This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

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REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

16135 

Vol. 77, No. 54 

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0275; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–CE–009–AD; Amendment 

39–16981; AD 2012–05–09] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Mooney 

Aviation Company, Inc. (Mooney) 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are issuing an 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. 

(Mooney) Models M20B, M20C, M20D, 

M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K, 

M20L, M20M, M20R, M20S, and 

M20TN airplanes that supersedes an 

existing AD that is applicable to certain 

Model M20R and M20TN airplanes. The 

existing AD currently requires 

inspecting the tail pitch trim assembly 

for correct positioning and proper 

attachment and inspecting the Huck 

Bolt fasteners for proper security with 

repair as necessary for certain Models 

M20R and M20TN. That AD also 

requires sending the inspection results 

to the FAA and Mooney. This AD 

retains all of the actions, except the 

reporting requirement from the previous 

AD and adds airplane models to the 

applicability. This AD was prompted by 

a report of an incident on a Mooney 

Model M20TN airplane regarding failure 

of the tail pitch trim assembly, which 

could result in loss of control. We are 

issuing this AD to correct the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 20, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in the AD 

as of March 20, 2012. 

We must receive any comments on 

this AD by May 4, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Mooney Aviation 

Company, Inc., 165 Al Mooney Road 

North, Kerrville, Texas 78028; 

telephone: (830) 896–6000; email: 

technicalsupport@mooney.com; 

Internet: www.mooney.com. You may 

review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Small Airplane 

Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 

Missouri 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 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 street address for 

the Docket Office (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, 

ASW–150 (c/o MIDO–43), 10100 

Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, 

Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308– 

3365; facsimile: (210) 308–3370; email: 

andrew.mcanaul@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On February 16, 2012, we issued AD 

2012–03–52, amendment 39–16958 (77 

FR 12179, February 29, 2012), for 

certain Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. 

(Mooney) Models M20R and M20TN 

airplanes. That AD requires inspecting 

the tail pitch trim assembly for correct 

positioning and proper attachment and 

inspecting the Huck Bolt fasteners for 

proper security with repair as necessary. 

That AD also requires sending the 

inspection results to the FAA and 

Mooney. That AD resulted from a report 

of an incident on a Mooney Model 

M20TN airplane regarding failure of the 

tail pitch trim assembly, which could 

result in loss of control. We issued that 

AD to detect incorrect positioning and 

improper attachment of the trim fitting, 

hinge, and filler plate of the tail pitch 

trim assembly and to verify security of 

the attaching Huck Bolt fasteners, which 

could lead to failure of the tail pitch 

trim assembly with consequent loss of 

pitch control. 

Actions Since AD Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 2012–03–52 (77 

FR 12179, February 29, 2012), we 

received a report from an owner/ 

operator of a Model M20J airplane who 

had the airplane inspected and found 

the same unsafe condition. Since the 

Models M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, 

M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K, M20L, 

M20M, and M20S airplanes have the 

same type design as the Models M20R 

and M20TN airplanes, we determined 

that these airplanes should be added to 

the applicability of the AD to ensure 

that the unsafe condition is addressed 

on all airplanes of the type design. 

Also, Mooney published new service 

information that includes the expanded 

airplane applicability and instructions 

for installing replacement fasteners, if 

necessary. 

Relevant Service Information 

We reviewed Mooney Aviation 

Company, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 

M20–313A, dated February 29, 2012; 

and Service Bulletin No. M20–314A, 

dated February 29, 2012. The service 

information describes procedures for 

inspecting the tail pitch trim assembly 

for correct positioning and proper 

attachment, inspecting the Huck Bolt 

fasteners for proper security, and 

installing replacement fasteners, if 

necessary. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are issuing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 


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16136 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 54 / Tuesday, March 20, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

AD Requirements 

This AD requires inspecting the trim 

fitting, hinge, and filler plate of the tail 

pitch trim assembly for correct 

positioning and proper attachment, and 

inspecting the Huck Bolt fasteners for 

proper security on all Mooney Models 

M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, 

M20G, M20J, M20K, M20L, M20M, 

M20R, M20S, and M20TN airplanes. If 

incorrect positioning or improper/loose 

attachment is found, this AD requires 

installing replacement parts and 

fasteners. These are the same actions 

currently required by AD 2012–03–52 

for certain Mooney Models M20R and 

M20TN airplanes, except the reporting 

requirement is no longer required. 

FAA’s Justification and Determination 

of the Effective Date 

An unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD. The FAA has found that the risk to 

the flying public justifies waiving notice 

and comment prior to adoption of this 

rule because failure of the tail pitch trim 

assembly could result in loss of control. 

Therefore, we find that notice and 

opportunity for prior public comment 

are impracticable and that good cause 

exists for making this amendment 

effective in less than 30 days. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not provide you with notice and 

an opportunity to provide your 

comments before it becomes effective. 

However, we invite you to send any 

written data, views, or arguments about 

this AD. Send your comments to an 

address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include the docket number 

FAA–2012–0275 and directorate 

identifier 2012–CE–009–AD at the 

beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 6,630 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Inspection of the trim fitting, hinge, and filler 

plate of the tail pitch trim assembly, and 

security of the Huck Bolt fasteners.

1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ............... Not applicable ........... $85 $563,550 

We estimate the following costs to do 

any necessary replacement of the parts 

and Huck Bolt fasteners that will be 

required based on the results of the 

inspection. We have no way of 

determining the number of aircraft that 

might need this repair: 

ON-CONDITION COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Installation of replacement parts and fasteners, including 

repair of an incorrectly positioned and/or improperly 

attached tail pitch trim assembly.

16 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,360 .......................... $302 $1,662 

According to the manufacturer, some 

of the costs of this AD may be covered 

under warranty, thereby reducing the 

cost impact on affected individuals. We 

do not control warranty coverage for 

affected individuals. As a result, we 

have included all costs in our cost 

estimate. 

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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 54 / Tuesday, March 20, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 16137 

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 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2012–03–52, Amendment 39–16958 

(77 FR 12179, February 29, 2012) and 

adding the following new AD: 

2012–05–09 Mooney Aviation Company, 

Inc. (Mooney): Amendment 39–16981; 

Docket No. FAA–2012–0275; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–CE–009–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective March 20, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2012–03–52, 

Amendment 39–16958 (77 FR 12179, 

February 29, 2012). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Mooney Aviation 

Company, Inc. (Mooney) Models M20B, 

M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, 

M20K, M20L, M20M, M20R, M20S, and 

M20TN airplanes, all serial numbers, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/ 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 55; Stabilizers. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of an 

incident on a Mooney Model M20TN 

airplane regarding failure of the tail pitch 

trim assembly and the potential for this 

condition to exist on other airplane models, 

which could result in loss of control. We are 

issuing this AD to correct the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspection 

Within the next 10 hours time-in-service 

March 20, 2012 (after the effective date of 

this AD), inspect the trim fitting, hinge, and 

filler plate of the tail pitch trim assembly for 

correct positioning and proper attachment; 

and also inspect that the Huck Bolt fasteners 

are properly secured following Mooney 

Aviation Company, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 

M20–313A, dated February 29, 2012. 

(h) Corrective Action 

If during the inspection required in 

paragraph (g) of this AD you find incorrect 

positioning or improper attachment of the 

trim fitting, hinge, and filler plate of the tail 

pitch trim assembly; and/or you find loose or 

improperly installed Huck Bolt fasteners, 

before further flight, repair and correct the 

discrepancies following Mooney Aviation 

Company, Inc. Service Bulletin No. M20– 

314A, dated February 29, 2012. 

(i) Credit for Actions Accomplished in 

Accordance With Previous Service 

Information 

(1) This paragraph provides credit for 

inspections required in paragraph (g) of this 

AD if already done before March 20, 2012 

(the effective date of this AD) following 

Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. Service 

Bulletin No. M20–313, dated February 7, 

2012. 

(2) This paragraph provides credit for 

repairs required in paragraph (h) of this AD 

if already done before March 20, 2012 (the 

effective date of this AD) following Mooney 

Aviation Company, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 

M20–314, dated February 10, 2012. 

(j) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits are prohibited for 

this AD. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Fort Worth ACO, FAA, 

has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 

AD, if requested using the procedures 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 ACO, send it 

to the attention of the person identified in the 

Related Information section of this AD. 

(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. 

(l) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace 

Engineer, ASW–150 (c/o MIDO–43), 10100 

Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, 

Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308–3365; 

facsimile: (210) 308–3370; email: 

andrew.mcanaul@faa.gov. 

(m) 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: (i) Mooney 

Aviation Company, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 

M20–313A, dated February 29, 2012; and 

(ii) Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. 

Service Bulletin No. M20–314A, dated 

February 29, 2012. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Mooney Aviation Company, 

Inc., 165 Al Mooney Road North, Kerrville, 

Texas 78028; telephone: (830) 896–6000; 

email: technicalsupport@mooney.com; 

Internet: www.mooney.com. 

(3) You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (816) 329–4148. 

(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 NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go 

to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/ 

cfr/ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 

13, 2012. 

James E. Jackson, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6521 Filed 3–19–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0454; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–SW–54–AD; Amendment 39– 

16973; AD 2012–05–01] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Model Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

Eurocopter France (ECF) Model SA– 

365C, SA–365C1, SA–365C2, SA–365N, 

SA–365N1, AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, and 

SA–366G1 helicopters. This AD was 

prompted by some reports of 

deterioration and two reports of failure 

of Starflex star arm ends. The actions 

are intended to modify the main rotor 

frequency adapters to reduce the 

temperature in the area, to prevent 

failure of the star arm end, severe 

vibration, and subsequent loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective on April 24, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain documents listed in this AD 

as of April 24, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum 

Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75053–4005, 

telephone (800) 232–0323, fax (972) 


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