[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13502-13505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04591]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0991; Project Identifier AD-2020-00539-A]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Mooney International Corporation 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Mooney International

[[Page 13503]]

Corporation (Mooney) Model M20V airplanes. This proposed AD was 
prompted by reports of short circuit and arcing of the alternator main 
power cable in the engine compartment. This condition, if unaddressed, 
could result in a fire hazard, loss of engine thrust control, and 
reduced control of the airplane. This proposed AD would require 
inspecting the alternator main power cable and the exhaust crossover 
tube for damage, replacing damaged parts as necessary, and installing 
an additional alternator cable clamp. The FAA is proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 23, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Mooney 
International Corporation, 165 Al Mooney Road, North Kerrville, TX 
78028; phone: (800) 456-3033; email: [email protected]. You may view 
this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 
329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0991; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacob Fitch, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 
phone: (817) 222-4130; fax: (817) 222-5245; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0991; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-00539-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jacob 
Fitch, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA received a report that two Mooney Model M20V airplanes had 
short circuit arcing of the alternator main power cable in the engine 
compartment. Mooney determined the alternator main power cable was 
incorrectly positioned with slack in the cable and allowed contact 
between the alternator main power cable and turbocharger right-hand 
(RH) exhaust crossover tube. In one instance, this contact caused 
arcing of the alternator main power cable and created a hole in the RH 
exhaust crossover tube, which may result in a fire hazard. A damaged 
crossover tube may also decrease effectiveness of the turbochargers and 
cause complete loss of engine power at higher altitudes (above 9,000 
ft. above sea level). This condition, if not addressed, could result in 
an inflight fire and loss of engine thrust control, which may lead to 
reduced control of the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Mooney International Corporation Service Bulletin 
M20-340C, dated February 14, 2020 (SB M20-340C). The service 
information specifies inspecting the alternator main power cable and 
the exhaust crossover tube for damage and replacing damaged parts as 
necessary. The service information also contains procedures for 
modifying the alternator main power cable routing by installing an 
additional alternator cable clamp, part number MS21919WCJ6.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of 
the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously, except as discussed 
under ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service 
Information.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    SB M20-340C specifies sending a compliance card to Mooney upon 
completing the actions in the service information. This proposed AD 
would not require that action.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 18 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

[[Page 13504]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect the cable and exhaust           .5 work-hour x $85 per                $0          $42.50            $765
 crossover tube for damage.              hour = $42.50.
Install additional cable clamp........  .5 work-hour x $85 per                10           52.50             945
                                         hour = $42.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary repairs/
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these repairs/replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace alternator main power cable...........  8 work-hours x $85 per hour =             $1,000          $1,680
                                                 $680.
Replace exhaust crossover tube................  8 work-hours x $85.00 per hour =           2,500           3,180
                                                 $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected operators.

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.
    The FAA is proposing 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

    The FAA 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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.

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

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:

Mooney International Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2020-0991; Project 
Identifier AD-2020-00539-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by April 23, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Mooney International Corporation Model M20V 
airplanes, serial numbers 33-0001 through 33-0018, certificated in 
any category.

 (d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component Code 2400, Electrical Power 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of short circuit and arcing of 
the alternator main power cable in the engine compartment. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to prevent arcing of the alternator main power 
cable in the engine compartment. This condition, if not addressed, 
could result in an inflight fire and loss of engine thrust control, 
which may lead to reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD before further flight after the effective 
date of this AD, unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Inspect the alternator main power cable and the exhaust 
crossover tube for burn marks, chafing, holes, and cracks, and 
replace any cable and crossover tube that has a burn mark, chafing, 
a hole, or a crack.
    (2) Install an additional alternator cable clamp part number 
MS21919WCJ6 and ensure correct routing of the alternator main power 
cable by following steps 1.5. through 1.9. of the Instructions in 
Mooney International Corporation Service Bulletin M20-340C, dated 
February 14, 2020.

(h) Special Flight Permit

    A special flight permit may be issued with the following 
limitations:
    (1) Flights must not carry passengers;
    (2) Operation in daytime visual meteorological conditions only;
    (3) Straight and level flight must be maintained;
    (4) Operation in areas of known turbulence prohibited; and
    (5) Altitude limited to 9,000 ft. above sea level.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority 
to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures

[[Page 13505]]

found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 
request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards 
District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to 
the manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of 
the person identified in Related Information.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jacob Fitch, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 
Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222-4130; fax: (817) 222-
5245; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Mooney International Corporation, 165 Al Mooney Road, North 
Kerrville, TX 78028; phone: (800) 456-3033; email: 
[email protected]. You may view this referenced service information 
at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety 
Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on March 1, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-04591 Filed 3-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P