[Federal Register: November 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 215)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65062-65064]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07no06-15]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 65062]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-26071; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., (Mooney)
Models M20M and M20R Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. Models M20M and M20R airplanes.
This proposed AD would require you to retorque the upper left and upper
right engine mounting hardware as an interim action. This proposed AD
would also require 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 proposed 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 proposing 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: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 7,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
For service information identified in this proposed AD contact
Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., 165 Al Mooney Road North, Kerrville, TX
78028; telephone (830) 896-6000.
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:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2006-26071; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD'' at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive concerning this proposed AD.
Discussion
We received information from Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., that
during the manufacturing process of Models M20M Serial Numbers 27-0317
through 27-0355 and Models M20R Serial Numbers 29-0290 through 29-0448,
the firewall insulation and upholstery covering attached to the
interior surface of the firewall, located behind the instrument panel,
may be compressed between the fuselage tubular frame and the stainless
steel firewall at the upper left and upper right engine mount points.
This may prevent the engine mount attaching hardware from maintaining
torque to engineering design.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure to
maintain proper fastener torque, leading to reduced engine mount load
carrying capability and possible engine mount failure.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. Service Bulletin
M20-292, dated September 22, 2006. The service information describes
procedures for:
Retorquing the upper left and upper right engine mounting
hardware;
Removing the upper left and upper right engine mount
attaching hardware;
Cutting out and removing the upholstery and insulation
between the fuselage tubular frame and the firewall; and
Replacing the upper left and upper right engine mount
attaching hardware with the new parts kit.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD
would require you to retorque the upper left and upper right engine
mounting hardware as an interim action. This proposed AD would also
require 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.
[[Page 65063]]
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 198 airplanes in the
U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs for the proposed procedures:
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Total cost
Labor cost Parts cost per Total cost on U.S. operators
airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retorquing of the upper left and Not Applicable............. $40 198 x $40 = $7,920.
upper right engine mounting
hardware:
.5 work-hours x $80 per hour =
$40.
Removing insulation and upholstery $20........................ 160 198 x $180 = $35,640.
material at 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Mooney will provide warranty credit for parts and labor as
specified in the Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. Service Bulletin M20-
292, dated September 22, 2006.
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
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the proposed
regulation:
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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227)
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Mooney Airplane Company, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2006-26071;
Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by December 7, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to 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 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 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. the effective date Bulletin M20-292
of this AD. dated September 22,
2006.
[[Page 65064]]
(2) Replace the old engine Within the next 100 Follow Mooney
mount attaching hardware by hours TIS after the Airplane Company,
doing the following: effective date of Inc. Service
(i) Remove and discard the this AD. Bulletin M20-292
upper left and upper right dated September 22,
engine mount attaching 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
Parts Kit.
(3) If you do the actions of As of the effective Follow Mooney
paragraph (e)(2) of this AD date of this AD. Airplane Company,
before the compliance time Inc. Service
specified for the action in Bulletin M20-292
paragraph (e)(1) of this dated September 22,
AD, it terminates the 2006.
requirement for the action
in paragraph (e)(1) of this
AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) 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
(g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this
AD, contact the Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., 165 Al Mooney Road
North, Kerrville, TX 78028, telephone: 830-896-6000. 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, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
The docket number is Docket No. FAA-2006-26071; Directorate
Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 30, 2006.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18724 Filed 11-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P