[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18374-18376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8832]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-11-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Aircraft Corporation Model M20K
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) Model
M20K airplanes. The proposed action would require inspecting to see if
the airplane is equipped with a Gerdes fuel selector valve, part number
(P/N) A-2580, and replacing any Gerdes fuel selector valve with an
Airight fuel selector valve. Malfunction of a Gerdes fuel selector
valve on an affected airplane, where the valve did not allow the
operator to select the appropriate fuel tank, prompted the proposed
action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to
prevent fuel selector valve malfunction, which, if not detected and
corrected, would prevent the airplane operator from selecting the
appropriate fuel tank, resulting in an unscheduled landing.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 9, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-11-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 the Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville,
Texas 78028; telephone (210) 896-6000. This information also may be
examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gary Sills, Mechanical Systems
Engineer, FAA, Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard,
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5154; facsimile (817)
222-5959.
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. 95-CE-11-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. 95-CE-11-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. [[Page 18375]]
Discussion
The FAA has received a report of a Gerdes fuel selector valve, P/N
A-2580, malfunction on a Mooney Model M20K airplane. The airplane
operator in the referenced incident was unable to select the
appropriate fuel tank and was forced to make an unscheduled landing. No
substantial airplane damage or injuries were reported. Fuel selector
valve malfunction, if not detected and corrected, could result in
passenger injury or airplane damage if the airplane operator was forced
to make an unscheduled landing in adverse areas or conditions.
The FAA has determined that the
P/N A-2580 Gerdes valve has a design incompatibility with Mooney Model
M20K airplanes. The fuel tank selector valve is located on the floor in
the cockpit of the Mooney Model M20K airplanes, and, if stepped on, the
spool of the fuel selector valve may be forced down tight in the valve
body and wedge-locked. The fuel valve selector handle may malfunction
in this scenario and the pilot will not be able to utilize the fuel
selector valve.
Mooney has issued Service Bulletin (SB) M20-256, dated January 24,
1995, which specifies procedures for replacing the Gerdes fuel selector
valve with an Airight fuel selector valve. The Airight fuel selector
valve is designed to prevent wedge-locking from occurring if the fuel
selector valve is stepped on.
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent fuel selector
valve malfunction, which, if not detected and corrected, would prevent
the airplane operator from selecting the appropriate fuel tank,
resulting in an unscheduled landing.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Mooney Model M20K airplanes of the same type
design, the proposed AD would require inspecting to see if the airplane
is equipped with a Gerdes fuel selector valve, part number (P/N) A-
2580, and replacing any Gerdes fuel selector valve with an Airight fuel
selector valve. The proposed replacement would be accomplished in
accordance with Mooney SB M20-256, dated January 24, 1995.
The FAA estimates that 78 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 3
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $535 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $55,770.
This figure is based on the assumption that no airplane owner/operator
has accomplished the proposed modification. Mooney has informed the FAA
that parts have not been distributed to any owner/operator of the
affected airplanes.
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 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:
Mooney Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 95-CE-11-AD.
Applicability: Model M20K airplanes (all serial numbers),
certificated in any category.
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 use the authority
provided in paragraph (d) of this AD to request approval from the
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 aircraft from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required within the next 50 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent fuel selector valve malfunction, which, if not
detected and corrected, would prevent the airplane operator from
selecting the appropriate fuel tank, resulting in an unscheduled
landing, accomplish the following:
(a) Inspect to see if the airplane is equipped with a Gerdes
fuel selector valve, part number (P/N) A-2580. This inspection may
be accomplished by examining the cross-sectional shape of the
selector valve. The Gerdes selector valve has a rectangular cross
section with square corners.
Note 2: The following airplane serial numbers (S/N) had a Gerdes
fuel selector valve, part number (P/N) A-2580, installed at
manufacture:
S/N 25-0001 through 25-0091, except for the following:
S/N's 25-0017, 25-0027, 25-0052, 25-0063, 25-0067, 25-0068, 25-0078,
25-0081, 25-0082, 25-0083, 25-0084, 25-0085, 25-0086, and 25-0089.
The excluded S/N 25-0001 through 25-0091 Model M20K airplanes and
any S/N Model M20K airplanes outside that range may have had a
Gerdes fuel selector valve, part number (P/N) A-2580, installed by
field modification.
(b) Replace any Gerdes fuel selector valve, P/N A-2580, with an
Airight fuel selector valve in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS
section in Mooney Service Bulletin M20-256, dated January 24, 1995.
(c) 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 provided that the
fuel selector valve is functioning properly.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification Office (ACO), FAA,
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
ACO.
[[Page 18376]] Note 3: Information concerning the existence of
approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may
be obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.
(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to the 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 27, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-8832 Filed 4-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
