[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8681]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 12, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-05-AD]

 

Airworthiness Directives: Univair Aircraft Corporation Models 
Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and 415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A, 
Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 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 Univair Aircraft Corporation (Univair) Models 
Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and 415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A, 
Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 airplanes. The proposed action would 
require installing inspection openings in the outer wing panels, 
inspecting (one-time) the wing outer panel structure for corrosion, and 
repairing any corrosion found. Several reports of corrosion in the 
outer wing panels of the affected airplanes prompted the proposed 
action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent wing structural damage that, if not detected and corrected, 
could progress to the point of failure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 24, 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-05-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 Univair Aircraft Corporation, 2500 Himalaya Road, Aurora, 
Colorado 80011; telephone (303) 375-8882; facsimile (303) 375-8888. 
This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the 
address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger P. Chudy, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Denver Aircraft Certification Field Office, 5440 Roslyn 
Street, suite 133, Denver, Colorado 80216; telephone (303) 286-5684; 
facsimile (303) 286-5689.

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-05-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-05-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received several reports of wing structure corrosion on 
Univair Models Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and 415-G, Forney 
F-1 and F-1A, Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 airplanes. At least 
four of these incidents revealed major corrosion in the outer wing 
panels.
    Current maintenance inspection provisions do not allow for thorough 
viewing of the wing structure. With this in mind, Univair issued 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 29, dated January 27, 1994, which specifies 
procedures for (1) installing inspection openings in the outer wing 
panels, and (2) inspecting the outer wing panels for evidence of 
corrosion.
    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above including the 
referenced service information, the FAA has determined that AD action 
should be taken to prevent wing structural damage that, if not detected 
and corrected, could progress to the point of failure.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Univair Models Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 
415-E, and 415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A, Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney 
M10 airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require 
installing inspection openings in the outer wing panels, inspecting 
(one-time) the wing outer panel structure for corrosion, and repairing 
any corrosion found. The proposed actions would be accomplished in 
accordance with Univair SB No. 29, dated January 27, 1994. The 
inspection will become part of the affected airplanes' annual 
maintenance inspection program.
    The compliance time for the proposed AD is presented in calendar 
time instead of hours time-in-service (TIS). The FAA has determined 
that a calendar time for compliance is the most desirable method 
because the unsafe condition described by the proposed AD is caused by 
corrosion. Corrosion can occur on airplanes regardless of whether the 
airplane is in service or in storage. Therefore, to ensure that 
corrosion is detected and corrected on all airplanes within a 
reasonable period of time without inadvertently grounding any 
airplanes, a compliance schedule based upon calendar time instead of 
hours TIS is utilized.
    The FAA estimates that 2,672 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 8 
workhours (maximum) per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and 
that the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $67 (maximum) per airplane. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $1,354,704. This figure is based on the assumption that no affected 
airplane owner/operator has accomplished the proposed action.
    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 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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 the following new AD:

Univair Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-05-AD.

    Applicability: Models Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and 
415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A, Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 
airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within the next 12 calendar months after 
the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent wing structural damage that, if not detected and 
corrected, could progress to the point of failure, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Install inspection openings in the outer wing panels and 
inspect the wing outer panel internal structural components for 
corrosion in accordance with the PROCEDURE section of Univair 
Service Bulletin No. 29, dated January 27, 1994. Prior to further 
flight, repair any corrosion in accordance with instructions 
contained in the above-referenced service information.
    (b) Send the results of the inspection required by paragraph (a) 
of this AD to the Manager, Denver Aircraft Certification Field 
Office, 5440 Roslyn Street, suite 133, Denver, Colorado 80216. State 
whether corrosion was found, the location and extent of any 
corrosion found, and the total hours TIS of the component at the 
time the corrosion was found. (Reporting approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget under OMB no. 2120-056.)
    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (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, Denver Aircraft Certification Field Office, 
5440 Roslyn Street, suite 133, Denver, Colorado 80216. The request 
shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Denver 
Aircraft Certification Field Office.

    Note: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Denver Aircraft Certification Field Office.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to the Univair Aircraft 
Corporation, 2500 Himalaya Road, Aurora, Colorado 80011; 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 April 6, 1994.
Larry D. Malir,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-8681 Filed 4-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U