[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14359-14361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7679]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-51-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Aircraft Corporation Models 
M20F, M20J, and M20L 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 Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney) Models 
M20F, M20J, and M20L airplanes. The proposed action would require 
removing the fuel cap retaining lanyard from the fuel filler cap 
assemblies. A report of lost engine power during flight because of fuel 
starvation prompted the proposed action. The investigation revealed 
that the airplane fuel float became trapped by the fuel cap retaining 
lanyard, keeping the float from following the fuel level. This 
condition caused the pilot to get a false fuel quantity reading. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of 
engine power and fuel depletion during flight caused by a false fuel 
gauge reading.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-51-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 Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville, 
Texas 78028. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket 
at the address above.


[[Page 14360]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Alma Ramirez-Hodge, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham 
Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5147; 
facsimile (817) 222-5960.

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. 96-CE-51-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. 96-CE-51-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Events Leading to the Proposed Action

    The FAA received a report of an incident where a Mooney Model M20J 
airplane lost engine power during flight because of fuel starvation. 
The pilot noted that the fuel gauge indicated the tank was half full 
before the engine quit. The pilot switched fuel tanks, re-started the 
engine, and the airplane landed without further incident. Subsequent 
investigation of the incident revealed that after fueling the airplane, 
the fuel cap retaining lanyard trapped the outboard float, preventing 
the float from following the fuel level downward. As a result, the fuel 
gauge showed the tank as half full of fuel when the tank was actually 
empty. The fuel cap lanyard and tank float design is the same for all 
Mooney Models M20F, M20J, and M20L airplanes.

Related Service Information

    Mooney Aircraft has issued service bulletin M20-259, Issue Date: 
September 1, 1996, which specifies removing the lanyard from the fuel 
cap assembly.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed Action

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incident described above, the FAA has 
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent loss of engine 
power and fuel depletion during flight caused by a false fuel gauge 
reading.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Mooney Models M20F, M20J, and M20L airplanes 
of the same type design, the proposed AD would require removing the 
lanyard (nylon type material) from the fuel cap assembly.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 2,526 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 action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. There are no parts to 
include in this cost estimate. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $151,560 
or $60 per airplane. The FAA has no way to determine how many owners/
operators have accomplished this action, and would assume that no 
operator has accomplished this action.

Regulatory Impact

    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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

Mooney Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 96-CE-51-AD.

    Applicability: The following Models and serial numbered 
airplanes, certificated in any category.

                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Models                           Serial numbers          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
M20F................................  All serial numbers.               
M20J................................  24-0001 through 24-3381.          
M20L................................  26-0001 through 26-0041.          
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) 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.


[[Page 14361]]


    Compliance: Required within the next 50 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent loss of engine power and fuel depletion during flight 
caused by a false fuel gauge reading, accomplish the following:
    (a) Remove the lanyard (nylon type material) from the left-hand 
(LH) and right-hand (RH) fuel filler cap assembly in accordance with 
the INSTRUCTIONS section of Mooney Aircraft Corporation Service 
Bulletin M20-259, Issue Date: September 1, 1996.
    (b) 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.
    (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, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, 
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 
Airplane Certification Office.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office.

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to 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 20, 1997.
Larry E. Werth,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-7679 Filed 3-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U