[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 178 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47683-47685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21959]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-11-AD; Amendment 39-9359; AD 95-18-12]
Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Aircraft Corporation Model M20K
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney) Model M20K airplanes.
This action requires 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
[[Page 47684]]
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 this action. The actions specified
by this AD are intended to prevent fuel selector valve malfunction,
which, if not detected and corrected, will prevent the airplane
operator from selecting the appropriate fuel tank, resulting in an
unscheduled landing.
DATES: Effective October 20, 1995.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of October 20, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained
from the Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville,
Texas 78028; telephone (210) 896-6000. This information may also be
examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region,
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-
11-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: 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: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply
to Mooney Model M20K airplanes was published in the Federal Register on
April 11, 1995 (60 FR 18374). The action proposed to require inspecting
to see if the airplane is equipped with a Gerdes fuel selector valve,
(P/N) A-2580, and replacing any Gerdes fuel selector valve with an
Airight fuel selector valve. Accomplishment of the proposed replacement
would be in accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin M20-256, dated
January 24, 1995.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.
After careful review of all available information related to the
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.
The FAA estimates that 78 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 3 workhours per
airplane to accomplish the required 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 this 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
required modification. Mooney has informed the FAA that parts have not
been distributed to any owner/operator of the affected airplanes.
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.
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) 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 final 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, 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 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
95-18-12 Mooney Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-9359; 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 revision, 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 (d) 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. 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, will 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, 250063,
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
[[Page 47685]]
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.
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 replacement required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin M20-256, dated January 24,
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 (39-9359) becomes effective on October 20,
1995.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 28, 1995.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-21959 Filed 9-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U