[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 70 (Thursday, April 12, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18413-18415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6928]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27611; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-024-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. Models Navion 
(L-17A), Navion A (L-17B), (L-17C), Navion B, Navion D, Navion E, 
Navion F, Navion G, and Navion H Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. (formally Navion Aircraft LLC) Models Navion 
(L-17A), Navion A (L-17B), (L-17C), Navion B, Navion D, Navion E, 
Navion F, Navion G, and Navion H airplanes. This proposed AD would 
require a one-time inspection of the entire fuel system and repetitive 
inspections of certain fuel selector valves. This proposed AD results 
from reports of airplane accidents associated with leaking or 
improperly operating fuel selector valves. We are proposing this AD to 
detect and correct fuel system leaks or improperly operating fuel 
selector valves, which could result in the disruption of fuel flow to 
the engine. This failure could lead to engine power loss.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 11, 2007.

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.
     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: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Sierra Hotel Aero, 1690 Aeronca Lane, South St. Paul, MN 55075; phone: 
(651) 306-1456; fax: (612) 677-3171; Internet: http://www.navion.com/servicebulletins.html; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Smyth, Aerospace Engineer, 2300 
East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: 
(847) 294-7132; fax: (847) 294-7834.

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-
2007-27611; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-024-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 have received several recent reports of Navion series airplanes 
involved in accidents where loss of engine power was a contributing 
factor. In some of these accidents, the National Transportation Safety 
Board (NTSB) determined that the cause of engine power loss was 
defective fuel selector valves or gasolators that allowed air to be 
introduced into the fuel lines and disrupt the flow of fuel to the 
engine.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in engine power 
loss.

[[Page 18414]]

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed the following service information:
     Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. Navion Service Bulletin No. 106, 
dated February 27, 2007;
     Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. Navion Service Bulletin No. 101A, 
dated August 23, 2005; and
     Navion Aircraft Corporation Navion Service letter 
 87, dated February 20, 1965.
    The service information describes procedures for:
     Performing a detailed inspection of the entire fuel 
system;
     Inspecting and testing the fuel selector valve;
     Replacing the fuel selector valve; and
     Replacing the fuel accumulator tank.

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 a one-time inspection of the entire fuel system and 
repetitive inspections of certain fuel selector valves.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 1,500 airplanes in 
the U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:

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                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 work-hours x $80 per hour = $560...........................             N/A             $560         $840,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. 
We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need 
this repair/replacement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 work-hours x $80 per hour = $240....          $1,000           $1,240
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. (Formally Navion Aircraft LLC): Docket No. 
FAA-2007-27611; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-024-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by July 11, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Models Navion (L-17A), Navion A (L-17B), 
(L-17C), Navion B, Navion D, Navion E, Navion F, Navion G, and 
Navion H airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any 
category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reported airplane accidents associated 
with leaking or improperly operating fuel system selector valves. We 
are issuing this AD to detect and correct fuel system leaks or 
improperly operating fuel selector valves, which could result in the 
disruption of fuel flow to the engine. This failure could lead to 
engine power loss.

[[Page 18415]]

Compliance

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

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               Actions                             Compliance                            Procedures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the fuel system,          Initially no later than 100 hours     Follow Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc.
 including inspecting and doing        time-in-service (TIS) or 12 months,   Navion Service Bulletin No. 106,
 functional tests of the fuel          whichever occurs first, after the     dated February 27, 2007.
 selector valve.                       effective date of this AD.
                                       Repetitively thereafter inspect the
                                       fuel selector valve at intervals
                                       not to exceed 12 months until the
                                       replacement required by paragraph
                                       (e)(2) of this AD is done.
(2) Perform any corrective actions    Before further flight after any       Use the following service
 required as specified in Sierra       inspection required by this AD        information:
 Hotel Aero, Inc. Navion Service       where corrective actions are         (A) Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. Navion
 Bulletin No. 106, dated February      necessary.                            Service Bulletin No. 106, dated
 27, 2007, including replacing the                                           February 27, 2007.
 fuel selector valve with one of the                                        (B) Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. Navion
 following part numbers (P/N):                                               Service Bulletin No. 101A, dated
(i) Navion P/N 147-30013-201 for                                             August 23, 2005.
 airplanes equipped with ON/OFF fuel                                        (C) Navion Aircraft Corporation
 valves for the main tank.                                                   Navion Service letter  87,
(ii) Navion P/N 147-30013-202 for                                            dated February 20, 1965.
 airplanes equipped with main and
 auxiliary selectable tanks.
(iii) Navion P/N 147-30013-203 for
 airplanes equipped with left tip,
 right tip and main tanks.
(3) As terminating action for the     At any time after the initial         Follow the procedures in Sierra
 required repetitive inspections in    inspection required in paragraph      Hotel Aero, Inc. Navion Service
 paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, you      (e)(1) of this AD; however, if        Bulletin No. 101A, dated August 23,
 may replace the fuel selector valve   replacement of the fuel selector      2005.
 with the applicable P/N as            valve is required as a corrective
 specified in paragraphs (e)(2)(i),    action as specified in Sierra Hotel
 (e)(2)(ii), and (e)(2)(iii) of this   Aero, Inc. Navion Service Bulletin
 AD.                                   No. 106, dated February 27, 2007,
                                       then you must replace before
                                       further flight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
ATTN: Tim Smyth, Aerospace Engineer, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 
107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-7132; fax: 
(847) 294-7834, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Before using 
any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify 
your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight 
Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

Related Information

    (g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Sierra Hotel Aero, 1690 Aeronca Lane, South St. Paul, MN 
55075; phone: (651) 306-1456; fax: (612) 677-3171; Internet: http://www.navion.com/servicebulletins.html; e-mail: 
[email protected]. 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-2007-27611; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-024-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 6, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-6928 Filed 4-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P