[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29934-29936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14869]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 93-ANE-07; Amendment 39-9649; AD 96-12-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Teledyne Continental Motors (formerly
Bendix) S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 Series Magnetos
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive
(AD), applicable to Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) (formerly Bendix)
S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 series magnetos equipped with impulse
couplings, that currently requires inspections for wear, and
replacement, if necessary, of the impulse coupling assemblies. This
amendment requires replacement, if necessary, of worn riveted impulse
coupling assemblies with serviceable riveted impulse couplings or snap
ring impulse couplings. This amendment is prompted by the availability
of an improved design for the impulse coupling assembly. The actions
specified by this AD are intended to prevent magneto failure and
subsequent engine failure.
DATES: Effective July 18, 1996.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of July 18, 1996.
ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be
obtained from Teledyne Continental Motors, P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL
36601; telephone (334) 438-3411. This information may be examined at
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office
of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803-5299; or at the Office of the Federal Register,
800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Robinette, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Campus
Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Suite 2-160, College Park, GA, 30337-
2748; telephone (404) 305-7371, fax (404) 305-7348.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 4, 1983, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) issued airworthiness directive (AD) 78-09-07 R3,
Amendment 39-4538 (48 FR 1482, January 13, 1983), to require
inspections for wear, and replacement, if necessary, of the impulse
coupling assemblies on certain Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM)
(formerly Bendix) S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 series magnetos
equipped with impulse couplings. That action was prompted by reports of
numerous magneto failures. That condition, if not corrected, could
result in magneto failure and subsequent engine failure.
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations was
published as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal
Register on September 21, 1993 (58 FR 48987). That NPRM would have
retained the repetitive inspections for wear required by the current
AD, but would have also required replacement, if necessary, of the
riveted impulse coupling assembly with newly designed, improved, snap
ring impulse coupling assemblies. In addition, the proposed AD would
have required marking the magneto data plate to indicate installation
of a snap ring impulse coupling assembly. Installation of snap ring
impulse coupling assemblies would have constituted terminating action
to the inspection requirements of this AD. That NPRM was prompted by
the manufacturer redesigning the impulse coupling assembly to include
snap ring fastening technology which strengthens the cam axle and
reduces wear. The snap ring impulse coupling assembly was believed not
to have the failure mode of the previous design.
Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA received reports of snap
ring impulse coupling assemblies being worn beyond limits. The FAA
determined that it was necessary to reopen the proposal for public
comment, so a Supplemental NPRM was published in the Federal Register
on November 17, 1994 (59 FR 59391). That Supplemental NPRM proposed to
retain the 500 hour repetitive inspections for wear required by the
current AD, but would require these inspections for
[[Page 29935]]
magnetos equipped with snap ring impulse coupling assemblies as well.
Since the issuance of that Supplemental NPRM, the FAA received
comments that serviceable riveted impulse couplings should be permitted
as replacement units as well as the snap ring design. The FAA
concurred, since there has been no production of riveted impulse
couplings since January 1992, distributors still have some left as this
was a common, relatively high use item. The FAA determined that it was
necessary to reopen the proposal for public comment, so a Supplemental
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on October 16, 1995 (60 FR
53558). That Supplemental NPRM proposed to require replacement of worn
impulse couplings with serviceable impulse couplings of either riveted
or snap ring design.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received since
publication of the last Supplemental NPRM.
Since the issuance of that Supplemental NPRM, the manufacturer has
advised the FAA that the cost for replacement of the impulse coupling
assembly has increased from $125 to $140. The economic analysis of this
final rule has been revised accordingly.
After careful review of the available data, the FAA has determined
that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the
rule with the changes described previously. The FAA has determined that
these changes will not increase the scope of the AD.
The FAA estimates that 130,000 magnetos installed on aircraft of
U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take
approximately 1 work hour, plus 1 work hour to change the impulse
coupling, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. The
average utilization of the fleet of these airplanes is estimated to be
evenly divided between commercial/commuter service and private owners.
The commercial/commuter service population is estimated to operate 500
hours time in service (TIS) per year; therefore the cost to perform the
inspections required by the AD will be approximately $3,900,000 per
year. The FAA estimates that private owners operate their aircraft
between 50 and 100 hours TIS per year; therefore it will take
approximately 5 to 10 years to reach 500 hours time in service. The
estimated cost for these owners will also be $3,900,000 spread over a
time period of 5 to 10 years or 780,000 per year for 5 years or
$390,000 for 10 years. The cost to replace the impulse coupling
assembly is $140 per magneto plus one work hour at $60 per work hour
for a total of $200 per magneto. While all the riveted impulse coupling
assemblies will eventually have to be replaced, it is not possible to
estimate the cost per year. The total cost for replacement for U.S.
operators is estimated to be $26,000,000.
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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained
from 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 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-4538 (48 FR
1482, January 13, 1983) and by adding a new airworthiness directive,
Amendment 39-9649, to read as follows:
96-12-07 Teledyne Continental Motors: Amendment 39-9649. Docket 93-
ANE-07. Supersedes AD 78-09-07 R3, Amendment 39-4538.
Applicability: Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) (formerly
Bendix) S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 series magnetos equipped
with impulse couplings, installed on but not limited to
reciprocating engine powered aircraft manufactured by Beech, Cessna,
Mooney, and Piper.
Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each
magneto 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 magnetos 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 (c) to request approval from the
Federal Aviation Administration (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 magneto from the
applicability of this AD.
Note 2: The FAA has received reports of some confusion as to
what is meant by S-20, S-1200, D-2000, and D-3000 series magnetos as
referenced in TCM Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB645, dated
April 4, 1994, and this airworthiness directive (AD). A typical
example is S6RN-25, where the S designates single type ignition unit
(a D designates a dual ignition unit), the 6 designates the number
of cylinders, the R designates right hand rotation, the N is the
manufacturer designation (this did not change when TCM purchased the
Bendix magneto product line), and the number after the dash
indicates the series (a -25 is a S-20 series magneto while a -3200
is a D-3000 series magneto, etc.).
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent magneto failure and subsequent engine failure,
accomplish the following:
(a) For magnetos with riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies, having less than 450 hours time in service (TIS) since
new, or overhaul, or since last inspection, on the effective date of
this AD, accomplish the following:
(1) Prior to the accumulation of 500 hours TIS since new, or
overhaul, or since last inspection, inspect riveted or snap ring
impulse coupling assemblies for wear, and replace, if necessary,
prior to further flight, with serviceable riveted or snap ring
impulse coupling assemblies, in accordance with the Detailed
Instructions of TCM MSB No. MSB645, dated April 4, 1994, and TCM SB
No. 639, dated March 1993.
(2) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 500 hours TIS since
the last inspection,
[[Page 29936]]
inspect riveted or snap ring impulse coupling assemblies for wear, and
replace, if necessary, prior to further flight, with serviceable
riveted or snap ring impulse coupling assemblies, in accordance with
the Detailed Instructions of TCM MSB No. MSB645, dated April 4, 1994,
and TCM SB No. 639, dated March 1993.
(b) For magnetos with riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies, having 450 or more hours TIS since new, or overhaul, or
since last inspection, on the effective date of this AD, or an
unknown TIS on the effective date of this AD, accomplish the
following:
(1) Within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of
this AD, inspect riveted or snap ring impulse coupling assemblies
for wear, and replace, if necessary, prior to further flight, with
serviceable riveted or snap ring impulse coupling assemblies in
accordance with the Detailed Instructions of TCM MSB No. MSB645,
dated April 4, 1994, and TCM SB No. 639, dated March 1993.
(2) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 500 hours TIS since
the last inspection, inspect riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies for wear, and replace, if necessary, prior to further
flight, with serviceable riveted or snap ring impulse coupling
assemblies, in accordance with the Detailed Instruction of TCM MSB
No. MSB645, dated April 4, 1994, and TCM SB No. 639, dated March
1993.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification
Office. The request should be forwarded through an appropriate FAA
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.
Note: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive,
if any, may be obtained from the Atlanta Aircraft Certification
Office.
(d) 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 aircraft to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(e) The actions required by this AD shall be done in accordance
with the following TCM service documents:
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Document No. Pages Revision Date
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MSB No. MSB645................ 1-6 Original....... Apr. 4, 1994.
Total Pages: 6
SB No. 639.................... 1-2 Original....... Mar. 1993.
Total Pages: 2
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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 Teledyne Continental Motors, P.O.
Box 90, Mobile, AL 36601; telephone (334) 438-3411. Copies may be
inspected at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Assistant
Chief Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,
suite 700, Washington, DC.
(f) This amendment becomes effective on July 18, 1996.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1996.
Robert E. Guyotte,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-14869 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
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