Airworthiness Directives: Univair Aircraft Corporation Models Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and 415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A, Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-05-AD]

Airworthiness Directives: Univair Aircraft Corporation Models

Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and 415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A,

Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 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 Univair Aircraft Corporation (Univair) Models

Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and 415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A,

Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 airplanes. The proposed action would

require installing inspection openings in the outer wing panels,

inspecting (one-time) the wing outer panel structure for corrosion, and

repairing any corrosion found. Several reports of corrosion in the

outer wing panels of the affected airplanes prompted the proposed

action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to

prevent wing structural damage that, if not detected and corrected,

could progress to the point of failure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 24, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-05-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 the Univair Aircraft Corporation, 2500 Himalaya Road, Aurora,

Colorado 80011; telephone (303) 375-8882; facsimile (303) 375-8888.

This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the

address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger P. Chudy, Aerospace

Engineer, FAA, Denver Aircraft Certification Field Office, 5440 Roslyn

Street, suite 133, Denver, Colorado 80216; telephone (303) 286-5684;

facsimile (303) 286-5689.

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. 94-CE-05-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 Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-05-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The FAA has received several reports of wing structure corrosion on

Univair Models Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and 415-G, Forney

F-1 and F-1A, Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 airplanes. At least

four of these incidents revealed major corrosion in the outer wing

panels.

Current maintenance inspection provisions do not allow for thorough

viewing of the wing structure. With this in mind, Univair issued

Service Bulletin (SB) No. 29, dated January 27, 1994, which specifies

procedures for (1) installing inspection openings in the outer wing

panels, and (2) inspecting the outer wing panels for evidence of

corrosion.

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 wing structural damage that, if not detected

and corrected, could progress to the point of failure.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to

exist or develop in other Univair Models Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D,

415-E, and 415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A, Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney

M10 airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require

installing inspection openings in the outer wing panels, inspecting

(one-time) the wing outer panel structure for corrosion, and repairing

any corrosion found. The proposed actions would be accomplished in

accordance with Univair SB No. 29, dated January 27, 1994. The

inspection will become part of the affected airplanes' annual

maintenance inspection program.

The compliance time for the proposed AD is presented in calendar

time instead of hours time-in-service (TIS). The FAA has determined

that a calendar time for compliance is the most desirable method

because the unsafe condition described by the proposed AD is caused by

corrosion. Corrosion can occur on airplanes regardless of whether the

airplane is in service or in storage. Therefore, to ensure that

corrosion is detected and corrected on all airplanes within a

reasonable period of time without inadvertently grounding any

airplanes, a compliance schedule based upon calendar time instead of

hours TIS is utilized.

The FAA estimates that 2,672 airplanes in the U.S. registry would

be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 8

workhours (maximum) per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and

that the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Parts cost

approximately $67 (maximum) per airplane. Based on these figures, the

total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to

be $1,354,704. This figure is based on the assumption that no affected

airplane owner/operator has accomplished the proposed action.

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 14

CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.

106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new AD:

Univair Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-05-AD.

Applicability: Models Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E, and

415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A, Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10

airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required within the next 12 calendar months after

the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent wing structural damage that, if not detected and

corrected, could progress to the point of failure, accomplish the

following:

(a) Install inspection openings in the outer wing panels and

inspect the wing outer panel internal structural components for

corrosion in accordance with the PROCEDURE section of Univair

Service Bulletin No. 29, dated January 27, 1994. Prior to further

flight, repair any corrosion in accordance with instructions

contained in the above-referenced service information.

(b) Send the results of the inspection required by paragraph (a)

of this AD to the Manager, Denver Aircraft Certification Field

Office, 5440 Roslyn Street, suite 133, Denver, Colorado 80216. State

whether corrosion was found, the location and extent of any

corrosion found, and the total hours TIS of the component at the

time the corrosion was found. (Reporting approved by the Office of

Management and Budget under OMB no. 2120-056.)

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 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 time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Denver Aircraft Certification Field Office,

5440 Roslyn Street, suite 133, Denver, Colorado 80216. The request

shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector,

who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Denver

Aircraft Certification Field Office.

Note: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Denver Aircraft Certification Field Office.

(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of

the document referred to herein upon request to the Univair Aircraft

Corporation, 2500 Himalaya Road, Aurora, Colorado 80011; or may

examine this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 6, 1994.

Larry D. Malir,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-8681 Filed 4-11-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-U