AD 2018-03-03 R1

AD Final Rules - 2018-03-03 R1.pdf
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AD Number:
2018-03-03 R1
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2018-0068
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes
Subject:
Fuselage
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 83, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)
Citation Publish Date:
05/08/2018
Effective Date:
05/23/2018
Make:
Textron Aviation Inc.
Model:
401 | 401A | 401B | 402 | 402A | 402B | 402C | 411 ...Show more
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Small Airplane
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
2018-03-03
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 20719-20725]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2018-09601]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2018-0068; Product Identifier 2017-CE-049-AD; Amendment 39-19276; AD


2018-03-03 R1]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule; request for comments.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-03-03 for certain Textron


Aviation Inc. Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 402C, 411, 411A, 414, 414A, 421, 421A,


421B, 421C, and 425 airplanes. AD 2018-03-03 required repetitively inspecting the left and the right


forward lower carry through spar cap for cracks and replacing the carry through spar cap if cracks


were found. This AD addresses the same unsafe condition and requires the same actions as AD 2018-


03-03, but clarifies the compliance times for the initial inspection of the carry through spar cap. This


AD was prompted by several reports of confusion in interpreting the compliance times for the initial


inspection of the carry through spar cap. We are issuing this AD to eliminate confusion in


interpreting the compliance times for this inspection.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective May 23, 2018.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain other


publications listed in this AD as of February 28, 2018 (83 FR 6114, February 13, 2018).


We must receive any comments on this AD by June 22, 2018.


ADDRESSES:
 
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by


any of the following methods:


•
 
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.
2


•
 
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 final rule, contact Textron Aviation Inc., Textron


Aviation Customer Service, One Cessna Blvd., Wichita, Kansas 67215; telephone: (316) 517-5800;


email: customercare@txtav.com; internet: www.txtav.com. You may view this service information at


the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information


on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on the internet


at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0068.


Examining the AD Docket


You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for


and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0068; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5


p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the


regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket


Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket


shortly after receipt.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Bobbie Kroetch, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita


ACO Branch, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4155;


fax: (316) 946-4107; email: bobbie.kroetch@faa.gov or Wichita-COS@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


We issued AD 2018-03-03, Amendment 39-19176 (83 FR 6114, February 13, 2018), (“AD


2018-03-03”), for certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) (type certificate previously held by Cessna


Aircraft Company) Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 402C, 411, 411A, 414, 414A, 421,


421A, 421B, 421C, and 425 airplanes. AD 2018-03-03 required repetitively inspecting the left and


the right forward lower carry through spar cap for cracks and replacing the carry through spar cap if


cracks were found. AD 2018-03-03 also required sending the inspection results to the FAA.


AD 2018-03-03 resulted from a report of a fully cracked lower forward carry through spar cap


found on a Textron Model 402C airplane. Investigation revealed that the crack resulted from metal


fatigue. At this time, the cracking has been found on only Model 402C airplanes. However, the carry


through spar cap and surrounding structure on the other model airplanes included in AD 2018-03-03


are similar and the loads on the other model airplanes are similar to (or higher than) the Model 402C


airplanes.


We issued AD 2018-03-03 to prevent failure of the carry through spar cap during flight. The


unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of control.


Actions Since AD 2018-03-03 Was Issued


Since we issued AD 2018-03-03, we received numerous comments from owners/operators and


maintenance staff stating the compliance times for the initial inspection of the carry through spar cap


are confusing and asking for clarification. We also received an additional comment requesting


clarification of the replacement requirement. AD 2018-03-03 specified replacing the carry through


spar if cracks are found during any inspection of the carry through spar cap. Our intent was to require


replacement of only the carry through spar cap if cracks are found, which decreases the burden to the


owners/operators of the affected airplanes. We are issuing this AD to clarify the compliance times for