[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 199 (Monday, October 16, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53557-53560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25567]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 93-ANE-07]
Airworthiness Directives; Teledyne Continental Motors (formerly
Bendix) S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 Series Magnetos
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of
comment period.
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SUMMARY: This notice revises an earlier proposed airworthiness
directive (AD), applicable to Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM)
(formerly Bendix) S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 series magnetos
equipped with impulse couplings, that would have superseded an AD that
currently requires inspections for wear, and replacement, if necessary,
of the impulse coupling assemblies. The proposed rule would have
retained the repetitive inspections for wear required by the current
AD, but would have also required replacement, if necessary, of riveted
impulse coupling assemblies with newly designed, improved, snap ring
impulse coupling assemblies. In addition, the proposed AD would have
required marking the magneto data plate to indicate installation of a
snap ring impulse coupling assembly. Installation of snap ring impulse
coupling assemblies would have constituted terminating action to the
inspection requirements of the AD. That proposal was prompted by
availability of an improved design for the impulse coupling assembly.
This action revises the proposed rule by allowing installation of
replacement serviceable riveted as well as snap ring impulse couplings.
The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent
magneto failure and subsequent engine failure.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 15, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-ANE-07, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299. Comments may be inspected at
this location between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Teledyne Continental Motors, P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL
36601; telephone (334) 438-3411. This information may be examined at
the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Robinette, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Campus
Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Suite 2-160, College Park, GA, 30337-
2748; telephone (404) 305-7371, fax (404) 305-7348.
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 summarizing 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 Number 93-ANE-07.'' 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, New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-ANE-07, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803-5299.
Discussion
On January 4, 1983, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
issued airworthiness directive (AD) 78-09-07 R3, Amendment 39-4538 (48
FR 1482, January 13, 1983), to require inspections for wear, and
replacement, if necessary, of the impulse coupling assemblies on
certain Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) (formerly Bendix) S-20, S-
1200, D-2000, and D-3000 series magnetos equipped with impulse
couplings. That action was prompted by reports of numerous magneto
failures. That condition, if not corrected, could result in magneto
failure and subsequent engine failure.
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations was
published as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal
Register on September 21, 1993 (58 FR 48987). That NPRM would have
retained the repetitive inspections for wear required by the current
AD, but would have also required replacement, if necessary, of the
riveted impulse coupling assembly with newly designed, improved, snap
ring impulse coupling assemblies. In addition, the proposed AD would
have required marking the magneto data plate to indicate installation
of a snap ring impulse coupling assembly. Installation of snap ring
impulse coupling assemblies would have constituted terminating action
to the inspection requirements of this AD. That NPRM was prompted by
the manufacturer redesigning the impulse coupling assembly to include
snap ring fastening technology which strengthens the cam axle and
reduces wear. The snap ring impulse coupling assembly was believed not
to have the failure mode of the previous design.
Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA received reports of snap
ring impulse coupling assemblies being worn beyond limits. The FAA
determined that it was necessary to reopen the proposal for public
comment, so a Supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register
on November 17, 1994 (59 FR 59391). That Supplemental NPRM proposed to
retain the 500 hour repetitive inspections for wear required by the
current AD, but would require these inspections for magnetos equipped
with snap ring impulse coupling assemblies as well.
Since the publication of that Supplemental NPRM, the FAA has
received comments. One commenter supports the AD as written. The other
two commenters state that they basically support the AD, but feel that
serviceable riveted impulse couplings should be permitted as
replacement units as well as the snap ring design. The FAA concurs,
while there has been no production of riveted impulse couplings since
January 1992, distributors may still have some left as this was a
common, relatively high use item. This new Supplemental NPRM has
therefore been revised to propose replacement of worn impulse couplings
with serviceable impulse couplings of either design.
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Since this change expands the scope of the originally proposed
rule, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment
period to provide additional opportunity for public comment.
The FAA has reviewed and approved the technical contents of TCM
Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB645, dated April 4, 1994, that
describes procedures for inspection of the impulse coupling assemblies
for wear; and TCM SB No. 639, dated March 1993, that clarifies
procedures for installation of impulse coupling assemblies.
The FAA estimates that 130,000 magnetos would be affected by this
proposed AD, that the required inspection would take 1 work hour, plus
1 work hour to change the impulse coupling, and that the average labor
rate is $60 per work hour. The average utilization of the fleet of
these airplanes is estimated to be evenly divided between commercial/
commuter service and private owners. The commercial/commuter service
population is estimated to operate 500 hours time in service (TIS) per
year; therefore the cost to perform the inspections required by the
proposed AD would be approximately $3,900,000 per year. The FAA
estimates that private owners operate their aircraft between 50 and 100
hours TIS per year; therefore it will take approximately 5 to 10 years
to reach 500 hours time in service. The estimated cost for these owners
would also be $3,900,000 spread over a time period of 5 to 10 years or
780,000 per year for 5 years or $390,000 for 10 years. The cost to
replace the impulse coupling assembly is $125 per magneto plus one work
hour at $60 per work hour for a total of $185 per magneto. While all
the riveted impulse coupling assemblies will eventually have to be
replaced, it is not possible to estimate the cost per year. The total
cost for replacement for U.S. operators would be $24,050,000.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained 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. 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Teledyne Continental Motors: Docket No. 93-ANE-07.
Applicability: Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) (formerly
Bendix) S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 series magnetos equipped
with impulse couplings, installed on but not limited to
reciprocating engine powered aircraft manufactured by Beech, Cessna,
Mooney, and Piper.
Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each
magneto 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 magnetos 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 (c) to request approval from the
Federal Aviation Administration (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 magneto from the
applicability of this AD.
Note 2: The FAA has received reports of some confusion as to
what is meant by S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 series magnetos as
referenced in TCM Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB645, dated
April 4, 1994, and this airworthiness directive (AD). A typical
example is S6RN-25, where the S designates single type ignition unit
(a D designates a dual ignition unit), the 6 designates the number
of cylinders, the R designates right hand rotation, the N is the
manufacturer designation (this did not change when TCM purchased the
Bendix magneto product line), and the number after the dash
indicates the series (a-25 is a S-20 series magneto while a -3200 is
a D-3000 series magneto, etc.).
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent magneto failure and subsequent engine failure,
accomplish the following:
(a) For magnetos with riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies, having less than 450 hours time in service (TIS) since
new, or overhaul, or since last inspection, on the effective date of
this AD, accomplish the following:
(1) Prior to the accumulation of 500 hours TIS since new, or
overhaul, or since last inspection, inspect riveted or snap ring
impulse coupling assemblies for wear, and replace, if necessary,
prior to further flight, with serviceable riveted or snap ring
impulse coupling assemblies, in accordance with the Detailed
Instructions of TCM MSB No. MSB645, dated April 4, 1994, and TCM SB
No. 639, dated March 1993.
(2) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 500 hours TIS since
the last inspection, inspect riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies for wear, and replace, if necessary, prior to further
flight, with serviceable riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies, in accordance with the Detailed Instructions of TCM MSB
No. MSB645, dated April 4, 1994, and TCM SB No. 639, dated March
1993.
(b) For magnetos with riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies, having 450 or more hours TIS since new, or overhaul, or
since last inspection, on the effective date of this AD, or an
unknown TIS on the effective date of this AD, accomplish the
following:
(1) Within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of
this AD, inspect riveted or snap ring impulse coupling assemblies
for wear, and replace, if necessary, prior to further flight, with
serviceable riveted or snap ring impulse coupling assemblies in
accordance with the Detailed Instructions of TCM MSB No. MSB645,
dated April 4, 1994, and TCM SB No. 639, dated March 1993.
(2) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 500 hours TIS since
the last inspection, inspect riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies for wear, and replace, if necessary, prior to further
flight, with serviceable riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies, in accordance with the Detailed Instruction of TCM MSB
No. MSB645, dated April 4, 1994, and TCM SB No. 639, dated March
1993.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification
Office. The request should be forwarded through an appropriate
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FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office. NOTE: Information
concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of
compliance with this airworthiness directive, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.
(d) 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 aircraft to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 3, 1995.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-25567 Filed 10-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
