[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9837-9839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3862]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 9837]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0533; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-16-AD; 
Amendment 39-16948; AD 2012-03-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Lycoming Engines Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Lycoming Engines reciprocating engines. This AD was prompted by a 
report of a ``machined-from-billet'' HA-6 carburetor having a loose 
mixture control sleeve that rotated in the carburetor body causing 
restriction of fuel and power loss. This AD requires removing certain 
``machined-from-billet'' Volare LLC (formerly Precision Airmotive 
Corporation, formerly Facet Aerospace Products Company, formerly 
Marvel-Schebler (BorgWarner)) HA-6 carburetors, inspecting for a loose 
mixture control sleeve or for a sleeve that may become loose, repairing 
the carburetor, or replacing the carburetor with one eligible for 
installation. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine in-flight 
shutdown, power loss, and reduced control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective March 27, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of March 27, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Marvel-Schebler Aircraft Carburetors LLC, 125 Piedmont Avenue, 
Gibsonville NC 27249; phone: 336-446-0002; fax: 336-446-0007; email: 
[email protected]; Web site: www.msacarbs.com. You may 
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Engine 
& Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Brane, Aerospace Engineer, 
Propulsion, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate; 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: 
404-474-5582; fax: 404-474-5606; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 1, 2011 (76 FR 
54397). That NPRM proposed to require removing certain ``machined-from-
billet'' Volare LLC (formerly Precision Airmotive Corporation, formerly 
Facet Aerospace Products Company, formerly Marvel-Schebler 
(BorgWarner)) HA-6 carburetors, inspecting for a loose mixture control 
sleeve or for a sleeve that may become loose, repairing the carburetor, 
or replacing the carburetor with one eligible for installation.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal 
and the FAA's response.

Request To Incorporate All Affected Engine Models

    One commenter, a private citizen, requested that we incorporate all 
affected engine models with HA-6 model carburetors installed in the AD. 
The commenter provided a list, which he compiled from reviewing all 
applicable published Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS).
    We partially agree. We agree that some additional models are 
affected because the list provided by the commenter is mostly 
consistent with the applicable TCDS. We do not agree with the commenter 
on some of the models he thinks are affected, because we could not 
confirm they are affected, based on the TCDS. However, we determined 
that we need to change the applicability from a table of specific 
engine models, to all Lycoming Engines reciprocating engines with 
carburetor part numbers listed in Table 1 of the AD. We changed the AD 
applicability to all Lycoming Engines reciprocating engines with 
carburetor part numbers listed in Table 1 of the AD.

Change to the Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC) Paragraph

    Since we issued the proposed AD, we found that we referenced the 
wrong office in the AMOC paragraph. We changed that sentence to state 
that the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD.

Change to Service Information

    Marvel-Schebler Aircraft Carburetors LLC has revised their Marvel-
Schebler Emergency Service Bulletin (SB) No. SB-18, dated October 14, 
2010, to Revision A, dated March 15, 2011. We reviewed Revision A, and 
determined that it also is acceptable. We changed the incorporated by 
reference paragraph k of the AD to include the original issue and 
Revision A.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD with the changes described previously. We also determined that these 
changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or 
increase the scope of the AD.

[[Page 9838]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 10,700 engines installed on 
aircraft of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 0.5 
work-hours per aircraft to perform the inspection, and that about 409 
carburetors will need repair. Approximately 2 work-hours per carburetor 
are required to repair the carburetor. The average labor rate is $85 
per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $600 per carburetor. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. 
operators to be $769,680. Our estimate is exclusive of possible 
warranty coverage.

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

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2012-03-07 Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming Division, 
AVCO Corporation): Amendment 39-16948; Docket No. FAA-2011-0533; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-16-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective March 27, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Lycoming Engines reciprocating engines 
with carburetor part numbers listed in Table 1 of this AD.

Table 1--Part Numbers (Including All Dash Numbers) of Known Affected HA-
                           6 Model Carburetors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  10-5219-XX     10-5224-XX     10-5230-XX     10-5235-XX    10-5253-XX
  10-5255-XX     10-5283-XX     10-6001-XX     10-6019-XX    10-6030-XX
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a ``machined-from-billet'' 
HA-6 carburetor having a loose mixture control sleeve that rotated 
in the carburetor body causing restriction of fuel and power loss. 
We are issuing this AD to prevent engine in-flight shutdown, power 
loss, and reduced control of the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within 50 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, unless already done.

(f) Inspection

    Inspect the carburetor to determine the type of body the 
carburetor has. Use Marvel-Schebler Emergency Service Bulletin (SB) 
No. SB-18, dated October 14, 2010, or Revision A, dated March 15, 
2011, Figure (3) to determine which type of body is used.
    (g) If the carburetor has a die-cast body, no further action is 
required.
    (h) If the carburetor has an affected ``machined-from-billet'' 
body, remove the carburetor; and replace the carburetor with:
    (1) An HA-6 carburetor not listed in Table 1 of this AD; or
    (2) An HA-6 carburetor that is listed in Table 1 but is exempted 
as described in paragraphs 1.A. and 1.B of Marvel-Schebler Emergency 
SB No. SB-18, dated October 14, 2010 or Revision A, dated March 15, 
2011; or that has already been repaired using that Emergency SB.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 
to make your request.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Kevin Brane, 
Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion, Atlanta Aircraft Certification 
Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate; 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5582; fax: (404) 474-
5606; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the 
following service information:
    (i) Marvel-Schebler Emergency Service Bulletin No. SB-18, dated 
October 14, 2010.
    (ii) Marvel-Schebler Emergency Service Bulletin No. SB-18, 
Revision A, dated March 15, 2011.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Marvel-Schebler Aircraft Carburetors LLC, 125 Piedmont Avenue, 
Gibsonville, NC 27249; phone: 336-446-0002; fax: 336-446-0007; 
email: [email protected]; Web site: www.msacarbs.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.


[[Page 9839]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 1, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3862 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P