E7-25456. Airworthiness Directives; Lycoming Engines, Fuel Injected Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain fuel injected reciprocating engines manufactured by Lycoming Engines. That AD currently requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector fuel lines. This proposed AD would require the same actions but would add additional engine models, would clarify certain compliance time wording, and would exempt engines that have a Maintenance and Overhaul Manual with an Airworthiness Limitations Section that requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector lines. This proposed AD results from Lycoming Engines revising their Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) to add new engine models requiring inspection, and from the need to clarify a repetitive inspection compliance time. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel injector fuel lines that would allow fuel to spray into the engine compartment, resulting in an engine fire.

DATES:

We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by March 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

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

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: [phone].

Contact Lycoming Engines, 652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, or go to http://www.lycoming.textron.com, for the service information identified in this proposed AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; e-mail: [e-mail]; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2007-0218; Directorate Identifier 92-ANE-56-AD” in the subject line of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone [phone]) is the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Discussion

The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 by superseding AD 2002-26-01, Amendment 39-12986 (67 FR 78965, December 27, 2002). That AD requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector fuel lines. That AD was the result of the need to ensure that the additional Textron Lycoming fuel injected engine series listed in that final rule, receive the same inspections as series covered by the two previous ADs that were superseded by AD 2002-26-01. That condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the fuel injector fuel lines allowing fuel to spray into the engine compartment, resulting in an engine fire.

Actions Since AD 2002-26-01 Was Issued

Since AD 2002-26-01 was issued, Lycoming Engines has added new engine models to the list of engines requiring inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector fuel lines. They have also added other new engines that are exempt from this AD, because they have a Maintenance and Overhaul Manual with an Airworthiness Limitations Section that requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector lines. These engines are not listed in the revised Lycoming Engines MSB. Also, since AD 2002-26-01 was issued, we found that we need to clarify the repetitive inspection compliance time from “at each 100-hour inspection” to “at intervals of 100 hours time-in-service (not to exceed 110 hours)”, to include engines that are not subject to 100-hour inspections.

Relevant Service Information

We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Lycoming Engines MSB No. 342E, dated May 18, 2004, which describes procedures for inspecting, and if necessary replacing the fuel injector fuel lines. That MSB supersedes Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342D, MSB No. 342C, MSB No. 342B, Supplement No. 1 to MSB 342B, MSB 342A, and MSB 342.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products of this same type design. For that reason, we are proposing this AD, which would supersede AD 2002-26-01 to add additional Lycoming Engines engine models to the applicability of the AD, and to clarify the repetitive inspect compliance time. The proposed AD would require that you do the inspections using the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that 17,740 engines installed on aircraft of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take about 1 work-hour to inspect and replace all lines on a four-cylinder engine, 1.5 work-hours to inspect and replace all lines on a six-cylinder engine, and 2 work-hours to inspect and replace all lines on an eight-cylinder engine, and that the average labor rate is $80 per work hour. Required parts would cost about $484 for a four-cylinder engine, $726 for a six-cylinder engine, and $968 for an eight-cylinder engine. Based on these figures, the total cost per airplane of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated as follows:

• $564 for a four-cylinder engine.
• $846 for a six-cylinder engine.
• $1,128 for an eight-cylinder engine.

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.

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.

Docket Number Change

We are transferring the docket for this AD to the Federal Docket Management System as part of our on-going docket management consolidation efforts. The new Docket No. is FAA-2007-0218. The old Docket No. became the Directorate Identifier, which is 92-ANE-56-AD.

Regulatory Findings

We have 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 that the proposed AD:

1. Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

2. Is not a “significant rule” under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-12986 (67 FR 78965, December 27, 2002) and by adding a new airworthiness directive to read as follows:

Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming Division, AVCO Corporation): Docket No. FAA-2007-0218; Directorate Identifier 92-ANE-56-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by March 3, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2002-26-01, Amendment 39-12986.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to fuel injected reciprocating engines manufactured by Lycoming Engines, that incorporate externally mounted fuel injection lines (engines with an “I” in the prefix of the engine model designation) as listed in the following Table 1:

Table 1.—Engine Models Affected

Engine	Model
AEIO-320	-D1B, -D2B, -E1B, -E2B
AIO-320	-A1B, -BIB, -C1B
IO-320	-B1A, -B1C, -C1A, -D1A, -D1B, -E1A, -E1B, -E2A, -E2B
LIO-320	-B1A, -C1A
AEIO-360	-A1A, -A1B, -A1B6, -A1D, -A1E, -A1E6, -B1F, -B2F, -B1G6, -B1H, -B4A, -H1A, -H1B
AIO-360	-A1A, -A1B, -B1B
HIO-360	-A1A, -A1B, -B1A, -C1A, -C1B, -D1A, -E1AD, -E1BD, -F1AD, -G1A
IO-360	-A1A, -A1B, -A1B6, -A1B6D, -A1C, -A1D, -A1D6, -A2A, -A2B, -A3B6, -A3B6D, -B1B, -B1D, -B1E, -B1F, -B1G6, -B2F, -B2F6, -B4A, -C1A, -C1B, -C1C, -C1C6, -C1D6, -C1E6, -C1F, -C1G6, -C2G6, -F1A, -J1A6D, -M1B, -L2A, -M1A
IVO-360	-A1A
LIO-360	-C1E6
TIO-360	-A1B, -C1A6D
IGO-480	-A1B6
AEIO-540	-D4A5, -D4B5, -D4D5, -L1B5, -L1B5D, -L1D5
IGO-540	-B1A, -B1C
IO-540	-A1A5, -AA1A5, -AA1B5, -AB1A5, -AC1A5, -AE1A5, -B1A5, -B1C5, -C1B5, -C4B5, -C4D5D, -D4A5, -E1A5, -E1B5, -G1A5, -G1B5, -G1C5, -G1D5, -G1E5, -G1F5, -J4A5, -V4A5D, -K1A5, -K1A5D, -K1B5, -K1C5, -K1D5, -K1E5, -K1E5D, -K1F5, K1H5, -K1J5, -K1F5D, -K1G5, -K1G5D, -K1H5, -K1J5D, -K1K5, -K1E5, -K1E5D, -K1F5, -K1J5, -L1C5, -M1A5, -M1B5D, -M1C5, -N1A5, -P1A5, -R1A5, -S1A5, -T4A5D, -T4B5, -T4B5D, -T4C5D, -V4A5, -V4A5D, -W1A5, -W1A5D, -W3A5D
IVO-540	-A1A
LTIO-540	-F2BD, -J2B, -J2BD, -N2BD, -R2AD, -U2A, -V2AD, -W2A
TIO-540	-A1A, -A1B, -A2A, -A2B, -A2C, AE1A5, -AE2A, -AH1A, -AA1AD, -AF1A, -AF1B, -AG1A, -AB1AD, -AB1BD, -AH1A, -AJ1A, -AK1A, -C1A, -E1A, -G1A, -F2BD, -J2B, -J2BD, -N2BD, -R2AD, -S1AD, -U2A, -V2AD, -W2A
TIVO-540	-A2A
IO-720	-A1A, -A1B, -D1B, -D1BD, -D1C, -D1CD, -B1B, -B1BD, -C1B

Engine models in Table 1 are installed on, but not limited to Piper PA-24 Comanche, PA-30 and PA-39 Twin Comanche, PA-28 Arrow, and PA-23 Aztec; Beech 23 Musketeer; Mooney 20, and Cessna 177 Cardinal airplanes.

(d) This AD is not applicable to engines having internally mounted fuel injection lines, which are not accessible.

(e) This AD is not applicable to engines that have a Maintenance and Overhaul Manual with an Airworthiness Limitations Section that requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector lines.

Unsafe Condition

(f) This AD results from Lycoming Engines revising their Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) to add new engine models requiring inspection, and from the need to clarify a repetitive inspection compliance time. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel injector fuel lines that would allow fuel to spray into the engine compartment, resulting in an engine fire.

Compliance

(g) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the actions have already been done.

Engines That Have Had Initial Inspections

(h) For engines that have had initial inspections in accordance with Textron Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 342, dated March 24, 1972; Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342A, dated May 26, 1992 Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342B, dated October 22, 1993; Supplement No. 1 to MSB No. 342B, dated April 27, 1999; Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342C, dated April 28, 2000; Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342D, dated July 10, 2001, and Lycoming Engines MSB No. 342E, dated May 18, 2004, inspect in accordance with paragraph (j) of this AD.

Engines That Have Not Had Initial Inspections

(i) For engines that have not had initial inspections previously done in accordance with Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342, dated March 24, 1972; Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342A, dated May 26, 1992; Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342B, dated October 22, 1993; Supplement No. 1 to MSB No. 342B, dated April 27, 1999; Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342C, dated April 28, 2000; Textron Lycoming MSB No. 342D, dated July 10, 2001; or Lycoming Engines MSD No. 342E, dated May 18, 2004, inspect as follows:

(1) For engines that have not yet had any fuel line maintenance done, or have not had any fuel line maintenance done since new or since the last overhaul, inspect in accordance with paragraph (k) of this AD within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD.

(2) For all other engines, inspect in accordance with paragraph (k) of this AD within 10 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD.

Repetitive Inspections

(j) Thereafter, inspect at intervals of 100 hours TIS (not to exceed 110 hours), at each engine overhaul, and after any maintenance has been done on the engine where any clamp (or clamps) on a fuel injector line (or lines) has been disconnected, moved, or loosened, inspect in accordance with paragraph (k) of this AD.

Inspection Criteria

(k) Inspect the fuel injector fuel lines and clamps between the fuel manifold and the fuel injector nozzles and replace as necessary any fuel injector fuel line and clamp that does not meet all conditions specified in Lycoming Engines MSB No. 342E, dated May 18, 2004.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(l) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

(m) FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. NE-07-49, dated September 20, 2007, is not mandatory, but has additional information on this subject.

(n) Contact Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; e-mail: [e-mail]; telephone [phone]; fax [phone], for more information about this AD.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 21, 2007.

Peter A. White,

Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.