[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4168-4170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01541]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0014; Project Identifier AD-2021-00114-A]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Model 120 and 140 airplanes 
and all Model 140A airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports 
of seat belt center bracket failures from overstress. This proposed AD 
would require determining if the seat belt center bracket is made of 
steel and replacing any non-steel brackets. The FAA is proposing this 
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 14, 
2022.

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 https://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.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Textron 
Aviation Inc., One Cessna Blvd., Wichita, KS 67215; phone: (316) 517-
5800; email: [email protected]; website: https://support.cessna.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0014; 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 NPRM, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bobbie Kroetch, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, KS 
67209; phone: (316) 946-4155; email: [email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0014; Project Identifier 
AD-2021-00114-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the

[[Page 4169]]

proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include 
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Bobbie Kroetch, Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 
Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209. Any commentary that the FAA receives 
which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the 
public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA has received multiple reports of the seat belt center 
bracket failing on Textron (Type Certificate previously held by Cessna 
Aircraft Company) Model 120 and 140 airplanes, including a 2014 fatal 
accident where a Model 140 airplane nosed over on landing, and the seat 
belt center bracket failed. To address that accident, the FAA issued 
Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-15-13, dated April 15, 
2015, recommending operators replace aluminum brackets with steel 
brackets. In 2020, another fatal accident occurred when a Model 140 
airplane nosed over during an aborted takeoff, and the seat belt center 
bracket failed. A metallurgical analysis determined the part failed due 
to overstress. There have been four additional occurrences of seat belt 
center bracket failure on Model 120 and 140 airplanes, two of which 
resulted in occupant injury.
    Analysis of the failures determined the original aluminum seat belt 
center bracket does not have sufficient strength and can fail due to 
overstress during incidents and accidents. The aluminum brackets and 
the steel brackets both have the same part number (part number 
0425132). Although Model 140A airplanes were manufactured with steel 
seat belt center brackets, owners of Model 140A airplanes could have 
replaced the steel bracket with an aluminum bracket; therefore, the FAA 
determined the unsafe condition also exists on Model 140A airplanes.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the 
seat belt center bracket, which could lead to failure of the seat belt 
restraint system and injury to occupants.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SEB-25-03, 
dated February 17, 2015. This service information specifies the 
location of the affected seat belt center bracket. This service 
information also contains a figure depicting the location of the 
seatbelt center bracket.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require determining if the seat belt center 
bracket material is made of steel. An owner/operator (pilot) may 
perform this check and must enter compliance with the applicable 
paragraph of this AD in the aircraft maintenance records in accordance 
with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1) through (4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). A pilot 
may perform this action because it involves a one-time check to 
determine material. This check is an exception to the FAA's standard 
maintenance regulations.
    This proposed AD would also require replacing any non-steel bracket 
with a steel bracket and would prohibit installing a non-steel bracket 
on any airplane.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 2,033 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                    Labor cost              Parts cost           airplane        operators
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Determine material of the seat     0.25 work-hour x $85  Not applicable.........          $21.25      $43,201.25
 belt center bracket.               per hour = $21.25.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that may be required. The agency has no way of determining 
the number of airplanes that might need these replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost       airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace any non-steel seat belt center bracket  0.75 work-hour x $85 per hour =              $79         $142.75
                                                 $63.75.
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[[Page 4170]]

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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 airworthiness 
directive:

Textron Aviation Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by Cessna 
Aircraft Company): Docket No. FAA-2022-0014; Project Identifier AD-
2021-00114-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by March 14, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Textron Aviation Inc. (Type Certificate 
previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Model 120 and 140 
airplanes, serial numbers (S/Ns) 10070 through 15075, and Model 140A 
airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2510, Flight 
Compartment Equipment.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of seat belt center bracket 
failures from overstress. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the seat belt center brackets. The unsafe condition, if 
not addressed, could result in failure of the seat belt center 
bracket, which could lead to failure of the seat belt restraint 
system and injury to occupants.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
determine if the seatbelt center bracket located between the two 
seats is made of steel by placing a magnet on the center of the 
bracket. This action may be performed by the owner/operator (pilot) 
holding at least a private pilot certificate and must be entered 
into the aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in 
accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1) through (4) and 14 CFR 
91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 
91.417. This authority is not applicable to aircraft being operated 
under 14 CFR part 119.
    (i) If the seat belt center bracket is made of steel, no 
additional action is required.
    (ii) If the seat belt center bracket is not made of steel, 
within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, replace with a 
steel part number (P/N) 0425132 seat belt center bracket.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a seat 
belt center bracket P/N 0425132 that is not made of steel on any 
airplane.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Bobbie Kroetch, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4155; email: 
[email protected] or [email protected].

    Issued on January 20, 2022.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-01541 Filed 1-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


