[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 162 (Thursday, August 21, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44406-44408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22147]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-71-AD; Amendment 39-10103; AD 97-16-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; RAPCO, Inc. Filter, Part Numbers RA-
1J4-4, RA-1J4-6, and RA-1J4-7 From Lot Numbers 05597, 07797, and 12597

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment 
adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-16-10, which was sent 
previously to owners of airplanes known to have RAPCO, Inc. (RAPCO) in-
line pressure filters installed. This AD requires removing RAPCO 
filters with part numbers (P/N) RA-1J4-4, RA-1J4-6, and RA-1J4-7 that 
are from Lot Numbers 05597, 07797, and 12597. Recent operator reports 
and the manufacturer's report of several cracked filter housings on 
these RAPCO, Inc. in-line pressure filters prompted this AD. The 
actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the 
flight instruments during flight because of a failed in-line pressure 
filter, which could cause loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Effective September 18, 1997, to all persons except those to 
whom it was made immediately effective by priority letter AD 97-16-10, 
issued July 31, 1997, which contained the requirements of this 
amendment.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before October 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 97-CE-71-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy Boffo, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago 
Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 E. Devon, Des Plaines, Illinois 
60018, telephone (847) 294-7564; facsimile (847) 294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On July 31, 1997, the FAA issued priority letter AD 97-16-10, which 
applies to certain RAPCO in-line pressure filters that may be installed 
on, but not limited to, the following airplanes:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Manufacturer                             Model           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna)..........  310R and T310R.             
Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon)        E33A, F33A, V35A, V35B, 36, 
 (formerly known as Beech Aircraft           A36, 58, 65-B80, 70, 95-   
 Corporation).                               B55, D55, E55.             
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper)......  PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-   
                                             31P, PA-31P-350, PA-31T, PA-
                                             34-200T.                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This priority letter AD results from recent operator reports and 
the manufacturer's report of several cracked filter housings on RAPCO, 
Inc. in-line pressure filters produced from lot numbers 05597, 07797, 
and 12597 with part numbers (P/N) RA-1J4-4, RA-1J4-6, and RA-1J4-7. 
This product is an in-line pressure filter used on single and twin-
engine airplanes with pressure-driven primary and standby flight 
instruments (attitude gyros). The filters are designed to remove the 
carbon particles between the vacuum pump outlet and the instrument 
pressure inlet. Failure of this filter results in failure of the flight 
instruments, which could cause loss of control of the airplane.
    Further investigation has revealed that some of the plastic filter 
housings have cracked during flight when exposed to high temperatures 
and low humidity conditions. The failure is occurring anytime between 2 
and 6 hours time-in-service (TIS). The manufacturer discovered that the 
vendor of the plastic made a manufacturing change, moving the sonic 
weld machine and the housings into a high humidity area. Apparently, 
the sonic weld time was doubled due to a higher moisture content in the 
plastic. This condition leads to brittle plastic filter housings that 
crack when exposed to low humidity/high temperature ambient conditions.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
operators' flight instruments during flight.

The FAA's Determination and Explanation of the AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in airplanes that have RAPCO in-line pressure filters 
marked with part numbers RA-1J4-4, RA-1J4-6, or RA-1J4-7 from Lot 
Numbers 05597, 07797, or 12597 installed, the FAA issued priority 
letter AD 97-16-10 on July 31, 1997, to prevent failure of the flight

[[Page 44407]]

instruments during flight because of a failed in-line pressure filter, 
which could cause loss of control of the airplane. The AD requires 
removing the filters from service.

Compliance Time

    The compliance time of this AD is presented in calendar time 
instead of hours time-in-service (TIS). The FAA has determined that a 
calendar time compliance is the most desirable method because of the 
diversity of the affected fleet. Therefore, to ensure that the above-
referenced condition is corrected within a reasonable period of time, a 
compliance schedule based upon calendar time instead of hours TIS is 
utilized.

Determination of the Effective Date of the AD

    Since it was found that immediate corrective action was required, 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment thereon were 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and good cause 
existed to make the AD effective immediately by individual letters 
issued on July 31, 1997, to all known U.S. owners/operators of 
airplanes that may have certain RAPCO in-line pressure filters 
installed.
    These conditions still exist, and the AD is hereby published in the 
Federal Register as an amendment to section 39.13 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 39.13) to make it effective as to all 
persons.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not 
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications 
received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered, 
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual 
information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is 
extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and 
determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 97-CE-71-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Regulatory Impact

    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 the distribution 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.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this 
action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined 
that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will 
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, may 
be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the 
caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

97-16-10 RAPCO, INC.: Amendment 39-10103; Docket No. 97-CE-71-AD.

    Applicability: Filter Part Numbers (P/N) RA-1J4-4, RA-1J4-6, or 
RA-1J4-7 from Lot Numbers 05597, 07797, or 12597 installed on, but 
not limited to, the following airplanes, certificated in any 
category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Manufacturer                             Model           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna)..........  310R and T310R.             
Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon)        E33A, F33A, V35A, V35B, 36, 
 (formerly known as Beech Aircraft           A36, 58, 65-B80, 70, 95-   
 Corporation).                               B55, D55, E55.             
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper)......  PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-   
                                             31P, PA-31P-350, PA-31T, PA-
                                             34-200T.                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane with one or more of 
these filters installed that is identified in the preceding 
applicability provision, 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 2 days after the effective date of 
this AD or prior to further flight, whichever occurs later, unless 
already accomplished, except to those operators receiving this 
action by priority letter issued July 31, 1997, which made these 
actions effective immediately upon receipt.
    To prevent failure of the flight instruments during flight 
because of a failed in-line pressure filter, which could cause loss 
of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Remove any filter with an applicable part number and lot 
number and replace with an FAA-approved filter that incorporates a 
part number (P/N) and lot number not covered by this AD.

    Note 2: RAPCO, Inc. distributed a news letter entitled RAPCO, 
Inc Reporter, dated January 1, 1995, Issue 6, that discusses the 
care and maintenance of the in-line filters and hoses to prevent 
damage.

    (b) Upon the effective date of this AD, no person may equip an 
aircraft with any RAPCO filters marked with P/N RA-1J4-4, RA-1J4-6, 
or RA-1J4-7 that are from Lot Numbers 05597, 07797, or 12597.

    Note 3: Production of the affected filters has ceased. The 
affected lots were produced

[[Page 44408]]

in February 1997, and a check of the aircraft records will give a 
good indication as to whether these filters have been installed on 
an aircraft.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued for daytime visual 
flight rules (VFR) flight only, 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 to accomplish the 
requirement of this AD.
    (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, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 
E. Devon, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. The request shall be 
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may 
concur or comment and then send it to the Manager, Chicago Aircraft 
Certification Office.

    Note 4: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Chicago Aircraft Certification Office.

    (e) Information related to this AD may be inspected at the FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 
601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (f) This amendment (39-10103) becomes effective on September 18, 
1997, to all persons except those persons to whom it was made 
immediately effective by priority letter AD 97-16-10, issued July 
31, 1997, which contained the requirements of this amendment.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 14, 1997.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-22147 Filed 8-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U