[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18374-18376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8832]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-11-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Aircraft Corporation Model M20K 
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 Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney) Model 
M20K airplanes. The proposed action would require 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 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 the proposed 
action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent fuel selector valve malfunction, which, if not detected and 
corrected, would prevent the airplane operator from selecting the 
appropriate fuel tank, resulting in an unscheduled landing.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 9, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-11-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 Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville, 
Texas 78028; telephone (210) 896-6000. This information also may be 
examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

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:

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. 95-CE-11-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. 95-CE-11-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. [[Page 18375]] 

Discussion

    The FAA has received a report of a Gerdes fuel selector valve, P/N 
A-2580, malfunction on a Mooney Model M20K airplane. The airplane 
operator in the referenced incident was unable to select the 
appropriate fuel tank and was forced to make an unscheduled landing. No 
substantial airplane damage or injuries were reported. Fuel selector 
valve malfunction, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
passenger injury or airplane damage if the airplane operator was forced 
to make an unscheduled landing in adverse areas or conditions.
    The FAA has determined that the
P/N A-2580 Gerdes valve has a design incompatibility with Mooney Model 
M20K airplanes. The fuel tank selector valve is located on the floor in 
the cockpit of the Mooney Model M20K airplanes, and, if stepped on, the 
spool of the fuel selector valve may be forced down tight in the valve 
body and wedge-locked. The fuel valve selector handle may malfunction 
in this scenario and the pilot will not be able to utilize the fuel 
selector valve.
    Mooney has issued Service Bulletin (SB) M20-256, dated January 24, 
1995, which specifies procedures for replacing the Gerdes fuel selector 
valve with an Airight fuel selector valve. The Airight fuel selector 
valve is designed to prevent wedge-locking from occurring if the fuel 
selector valve is stepped on.
    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has 
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent fuel selector 
valve malfunction, which, if not detected and corrected, would prevent 
the airplane operator from selecting the appropriate fuel tank, 
resulting in an unscheduled landing.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Mooney Model M20K airplanes of the same type 
design, the proposed AD would require 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 
selector valve. The proposed replacement would be accomplished in 
accordance with Mooney SB M20-256, dated January 24, 1995.
    The FAA estimates that 78 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 3 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed 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 the proposed 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 proposed modification. Mooney has informed the FAA 
that parts have not been distributed to any owner/operator of the 
affected airplanes.
    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:

Mooney Aircraft Corporation: 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 provision, 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 use the authority 
provided in paragraph (d) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any aircraft from the applicability of this AD.

    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, would 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, 25-0063, 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 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.

    [[Page 18376]] 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) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to the Mooney Aircraft 
Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville, Texas 78028; 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 March 27, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-8832 Filed 4-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U