AD 2007-09-01

This AD becomes effective on April 25, 2007.

On April 25, 2007 the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.

We must receive any comments on this AD by June 19, 2007.

Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD.

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

• Fax: (202) 493-2251.

• 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.

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

To get the service information identified in this AD, contact Air Plains Services Corporation, P.O. Box 541, Wellington, KS 67152; phone: 620-326-8904; Internet: http://www.airplains.com.

To view the comments to this AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2007-27786; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-031-AD.

Trenton Shepherd, Aerospace Engineer, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4143; fax: (316) 946-4107.

We received a report of a Cessna Model 182Q airplane with Air Plains Services Corporation STC SA00152WI installed that had an in-flight and post-landing fire. The preliminary finding, per the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is that the electrical cable between the forward ground power relay and the starter relay chafed on either the fuel strainer control or on the fuel line between the auxiliary electric fuel pump and the engine-driven fuel pump. The cable shorted, welded the fuel strainer control cable to the firewall, and burned the fuel line between the auxiliary electric fuel pump and the engine-driven fuel pump.

This condition, if not corrected, could result in a fuel leak and fire in the engine compartment.

We reviewed Air Plains Services Corporation Mandatory Service Bulletin APS-07-01-01, dated March 5, 2007. The service information describes procedures for the following actions:

• Disconnecting or removing the electrical cable between the forward ground power relay and the starter relay;

• Repositioning the fuel strainer cable;

• Inspecting the fuel line between the auxiliary electric fuel pump and the engine-driven fuel pump for chafing; and

• Adjusting the position of the fuel line fitting at the engine-driven fuel pump.

We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. This AD requires you to disconnect or remove the ground power electrical cable between the forward ground power relay and the starter relay, install a placard, inspect the fuel line between the auxiliary electric fuel pump and the engine-driven fuel pump for chafing, and replace the fuel line if chafing is found.

This AD is considered interim action. The FAA is working with the STC holder on developing a design change for the ground power electrical cable. If a modification is developed, the FAA will evaluate it and determine whether future rulemaking action is necessary to address this condition.

In preparing this rule, we contacted type clubs and aircraft operators to get technical information and information on operational and economic impacts. We did not receive any information through these contacts. If received, we would have included a discussion of any information that may have influenced this action in the rulemaking docket.

Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable, and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer than 30 days.

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety, and we did not precede it by notice and an opportunity for public comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number “FAA-2007-27786; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-031-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 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 we receive concerning this AD.

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.

We determined that 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

You may examine the AD docket that contains the AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):