
general visual inspection of the routing of the aft fairing wire 
bundle assembly for adequate separation between the wiring and the 
hydraulic line, and do a general visual inspection for chafing or 
damage of the wire bundle assembly and for damage to the hydraulic 
line; by doing all of the actions, including all applicable 
corrective actions, specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Cessna Alert Service Letter ASL680-24-02, dated October 1, 2007; 
except as provided by paragraph (g) of this AD. Do all applicable 
corrective actions before further flight.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This 
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting 
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or 
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''

Exception to Alert Service Letter

    (g) Although the Accomplishment Instructions of Cessna Alert 
Service Letter ASL680-24-02, dated October 1, 2007, specify to 
submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not 
include that requirement.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h)(1) The Manager, Electrical Systems and Avionics, ACE-119W, 
FAA, ATTN: Jarrett Larrow, Aerospace Engineer, Electrical Systems 
and Avionics, ACE-119W, FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 
1801 Airport Road, room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 
67209; telephone (316) 946-4128; fax (316) 946-4107; has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (2) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
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

    (i) You must use Cessna Alert Service Letter ASL680-24-02, dated 
October 1, 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 
Cessna Aircraft Co., P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas 67277.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference at the FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; 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 Renton, Washington, on December 20, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 07-6265 Filed 1-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P