[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).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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