Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 150 and A150 Series and Models 152 and A152 Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-14-AD]

Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 150 and A150

Series and Models 152 and A152 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna)150 and A150

series and Models 152 and A152 airplanes that have a Bush Conversions,

Inc., Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) kit installed in accordance with

Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA1371SW. The proposed action would

require measuring the wing stall fence for maximum height, and

installing a smaller fence if the fence exceeds the maximum height of

1.28 inches. An accident of a Cessna Model 152 airplane where the STOL

kit adversely affected the airplane's stall characteristics prompted

the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent the airplane from entering a stall condition

because of improper wing stall fence height, which could result in loss

of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 15, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-14-AD, Room 1558, 601 E.

12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at

this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,

holidays excepted.

Figure 1 of the proposed AD may be obtained from the Wichita

Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent

Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; and may be examined at the FAA, Central

Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,

holidays excepted.

Figure 1 of the proposed AD may be obtained from the Wichita

Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent

Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; and may be examined at the FAA, Central

Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Larry Engler, Aerospace Engineer,

Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-

Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone (316) 946-4122;

facsimile (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the

proposed 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,

specified above, will be considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in

light of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 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 proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket No. 95-CE-14-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

d

with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket No. 95-CE-14-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request

to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-14-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The FAA received a report of an accident involving a Cessna Model

152 airplane. After takeoff, the airplane turned 180 degrees as if to

return to the airport, and rolled to the right and descended vertically

to the ground. The Cessna Model 152 airplane was equipped with a Bush

Conversions, Inc., Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) kit installed in

accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA1371SW. This kit

includes a wing leading edge cuff and stall fence on each wing that is

installed on the top of the wing chordwise in line with the aileron/

flap juncture. The wing stall fence on this Cessna Model 152 airplane

measured 1.625 inches in height at its trailing edge and maintained

that height through approximately 70 percent of the fence's length,

gradually tapering to the contour of the wing's leading edge.

The FAA approved the fence height of the Bush Conversions, Inc.,

STOL kit at a height of 1.16 inches (plus or minus .12 inches) for

Cessna 150 and A150 series and Models 152 and A152 airplanes. Mid-

America Drawing No. 1001 references this height and is included as part

of STC SA1371SW. Mid-America Drawing No. 1001 is included as Figure 1

of the proposed AD

contour of the wing's leading edge.

The FAA approved the fence height of the Bush Conversions, Inc.,

STOL kit at a height of 1.16 inches (plus or minus .12 inches) for

Cessna 150 and A150 series and Models 152 and A152 airplanes. Mid-

America Drawing No. 1001 references this height and is included as part

of STC SA1371SW. Mid-America Drawing No. 1001 is included as Figure 1

of the proposed AD.

Since the referenced accident, the National Transportation Safety

Board (NTSB) and the FAA inspected three other Cessna 150 series

airplanes and found the STOL kit fence heights ranging from 1.375

inches to 1.75 inches.

After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available

information related to the accident and investigations described above,

the FAA has determined that (1) the STOL kit fence height should be

checked on Cessna 150 and A150 series and Models 152 and A152

airplanes; and (2) AD action should be taken to prevent the airplane

operator from entering a stall condition because of improper wing stall

fence height, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to

exist or develop in other Cessna 150 and A150 series and Models 152 and

A152 airplanes of the same type design that have a Bush Conversions,

Inc., STOL kit installed in accordance with STC SA1371SW, the proposed

AD would require measuring the wing stall fence for maximum height, and

installing a smaller fence if the fence exceeds the maximum height of

1.28 inches. Figure 1 of the proposed AD includes information for

inspecting the stall fence height.

The FAA estimates that the STOL kit is installed on 25 of the

Cessna 150 and A150 series and Models 152 and A152 airplanes in the

U.S. registry, that it would take approximately 8 workhours per

airplane to inspect the stall fences, and that the average labor rate

is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these figures, the total cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $12,000

ntities under the criteria of the

Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation

prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of

it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location

provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend

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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.

106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

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

Cessna Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 95-CE-14-AD.

Applicability: The following airplane models (all serial

numbers), certificated in any category, that have a Bush

Conversions, Inc., Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) kit

installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)

SA1371SW:

150 150A 150B 150C 150D 150E 150F 150G 150H 150J 150K

A150K 150L A150L 150M A150M 152 A152

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 use the authority

provided in paragraph (d) of this AD to request approval from the

FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current

configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions

necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD

d,

altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of

this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority

provided in paragraph (d) of this AD to request approval from the

FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current

configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions

necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such

a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed

configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no

case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair

remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service

after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent the airplane operator from entering a stall condition

because of improper wing stall fence height, which, if not detected

and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane,

accomplish the following:

(a) Measure the height of the wing stall fence at its trailing

edge to ensure that the height does not exceed 1.28 inches. (See

Figure 1 of this AD).

(b) If the wing stall fence height exceeds 1.28 inches, prior to

further flight, install a smaller fence in accordance with

instructions obtained from the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office

(ACO), FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita,

Kansas 67209.

Note 2: Mid-America Drawing No. 1001 (part of STC SA1371SW) is

included as Figure 1 of this AD for reference purposes.

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(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.

1371SW) is

included as Figure 1 of this AD for reference purposes.

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(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 times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Wichita ACO, 801 Airport Road, 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 ACO.

Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Wichita ACO.

(e) Figure 1 of this AD may be obtained from the Wichita ACO at

the address specified in paragraph (d) of this AD; and may be

examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 5, 1995.

Henry A. Armstrong,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 95-16975 Filed 7-11-95; 8:45 am]

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