AD 2022-08-03

This AD is effective May 17, 2022.

For service information identified in this final rule, contact Textron Aviation Inc., One Cessna Blvd., Wichita, KS 67215; phone: (316) 517-5800; email: customercare@txtav.com; 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.

Bobbie Kroetch, Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4155; email: bobbie.kroetch@faa.gov or Wichita-COS@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered Textron (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Model 120 and 140 airplanes and all Model 140A airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on January 27, 2022 (87 FR 4168). The NPRM was prompted by reports of seat belt center bracket failures. 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. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require determining if the seat belt center bracket is made of steel and replacing any non-steel brackets. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the seat belt center bracket, which could lead to failure of the seat belt restraint system and injury to occupants.

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the costs.

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

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.

This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 2,033 airplanes of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

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:

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.

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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: