AD 95-18-12

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney) Model M20K airplanes. This action requires inspecting to see if the airplane is equipped with a Gerdes fuel selector valve, part number (P/N) A-2580, and replacing any Gerdes fuel selector valve with an Airight fuel selector valve. Malfunction of a Gerdes fuel selector valve on an affected airplane, where the valve did not allow the operator to select the appropriate fuel tank, prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fuel selector valve malfunction, which, if not detected and corrected, will prevent the airplane operator from selecting the appropriate fuel tank, resulting in an unscheduled landing.

Final rule.

95-18-12 MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-9359; Docket No. 95-CE-11-AD.

Applicability: Model M20K airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category.

NOTE 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability revision, 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 (d) 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.

Compliance: Required within the next 50 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent fuel selector valve malfunction, which, if not detected and corrected, will prevent the airplane operator from selecting the appropriate fuel tank, resulting in an unscheduled landing, accomplish the following:

(a) Inspect to see if the airplane is equipped with a Gerdes fuel selector valve, part number (P/N) A-2580. This inspection may be accomplished by examining the cross-sectional shape of the selector valve. The Gerdes selector valve has a rectangular cross section with square corners.

NOTE 2: The following airplane serial numbers (S/N) had a Gerdes fuel selector valve, part number (P/N) A-2580, installed at manufacture:

S/N 25-0001 through 25-0091, except for the following:
S/N's 25-0017, 25-0027, 25-0052, 25-0063,
25-0067, 25-0068, 25-0078, 25-0081,
25-0082, 25-0083, 25-0084, 25-0085,
25-0086, and 25-0089.

The excluded S/N 25-0001 through 25-0091 Model M20K airplanes and any S/NModel M20K airplanes outside that range may have had a Gerdes fuel selector valve, part number (P/N) A-2580, installed by field modification.

(b) Replace any Gerdes fuel selector valve, P/N A-2580, with an Airight fuel selector valve in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section in Mooney Service Bulletin M20-256, dated January 24, 1995.

(c) 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 provided that the fuel selector valve is functioning properly.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification Office (ACO), FAA, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may addcomments and then send it to the Manager, Fort Worth ACO.

NOTE 3: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.

(e) The replacement required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin M20-256, dated January 24, 1995. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville, Texas 78028. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 7th Floor, suite 700, Washington, DC.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on October 20, 1995.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to Mooney Model M20K airplanes was published in the Federal Register on April 11, 1995 (60 FR 18374). The action proposed to require inspecting to see if the airplane is equipped with a Gerdes fuel selector valve, (P/N) A-2580, and replacing any Gerdes fuel selector valve with an Airight fuel selector valve. Accomplishment of the proposed replacement would be in accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin M20-256, dated January 24, 1995.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

After careful review of all available information related to the subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed exceptfor minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

The FAA estimates that 78 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 3 workhours per airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $535 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $55,770. This figure is based on the assumption that no airplane owner/operator has accomplished the required modification. Mooney has informed the FAA that parts have not been distributed to any owner/operator of the affected airplanes.

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on thedistribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this action is contained 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, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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), 40101, 40113, 44701.

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