Document ID: FAA-2017-0418-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Aviat Aircraft Inc. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2017-05-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21142-21144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09041]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 21142]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0418; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-041-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Aviat Aircraft Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Aviat Aircraft Inc. Models A-1C-180 and A-1C-200 airplanes 
equipped with Rapco part number RA1798-00-1 fuel vent check valves. 
This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the fuel tank vent check 
valves are sticking in the closed position causing fuel starvation to 
the engine. This proposed AD would require checking the fuel vent check 
valves for proper operation and replacing any inoperative fuel vent 
check valve with an airworthy part. We are proposing this AD to correct 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 19, 2017.

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 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: 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 Aviat 
Aircraft Inc., P.O. Box 1240, Afton, WY 83110; phone (307) 885-3151; 
fax: (307) 885-9674; email: aviat@aviataircraft.com; Internet: http://aviataircraft.com. You may review this 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0418; 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 proposed 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: Richard R. Thomas, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Denver Aircraft Certification Office, 26805 East 68th Avenue, Room 
214, Denver, Colorado 80249; phone: (303) 342-1085; fax: (303) 342-
1088; email: richard.r.thomas@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-0418; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-041-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed 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 proposed AD.

Discussion

    We received a report that an owner of an Aviat Aircraft Inc. Model 
A-1C-180 airplane was forced to make a dead stick landing after the 
engine shutdown on takeoff. Following the incident, the fuel tank caps 
were removed and the mechanic heard air rushing into the fuel tanks. 
Further investigation revealed that the forced landing was a result of 
fuel exhaustion caused by the fuel tank vent valves sticking in the 
closed position in both wings. Manual force was required to push the 
check balls off of their seats. When both vent valves stick, a vacuum 
of sufficient strength forms on the backside of the fuel and fuel no 
longer is gravity fed to the engine. Failure of a single vent valve is 
latent as there is a cross-feed vent between the left and right tanks 
that allows the properly operating valve to vent both tanks.
    The incident airplane was equipped with Rapco part number (P/N) 
RA1798-00-1 fuel vent check valves. The design of the Rapco P/N RA1798-
00-1 is such that the check valve ball seat is nearly the same diameter 
as the ball and the ball can readily wedge itself in the seat and block 
the fuel tank vent.
    This condition, if not corrected, could cause fuel starvation to 
the engine and result in the engine shutting down.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Aviat Aircraft Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 33, 
dated November 11, 2016. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
checking the fuel vent check valve on each wing of the airplane for 
proper operation and replacing any inoperative fuel vent check valve. 
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

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in

[[Page 21143]]

the service information described previously.
    The design approval holder is currently developing a modification 
that will address the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this 
modification is developed, approved, and available, we might consider 
additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 98 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-flight check of the fuel vent       .5 work-hour x $85 per               N/A          $42.50          $4,165
 check valve for proper operation.       hour = $42.50 per pre-
                                         flight check.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We conservatively estimated the cost to do a single pre-flight 
check. We recognize the pilot is allowed to perform this check without 
the assistance of a mechanic, which would significantly reduce the 
estimated cost. We further recognize that an individual airplane would 
require this check every pre-flight from the issuance of this proposed 
AD until the end of its useful life unless both valves are replaced 
with Duke valves per paragraph (i). We have no way of determining the 
total cost of repeating this check every pre-flight either for a single 
product or for all U.S. operators.
    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that would be required based on the results of the proposed pre-flight 
check. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may 
need these replacements.

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                         Labor cost                Parts cost           Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove and replace inoperative fuel  2 work-hours (1 work-hour    $200 per fuel vent      $370 per fuel vent
 vent check valve.                    to remove and 1 work-hour    check valve. ($400      check valve. ($740 to
                                      to replace) x $85 per hour   for both).              remove and replace
                                      = $170 per fuel vent check                           both).
                                      valve. (There are 2 fuel
                                      vent check valves per
                                      airplane = $340 to remove
                                      and replace both).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    We 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.

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 (AD):

Aviat Aircraft Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2017-0418; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-CE-041-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 19, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Aviat Aircraft Inc. Models A-1C-180 and A-1C-
200 airplanes, serial numbers 3181 through 3282, that are:
    (1) Equipped with Rapco part number (P/N) RA1798-00-1 fuel vent 
check valves; and
    (2) certificated in any category.

    Note to paragraph (c) of this AD: Airplanes equipped with Duke 
P/N 1798-001 fuel vent check valves are not affected by this AD.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2820, Fuel 
Distribution.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that Rapco P/N RA1798-00-1 fuel 
vent check valves are sticking in the closed position. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct failure of the fuel tank vent 
check valve, which could result in fuel starvation to the engine and 
cause the engine to shut down.

[[Page 21144]]

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Verify Proper Operation of the Fuel Vent Check Valve on Each Wing

    Before further flight after the effective date of this AD, 
insert Steps 1 through 3 of Aviat Aircraft Inc. (Aviat) Mandatory 
Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 33, dated November 11, 2016, into the 
Limitations Section of the airplane flight manual (AFM). This 
insertion and the steps therein may be performed by the owner/
operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate. The 
insertion of Steps 1 through 3 in the AFM must be entered into the 
aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with 
14 CFR 43.9 (a)(1)-(4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must 
be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439. 
This AFM requirement mandates preflight checks of the fuel vent 
check valve on each wing for proper operation on the applicable 
airplanes identified in paragraph (c) of this AD.

 (h) Remove Inoperative Fuel Vent Check Valve

    During any check required in paragraph (g) of this AD, if one or 
both of the fuel vent check valves are not operating properly, 
before further flight, remove the inoperative valve following Steps 
4 through 6 of Aviat MSB No. 33, dated November 11, 2016.

(i) Replace Inoperative Fuel Vent Check Valve

    Before further flight after removing the inoperative fuel vent 
check valve required in paragraph (h) of this AD, replace it with an 
airworthy fuel vent check valve following Steps 8 and 9 of Aviat MSB 
No. 33, dated November 11, 2016. If both fuel vent check valves, 
Rapco P/N RA1798-00-1, are replaced with airworthy Duke P/N 1798-001 
fuel vent check valves, the repetitive pre-flight checks required in 
paragraph (g) of this AD are terminated.

(j) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are not necessary for the preflight 
checks. A special flight permit is allowed for this AD per 14 CFR 
39.23 with limitations. Special flight permits are permitted for the 
airplane to be flown VFR only to a location where the inoperative 
fuel vent check valve can be removed and replaced. No special flight 
permits are allowed if both valves are found to be inoperative.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Denver Aircraft Certification Office (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 paragraph (l)(1) 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

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Richard R. 
Thomas, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Denver ACO, 26805 East 68th Avenue, 
Room 214, Denver, Colorado 80249; phone: (303) 342-1085; fax: (303) 
342-1088; email: richard.r.thomas@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Aviat 
Aircraft Inc., P.O. Box 1240, Afton, WY 83110; phone (307) 885-3151; 
fax: (307) 885-9674; email: aviat@aviataircraft.com; Internet: 
http://aviataircraft.com. You may review this 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 27, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09041 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P