33016 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 116 /Wednesday, June 17, 1998 / Proposed Rules

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required within the next 6

calendar months after the effective date of

this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent the locking hook on the

tailplane attachment bracket from

disengaging, which could result in the

horizontal tailplane coming loose from the

fin with possible loss of longitudinal control

of the sailplane, accomplish the following:

(a) Install a safety device for the tailplane

locking hook in accordance with SchemppHirth Appendix to Technical Note No. 278–

36, 286–33, 295–26, 328–11, 798–3, dated

November 11, 1994.

(b) 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 sailplane

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of compliance time that provides

an equivalent level of safety may be approved

by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106. The request shall be

forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Small Airplane Directorate.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(d) Questions or technical information

related to the service information referenced

in this document should be directed to

Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH, Postbox

14 43, D–73222 Kirchheim unter Teck,

Federal Republic of Germany. This service

information may be examined at the FAA,

Central Region, Office of the Regional

Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in German AD 95–015, dated December 15,

1994.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 9,

1998.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–16016 Filed 6–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–CE–47–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Mooney

Aircraft Corporation Models M20J,

M20K, M20M, and M20R Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain

Mooney Aircraft Corporation (Mooney)

Models M20J, M20K, M20M, and M20R

airplanes. The proposed AD would

require grinding the surface of the main

landing gear (MLG) leg bracket,

inspecting this area for cracks, and

replacing any cracked MLG leg bracket.

The proposed AD is the result of the

manufacturing of several of the MLG leg

brackets using laser pattern cutting. The

brackets, when manufactured using this

process, develop minor cracks at the

bends, which could propagate over

time. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent

failure of the MLG side brace bolt

caused by cracking of the MLG leg

bracket, which could result in MLG

collapse with consequent loss of control

of the airplane during taxi, takeoff, or

landing operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before August 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 98–CE–47–

AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the

proposed AD may be obtained from

Mooney Aircraft Corporation, Louis

Schreiner Field, Kerrville, Texas 78028.

This information also may be examined

at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Bob D. May, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,

Airplane Certification Office, 2601

Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas

76193–0150; telephone: (817) 222–5156;

facsimile: (817) 222–5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed 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, specified

above, will be considered before taking

action on the proposed rule. The

proposals contained in this notice may

be changed in light of the comments

received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed 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

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket No. 98–CE–47–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 98–CE–47–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

The FAA has received a report that

the design service life of the part

number (P/N) 510010 MLG leg bracket

on certain Mooney Models M20J, M20K,

M20M, and M20R airplanes may not be

achieved. Eleven of these brackets were

produced using a laser pattern cutting

process. The brackets, when

manufactured using this process,

develop minor cracks at the bends,

which could propagate over time.

The P/N 510010 bracket supports the

MLG side brace bolt. Failure of the MLG

side brace bolt would cause the MLG to

collapse with consequent loss of control

of the airplane during taxi, takeoff, or

landing operations.

Relevant Service Information

Mooney has issued Service Bulletin

M20–265, dated 1April 13, 1998, which

specifies procedures for grinding the

surface of the MLG leg bracket, P/N

510010, and inspecting this area for

cracks.

The FAA’s Determination

After examining the circumstances

and reviewing all available information

related to the incidents described above,

including the referenced service

information, the FAA has determined

that AD action should be taken to

prevent failure of the MLG side brace

bolt caused by cracking of the MLG leg
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 116 /Wednesday, June 17, 1998 / Proposed Rules 33017

bracket. This could result in MLG

collapse with consequent loss of control

of the airplane during taxi, takeoff, or

landing operations.

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Mooney Models M20J,

M20K, M20M, and M20R airplanes of

the same type design, the FAA is

proposing AD action. The proposed AD

would require grinding the surface of

the MLG leg bracket, P/N 510010;

inspecting this area for cracks; and

replacing any cracked MLG leg bracket.

Accomplishment of the surface

grinding and inspection would be

required in accordance with Mooney

Service Bulletin M20–265, dated April

13, 1998.

Replacement of any cracked MLG leg

bracket, if required, would be

accomplished in accordance with the

applicable maintenance manual.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 11 airplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 8 workhours per airplane

to accomplish the proposed actions, and

that the average labor rate is

approximately $60 an hour. Based on

these figures, the total cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $5,280, or $480 per

airplane. These figures are based on the

presumption that no affected airplane

owner/operator has accomplished the

proposed actions. These figures do not

account for the cost of any necessary

replacement if any MLG leg bracket is

found cracked. The FAA has no way of

determining how many MLG leg

brackets may be found cracked during

the proposed inspection.

Mooney will provide warranty credit

for up to 8 workhours that are necessary

to comply with the requirements of the

proposed AD. Details are provided in

Mooney Service Bulletin M20–265,

dated April 13, 1998.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

would 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

proposal would 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) if

promulgated, 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 draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action has been placed 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

Mooney Aircraft Corporation: Docket No.

98–CE–47–AD.

Applicability: The following airplane

models and serial numbers, certificated in

any category:

Models Serial Numbers

M20J 24–3415 and 24–3416.

M20K 25–2018 through 25–2021.

M20M 27–0241.

M20R 29–0135 through 29–0138.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

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 as indicated in the

body of this AD, unless already

accomplished.

To prevent failure of the main landing gear

(MLG) side brace bolt caused by cracking of

the MLG leg bracket, which could result in

MLG collapse with consequent loss of control

of the airplane during taxi, takeoff, or landing

operations, accomplish the following:

(a) Within the next 100 hours time-inservice (TIS) after the effective date of this

AD, accomplish the following in accordance

with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Mooney

Service Bulletin M20–265, dated April 13,

1998:

(1) Grind the surface of the MLG leg

bracket, part number (P/N) 510010.

(2) Inspect the area of the P/N 510010 MLG

leg bracket for cracks.

(b) Prior to further flight after the

inspection required by paragraph (a)(2) of

this AD, replace any cracked P/N 510010

MLG leg bracket with a new P/N 510010

MLG leg bracket. Accomplish this

replacement in accordance with the

applicable maintenance manual.

(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.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance times that

provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Fort Worth

Airplane Certification Office (ACO), 2601

Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas

76193–0150. The request shall be forwarded

through an appropriate FAA Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Fort Worth ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.

(e) All persons affected by this directive

may obtain copies of the document referred

to herein upon request to Mooney Aircraft

Corporation, Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville,

Texas 78028; or may examine this document

at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th

Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June

10, 1998.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–16025 Filed 6–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U