[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31240-31241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14041]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-24-AD; Amendment 39-9267; AD 95-12-16]
Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Aircraft Corporation Model M20R
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes priority letter Airworthiness
Directive (AD) 95-07-04, which currently requires the following on
certain Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney) Model M20R airplanes:
repetitively inspecting the exhaust system for cracks, replacing the
exhaust system if any cracks are found, and reporting to the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) any cracks found. This action retains the
repetitive inspection requirement of AD 95-07-04 until the exhaust
system is modified, and requires eventual modification of the exhaust
system on the affected airplanes. Several reports of exhaust system
cracks on Mooney Model M20R airplanes prompted this action. The actions
specified by this AD are intended to prevent an airplane engine fire
that could result from exhaust system cracks.
DATES: Effective June 22, 1995.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of June 22, 1995. Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be
received on or before August 14, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the FAA, Central Region,
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-
24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained from
the Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville,
Texas 78028. This information may also be examined at the FAA, Central
Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket
95-CE-24-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alma Ramirez-Hodge, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard,
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5147; facsimile (817)
223-5960.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 24, 1995, the FAA issued priority
letter AD 95-07-04, which currently requires the following on certain
Mooney Model M20R airplanes:
Repetitively inspecting the exhaust system for cracks;
Replacing the exhaust system if any cracks are found; and
Reporting to the FAA any cracks found.
Accomplishment of this action is in accordance with section 5 and
section 81 of the Mooney Model M20R Service and Maintenance Manual
(section 78 in Service and Maintenance Manual revisions issued after
April 1995).
Several (13) reports of exhaust system cracks on the affected
airplanes prompted priority letter AD 95-07-04. The service time of the
airplanes with cracks found was as low as 8 hours time-in-service.
Investigation of the cracked exhaust systems revealed that these cracks
formed in the exhaust header assembly, the muffler assembly, and the
exhaust tailpipe assembly, specifically at the spot welds.
The exhaust system header assembly on the Model M20R airplanes is
located near the fuel lines. The high temperatures emanating from
exhaust system cracks could cause an airplane fire with this close
proximity to the fuel lines.
Mooney issued Service Bulletin M20-257, Revision A, dated March 21,
1995, which references repetitive inspections of the exhaust system on
the affected Model M20R airplanes. The exhaust system on the affected
airplanes consists of the following parts:
Exhaust Header Assembly: part number 630079-501/-502
Muffler Assembly: part number 630088-501; and
Exhaust Tail Pipe Assembly: part number 630087-501/-502
Since the FAA issued priority letter AD 95-07-04, Mooney has
developed an exhaust system modification that, when incorporated, would
eliminate the need for the repetitive inspections required by the
current AD. Mooney issued Instructions--Retrofit Kit, part number (P/N)
940095-501-1, dated March 31, 1995, and Special Letter 95-1, dated
April 20, 1995, which specify instructions for incorporating this
exhaust system modification on Mooney Model M20R airplanes. In
addition, Mooney incorporated the instructions of both the above
documents in Instructions-Retrofit Kit, P/N 940095-501-1, Revised April
21, 1995. This modification is referenced in Mooney Service Bulletin
M20-257, Revision B, dated April 5, 1995.
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the accidents described above, the FAA has
determined that the modification described above should be incorporated
on certain Mooney Model M20R airplanes, and that AD action should be
taken in order to prevent an airplane engine fire that could result
from exhaust system cracks.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Mooney M20R airplanes of the same type
design, this AD supersedes priority letter AD 95-07-04 with a new AD
that (1) retains the requirement of repetitively inspecting the exhaust
system for cracks until the exhaust system is modified; and (2)
requires modifying the exhaust system if cracks are found and at a
certain time period if cracks aren't found. This exhaust system
modification eliminates the repetitive inspection requirement.
Accomplishment of the exhaust system modification is in accordance with
either (1) Mooney Instructions-Retrofit Kit, P/N 940095-501-1, Revised
April 21, 1995; or (2) both Mooney Instructions--Retrofit Kit, P/N
940095-501-1, dated March 31, 1995, and Mooney Special Letter 95-1,
dated April 20, 1995.
Since a situation exists (possible exhaust leaks near the fuel
lines) that requires the immediate adoption of this regulation, it is
found that notice and opportunity for public prior comment hereon are
impracticable, and that good cause exists for making this amendment
effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 will be considered,
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual
information that
[[Page 31241]]
supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in
evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether
additional rulemaking action would be needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might
suggest a need to modify the 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
AD 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-24-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
The regulations adopted herein will 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 final
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency
regulation and that it must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe
condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action''
under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this
action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined
that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is
not required). A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules
Docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
95-12-16 Mooney Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-9267; Docket No.
95-CE-24-AD. Supersedes priority letter AD 95-07-04.
Applicability: Model M20R Airplanes, serial numbers 29-0002
through 29-0035, 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 airplane from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless
already accomplished.
To prevent an airplane engine fire that could result from
exhaust system cracks, accomplish the following:
(a) Within the next 5 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD, unless the modification specified in
paragraph (b) of this AD is incorporated, and thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 5 hours TIS until compliance with paragraph
(b) of this AD, inspect the exhaust system for cracks in accordance
with section 5 and section 81 of the Mooney Model M20R Service and
Maintenance Manual (section 78 in Service and Maintenance Manual
revisions issued after April 1995). The original exhaust system
consists of the following:
(1) Exhaust Header Assembly: part number 630079-501/-502;
(2) Muffler Assembly: part number 630088-501; and
(3) Exhaust Tail Pipe Assembly: part number 630087-501/-502.
Note 2: The inspections required by this AD are also referenced
in Mooney Service Bulletin M20-257, Revision A, dated March 21,
1995, and Revision B, dated April 5, 1995.
(b) Prior to further flight on any airplane with a cracked
exhaust system or within the next 25 hours TIS after the effective
date of this AD on any airplane without a cracked exhaust system,
whichever occurs first, modify the exhaust system in accordance with
the documents specified in either paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) below:
(1) Mooney Instructions--Retrofit Kit, part number (P/N) 940095-
501-1, dated March 31, 1995, and Mooney Special Letter 95-1, dated
April 20, 1995; or
(2) Mooney Instructions-Retrofit Kit, P/N 940095-501-1, Revised
April 21, 1995.
(c) The repetitive inspections required by paragraph (a) of this
AD are no longer required after the incorporation of the
modification required by paragraph (b) of this AD.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, 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.
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) The modification required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with Mooney Instructions-Retrofit Kit, part number
940095-501-1, Revised April 21, 1995; or both Mooney Instructions-
Retrofit Kit, part number 940095-501-1, dated March 31, 1995, and
Mooney Special Letter 95-1, dated April 20, 1995. This incorporation
by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be
obtained from the Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner
Field, Kerrville, Texas 78028. Copies may be inspected at the FAA,
Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558,
601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 7th Floor, suite
700, Washington, DC.
(f) This amendment (39-9267) supersedes priority letter AD 95-
07-04.
(g) This amendment (39-9267) becomes effective on June 22, 1995.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 2, 1995.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-14041 Filed 6-13-95; 8:45 am]
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