[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 164 (Thursday, August 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20905]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 25, 1994]
VOL. 59, NO. 164
Thursday, August 25, 1994
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-CE-08-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Brackett Aircraft Company, Inc.; Air
Filter Assemblies Installed on 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 airplanes with certain Brackett Aircraft
Company, Inc. (Brackett) air filter assemblies incorporating a neoprene
gasket design installed between the carburetor heat box and the air
filter frame. The proposed action would require repetitively inspecting
(visually) the air filter frame for a loose or deteriorating gasket,
and replacing any gasket found loose or deteriorated. An accident
report where a Cessna Model 172 airplane experienced engine loss
because a six-inch piece of neoprene gasket material was lodged in the
carburetor prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent gasket particles from entering the
carburetor because of air filter gasket failure, which could result in
partial or complete loss of engine power.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 31, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-08-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 Brackett Aircraft Company, Inc., 7045 Flightline Drive,
Kingman, Arizona 86401. This information also may be examined at the
Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Bumann, Aerospace Engineer,
Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 3229 E. Spring Street,
Long Beach, California 90806; telephone (310) 988-5265; facsimile (310)
988-5210.
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. 94-CE-08-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. 94-CE-08-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA71GL specifies the
incorporation of numerous Brackett air filter assemblies. The following
Brackett air filter assemblies utilize a neoprene gasket between the
carburetor heat box and the air filter frame:
BA-2010
BA-4106
BA-4210
BA-5110
BA-5110A
BA-6110
BA-8910
The FAA has received a report of an accident report where a Cessna
Model 172 airplane experienced engine loss because a six-inch piece of
gasket material was lodged in the carburetor venturi throat. The
material matched the remaining neoprene gasket on the Brackett air
filter, Assembly No. BA-5110, installed in accordance with STC SA71GL.
The Brackett Aircraft Company, Inc., has issued Brackett Air Filter
Document I-194, dated March 16, 1994. This document specifies
inspection and replacement procedures for these Brackett air filters
utilizing neoprene gaskets installed in accordance with STC SA71GL.
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incident described above including the
referenced service information, the FAA has determined that AD action
should be taken to prevent gasket particles from entering the
carburetor because of air filter gasket failure, which could result in
partial or complete loss of engine power.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other airplanes incorporating the Brackett air
filter neoprene gasket design installed in accordance with STC SA71GL,
the proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting (visually) the
air filter frame for a loose or deteriorated gasket, and replacing any
gasket found loose or deteriorated. The proposed actions would be
accomplished in accordance with Brackett Air Filter Document I-194,
dated March 16, 1994.
The FAA estimates that 50,000 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 inspection, and that
the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $2,750,000 or $55 per operator. This figure does not
reflect costs for repetitive inspections or possible replacements; only
the initial inspection. The FAA has no way of determining how many
gaskets may need replacement or how many repetitive inspections each
operator may incur.
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:
Brackett Aircraft Company, Inc.: Docket No. 94-CE-08-AD.
Applicability: The following air filter assemblies that utilize
a neoprene gasket incorporated in accordance with Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC) SA71GL and installed on, but not limited to, the
following corresponding airplanes, certificated in any category:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air filter
assembly Airplanes installed on
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BA-2010...... Beech Model 77 Airplanes
BA-4106...... Cessna Models 120, 140, 140A, 150, 150A, 150B, 150C,
150D, 150E, 150F, 150G, 150H, 150J, 150K, 150L, 150M,
A150M, 152, and A152; Champion Models 7ACA, 7ECA, and
7FC; Christain Industries Model Husky A-1; Luscombe
Models 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, and T-8F; and Piper
Models PA-22, PA-22-135, PA-22-150, PA-22-160, PA-22-
180, PA-20-115, PA-20-135, PA-38, J-3, J3C-65, J3C-65's,
PA-11, PA-11's, J4A, J4AS, J4E, J5A, J5A-80, PA-12, PA-
12's, PA-16, PA-17, PA-18, PA-18A, PA-18's, PA-18-
``125'', PA-18AS-``125'', PA-18's-``125'', PA-18-
``135'', PA-18A-``135'', PA-18AS-``135'', and 8S-135
Airplanes.
BA-4210...... Grumman American Aviation Corporation Models AA-1, AA-1A,
AA-1B, AA-1C, and AA-5 Airplanes.
BA-5110...... Cessna 170, 170A, 170B, 172, 172A, 172B, 172C, 172D,
172E, 172F, 172G, 172H, 172I, 172K, 172L, and 172M; and
Mooney Mite Aircraft Corporation Model M-18C Airplanes.
BA-5110A..... Cessna Models 172N and 172P Airplanes.
BA-6110...... Mooney Models M20, M20A, M20B, M20C, M20D, and M20G; and
Maule Models M4, M4C, M4S, M4T, M-4-220, M-4-220C, M-4-
220S, M-4-220T, M-4-180C, M-4-180S, M-4-180T, M-5-220C,
M-5-235C, M-5-180C, M-5-210TC, M-6-180, M-6-235, and M-7-
235 Airplanes.
BA-8910...... Aero Commander Models 100 and 100A Airplanes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours
TIS.
To prevent gasket particles from entering the carburetor because
of air filter gasket failure, which could result in partial or
complete loss of engine power, accomplish the following:
(a) Visually inspect the inside and outside of the air filter
frame for gasket looseness, movement, or deterioration in accordance
with Brackett Air Filter Document I-194, dated March 16, 1994. If
any gasket looseness, movement, or deterioration is found, prior to
further flight, accomplish the following:
(1) Remove the air filter frame by removing the screws, nuts,
and washers on the air filter frame (3 to 4 each). Note that the
screws securing the grill to the frame need not be removed.
(2) Remove and replace the neoprene gasket in accordance with
Brackett Air Filter Document 1-194. Inspect the carburetor in
accordance with the applicable maintenance manual for gasket
material ingestion. Remove any material ingested.
(3) Reinstall the filter frame to the carburetor heat box with
the screws, nuts, and washers (3 to 4 each) that were removed
earlier. Torque each nut to where the neoprene gasket is compressed
to one-half its original thickness.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 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, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA, 3229 E. Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90806. The
request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance
Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Los
Angeles ACO.
Note: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to the Brackett
Aircraft Company, Inc., 7045 Flightline Drive, Kingman, Arizona
86401; 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 August 19, 1994.
Gerald W. Pierce,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-20905 Filed 8-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U