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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).
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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 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
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Pre-flight check of the fuel
vent check valve for proper operation. |
.5 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$42.50 per pre-flight check |
N/A
|
$42.50
|
$4,165
|
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 vent check valve. |
2 work-hours (1 work-hour to
remove and 1 work-hour to replace) x $85 per hour = $170 per fuel
vent check valve. (There are 2 fuel vent check valves per airplane
= $340 to remove and replace both) |
$200 per fuel vent check valve.
($400 for both) |
$370 per fuel vent check valve.
($740 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
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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
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