[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 178 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47683-47685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21959]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-11-AD; Amendment 39-9359; AD 95-18-12]


Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Aircraft Corporation Model M20K 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney) Model M20K airplanes. 
This action requires 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 

[[Page 47684]]
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 this action. The actions specified 
by this AD are intended to prevent fuel selector valve malfunction, 
which, if not detected and corrected, will prevent the airplane 
operator from selecting the appropriate fuel tank, resulting in an 
unscheduled landing.

DATES: Effective October 20, 1995.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of October 20, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from the Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville, 
Texas 78028; telephone (210) 896-6000. This information may also be 
examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, 
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-
11-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or 
at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.

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: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply 
to Mooney Model M20K airplanes was published in the Federal Register on 
April 11, 1995 (60 FR 18374). The action proposed to require inspecting 
to see if the airplane is equipped with a Gerdes fuel selector valve, 
(P/N) A-2580, and replacing any Gerdes fuel selector valve with an 
Airight fuel selector valve. Accomplishment of the proposed replacement 
would be in accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin M20-256, dated 
January 24, 1995.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.
    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.
    The FAA estimates that 78 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 3 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish the required 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 this 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 
required modification. Mooney has informed the FAA that parts have not 
been distributed to any owner/operator of the affected airplanes.
    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

95-18-12 Mooney Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-9359; 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 revision, 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 request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it. 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, will 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, 250063,
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 

[[Page 47685]]
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.

    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) The replacement required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin M20-256, dated January 24, 
1995. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director 
of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51. Copies may be obtained from the Mooney Aircraft 
Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville, Texas 78028. Copies 
may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., 7th Floor, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (f) This amendment (39-9359) becomes effective on October 20, 
1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 28, 1995.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-21959 Filed 9-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U