[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14359-14361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7679]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-CE-51-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Aircraft Corporation Models
M20F, M20J, and M20L 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 Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney) Models
M20F, M20J, and M20L airplanes. The proposed action would require
removing the fuel cap retaining lanyard from the fuel filler cap
assemblies. A report of lost engine power during flight because of fuel
starvation prompted the proposed action. The investigation revealed
that the airplane fuel float became trapped by the fuel cap retaining
lanyard, keeping the float from following the fuel level. This
condition caused the pilot to get a false fuel quantity reading. The
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of
engine power and fuel depletion during flight caused by a false fuel
gauge reading.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 30, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-51-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.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville,
Texas 78028. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket
at the address above.
[[Page 14360]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Alma Ramirez-Hodge, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham
Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5147;
facsimile (817) 222-5960.
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. 96-CE-51-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. 96-CE-51-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Events Leading to the Proposed Action
The FAA received a report of an incident where a Mooney Model M20J
airplane lost engine power during flight because of fuel starvation.
The pilot noted that the fuel gauge indicated the tank was half full
before the engine quit. The pilot switched fuel tanks, re-started the
engine, and the airplane landed without further incident. Subsequent
investigation of the incident revealed that after fueling the airplane,
the fuel cap retaining lanyard trapped the outboard float, preventing
the float from following the fuel level downward. As a result, the fuel
gauge showed the tank as half full of fuel when the tank was actually
empty. The fuel cap lanyard and tank float design is the same for all
Mooney Models M20F, M20J, and M20L airplanes.
Related Service Information
Mooney Aircraft has issued service bulletin M20-259, Issue Date:
September 1, 1996, which specifies removing the lanyard from the fuel
cap assembly.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed Action
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incident described above, the FAA has
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent loss of engine
power and fuel depletion during flight caused by a false fuel gauge
reading.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Mooney Models M20F, M20J, and M20L airplanes
of the same type design, the proposed AD would require removing the
lanyard (nylon type material) from the fuel cap assembly.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 2,526 airplanes in the U.S. registry would
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1
workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. There are no parts to
include in this cost estimate. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $151,560
or $60 per airplane. The FAA has no way to determine how many owners/
operators have accomplished this action, and would assume that no
operator has accomplished this action.
Regulatory Impact
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 action (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) 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 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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Mooney Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 96-CE-51-AD.
Applicability: The following Models and serial numbered
airplanes, certificated in any category.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Models Serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
M20F................................ All serial numbers.
M20J................................ 24-0001 through 24-3381.
M20L................................ 26-0001 through 26-0041.
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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 request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
[[Page 14361]]
Compliance: Required within the next 50 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent loss of engine power and fuel depletion during flight
caused by a false fuel gauge reading, accomplish the following:
(a) Remove the lanyard (nylon type material) from the left-hand
(LH) and right-hand (RH) fuel filler cap assembly in accordance with
the INSTRUCTIONS section of Mooney Aircraft Corporation Service
Bulletin M20-259, Issue Date: September 1, 1996.
(b) 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.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office,
2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150. The request
shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector,
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Fort Worth
Airplane Certification Office.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to Mooney Aircraft
Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville, Texas, 78028; or may
examine this document 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 March 20, 1997.
Larry E. Werth,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-7679 Filed 3-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
