[Federal Register: March 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 42)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9660-9662]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05mr07-6]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-26071; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD;
Amendment 39-14965; AD 2007-05-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., (Mooney)
Models M20M and M20R Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., Models M20M and M20R airplanes. This AD
requires you to remove the upper left and upper right engine mount
attaching hardware, cut out and remove the upholstery and insulation
between the fuselage tubular frame and the firewall, and replace the
upper left and upper right engine mount attaching hardware with the new
parts kit. This AD results from failure of the engine mount attaching
hardware to maintain torque as a result of firewall insulation and
upholstery being compressed between the fuselage tubular frame and the
firewall at the upper left and upper right engine mount attach points.
We are issuing this AD to prevent the upper right and upper left engine
mounting hardware from losing torque, which could result in a reduction
in engine mount load carrying capability and could lead to engine mount
failure.
DATES: This AD becomes effective on April 9, 2007.
As of April 9, 2007, the Director of the Federal Register approved
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the
regulation.
ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified in this AD,
contact Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., 165 Al Mooney Road North,
Kerrville, Texas 78028; telephone: (830) 896-6000, or go to: http://www.mooney.com/images/pdfs/sb-pdf/m20-292a.pdf
.
To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
The docket number is FAA-2006-26071; Directorate
Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer,
ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio,
Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On November 7, 2006, we issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that
would apply to certain Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. Models M20M and
M20R airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as
a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on November 7, 2006 (71 FR
65062). The NPRM proposed to retorque the upper left and upper right
engine mounting hardware as an interim action. The NPRM also proposed
to remove the upper left and upper right engine mount attaching
hardware, cut out and remove the upholstery and insulation between the
fuselage tubular frame and the firewall, and replace the upper left and
upper right engine mount attaching hardware with the new parts kit.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal
and FAA's response to each comment:
Comment Issue: Jack Buster of the Modification and Replacement
Parts Association (MARPA) suggests that paragraph (g) of the proposed
action be amended to include the Internet Uniform Resource Locator
(URL) address for the relevant service information.
We agree with the commenter's (Jack Buster, MARPA) recommendation.
We added the manufacturer's Internet URL address in the information on
how to obtain the relevant service information.
Conclusion
Since the NPRM was published, the manufacturer has revised the
applicable service bulletin to clarify the fastener torque requirement.
The change does not change the intent of the required action and does
not create any additional burden on the owners/operators. The AD will
reference the appropriate service information: Mooney Airplane Company,
Inc. Service
[[Page 9661]]
Bulletin M20-292A, dated December 22, 2006, but will give credit to
anyone who has already done the action per the original service
bulletin.
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed
except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these
minor corrections:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 198 airplanes in the U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to accomplish the required
modifications:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost per Total cost on
Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retorquing of the upper left and upper right Not Applicable.................. $40 $7,920
engine mounting hardware: .5 work-hours x $80
per hour = $40.
Removing insulation and upholstery material at $20............................. 180 35,640
the engine mount upper right and upper left
attaching points, and installing engine mount
attaching hardware with the new parts kit: 2
work-hours X $80 per hour = $160.
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Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this AD.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a
substantial direct effect 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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed
it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a
request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket
No. FAA-2006-26071; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD'' in your
request.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under 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
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:
2007-05-04 Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., (Mooney) Models M20M and
M20R Airplanes: Amendment 39-14965; Docket No. FAA-2006-26071;
Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective on April 9, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., (Mooney)
Model M20M airplanes, serial numbers 27-0317 through 27-0355 and
Model M20R airplanes, serial numbers 29-0290 through 29-0448, that
are certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD is the result of failure of the engine mount
attaching hardware to maintain torque as a result of firewall
insulation and upholstery being compressed between the fuselage
tubular frame and the firewall at the upper left and upper right
engine mount attach points. The actions specified in this AD are
intended to prevent the upper right and upper left engine mounting
hardware from losing torque. This failure could lead to a reduction
in engine mount load carrying capability and could result in engine
mount failure.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
already done:
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Actions Compliance Procedures
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(1) Locate and retorque the Within the next 25 Follow Mooney
upper left and upper right hours time-in- Airplane Company,
engine mount attaching service (TIS) after Inc. Service
hardware. April 9, 2007 (the Bulletin M20-292A,
effective date of dated December 22,
this AD). 2006.
[[Page 9662]]
(2) Replace the old engine Within the next 100 Follow Mooney
mount attaching hardware by hours time-in- Airplane Company,
doing the following:. service (TIS) after Inc. Service
(i) Remove and discard the April 9, 2007 (the Bulletin M20-292A,
upper left and upper right effective date of dated December 22,
engine mount attaching this AD). 2006.
hardware;.
(ii) Cut out and remove the
upholstery and insulation
material to allow full
metal-to-metal contact of
the fuselage tubular frame
to the firewall; and.
(iii) Install the new upper
left and upper right engine
mount attaching hardware
part kits.
(3) If you do the actions of As of April 9, 2007 Follow Mooney
paragraph (e)(2) of this AD (the effective date Airplane Company,
before the compliance time of this AD). Inc. Service
specified for the action in Bulletin M20-292A,
paragraph (e)(1) of this dated December 22,
AD, it terminates the 2006.
requirement for the action
in paragraph (e)(1) of this
AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(f) Compliance will be acceptable if the above actions are
accomplished by following the procedures described in Mooney
Airplane Company, Inc. Service Bulletin M20-292, dated September 22,
2006. You may take ``unless already done'' credit, and no further
action per this AD is necessary.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA,
ATTN: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43),
10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone:
(210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR
39.19.
Related Information
(h) None.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) You must use Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. Service Bulletin
M20-292A, dated December 22, 2006, to do the actions required by
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact the
Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., 165 Al Mooney Road North, Kerrville,
TX 78028, telephone: 830-896-6000, or go to: http://www.mooney.com/images/pdfs/sb-pdf/m20-292a.pdf
.
(3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html
.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 21, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3575 Filed 3-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P