[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 7, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65062-65064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18724]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 71 , No. 215 / Tuesday, November 7, 2006 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 65062]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26071; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., (Mooney) 
Models M20M and M20R Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. Models M20M and M20R airplanes. 
This proposed AD would require you to retorque the upper left and upper 
right engine mounting hardware as an interim action. This proposed AD 
would also require you to remove the upper left and upper right engine 
mount attaching hardware, cut out and remove the upholstery and 
insulation between the fuselage tubular frame and the firewall, and 
replace the upper left and upper right engine mount attaching hardware 
with the new parts kit. This proposed AD results from failure of the 
engine mount attaching hardware to maintain torque as a result of 
firewall insulation and upholstery being compressed between the 
fuselage tubular frame and the firewall at the upper left and upper 
right engine mount attach points. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
the upper right and upper left engine mounting hardware from losing 
torque, which could result in a reduction in engine mount load carrying 
capability and could lead to engine mount failure.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 7, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD contact 
Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., 165 Al Mooney Road North, Kerrville, TX 
78028; telephone (830) 896-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, 
ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, 
Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2006-26071; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We received information from Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., that 
during the manufacturing process of Models M20M Serial Numbers 27-0317 
through 27-0355 and Models M20R Serial Numbers 29-0290 through 29-0448, 
the firewall insulation and upholstery covering attached to the 
interior surface of the firewall, located behind the instrument panel, 
may be compressed between the fuselage tubular frame and the stainless 
steel firewall at the upper left and upper right engine mount points. 
This may prevent the engine mount attaching hardware from maintaining 
torque to engineering design.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure to 
maintain proper fastener torque, leading to reduced engine mount load 
carrying capability and possible engine mount failure.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. Service Bulletin 
M20-292, dated September 22, 2006. The service information describes 
procedures for:
     Retorquing the upper left and upper right engine mounting 
hardware;
     Removing the upper left and upper right engine mount 
attaching hardware;
     Cutting out and removing the upholstery and insulation 
between the fuselage tubular frame and the firewall; and
     Replacing the upper left and upper right engine mount 
attaching hardware with the new parts kit.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD 
would require you to retorque the upper left and upper right engine 
mounting hardware as an interim action. This proposed AD would also 
require you to remove the upper left and upper right engine mount 
attaching hardware, cut out and remove the upholstery and insulation 
between the fuselage tubular frame and the firewall, and replace the 
upper left and upper right engine mount attaching hardware with the new 
parts kit.

[[Page 65063]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 198 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs for the proposed procedures:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Total cost
            Labor cost                       Parts cost              per         Total cost on  U.S. operators
                                                                   airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retorquing of the upper left and    Not Applicable.............          $40  198 x $40 = $7,920.
 upper right engine mounting
 hardware:
    .5 work-hours x $80 per hour =
     $40.
Removing insulation and upholstery  $20........................          160  198 x $180 = $35,640.
 material at the engine mount
 upper right and upper left
 attaching points, and installing
 engine mount attaching hardware
 with the new parts kit:
    2 work-hours x $80 per hour =
     $160.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: Mooney will provide warranty credit for parts and labor as 
specified in the Mooney Airplane Company, Inc. Service Bulletin M20-
292, dated September 22, 2006.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not 
have a substantial direct effect 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Mooney Airplane Company, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2006-26071; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by December 7, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model M20M airplanes, serial numbers 27-
0317 through 27-0355 and Model M20R airplanes, serial numbers 29-
0290 through 29-0448, that are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from failure of the engine mount attaching 
hardware to maintain torque as a result of firewall insulation and 
upholstery being compressed between the fuselage tubular frame and 
the firewall at the upper left and upper right engine mount attach 
points. We are issuing this AD to prevent the upper right and upper 
left engine mounting hardware from losing torque, which could lead 
to a reduction in engine mount load carrying capability and could 
result in engine mount failure.

Compliance

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless 
already done:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Locate and retorque the   Within the next 25    Follow Mooney
 upper left and upper right    hours time-in-        Airplane Company,
 engine mount attaching        service (TIS) after   Inc. Service
 hardware.                     the effective date    Bulletin M20-292
                               of this AD.           dated September 22,
                                                     2006.

[[Page 65064]]

 
(2) Replace the old engine    Within the next 100   Follow Mooney
 mount attaching hardware by   hours TIS after the   Airplane Company,
 doing the following:          effective date of     Inc. Service
(i) Remove and discard the     this AD.              Bulletin M20-292
 upper left and upper right                          dated September 22,
 engine mount attaching                              2006.
 hardware;
    (ii) Cut out and remove
     the upholstery and
     insulation material to
     allow full metal-to-
     metal contact of the
     fuselage tubular frame
     to the firewall; and
    (iii) Install the new
     upper left and upper
     right engine mount
     attaching hardware
     Parts Kit.
(3) If you do the actions of  As of the effective   Follow Mooney
 paragraph (e)(2) of this AD   date of this AD.      Airplane Company,
 before the compliance time                          Inc. Service
 specified for the action in                         Bulletin M20-292
 paragraph (e)(1) of this                            dated September 22,
 AD, it terminates the                               2006.
 requirement for the action
 in paragraph (e)(1) of this
 AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, 
FAA,ATTN: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 
10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: 
(210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Related Information

    (g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact the Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., 165 Al Mooney Road 
North, Kerrville, TX 78028, telephone: 830-896-6000. To view the AD 
docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, Washington, DC, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
    The docket number is Docket No. FAA-2006-26071; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-51-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 30, 2006.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18724 Filed 11-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P