Airworthiness Directives; Univair Aircraft Corporation Models (ERCO) 415-C, (ERCO) 415-CD, (ERCO) 415-D, (ERCO) 415-E, (ERCO) 415-G, (Forney) F-1, and (Forney) F-1A Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52404-52406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19874]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-79-AD; Amendment 39-12843; AD 2002-16-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Univair Aircraft Corporation Models 
(ERCO) 415-C, (ERCO) 415-CD, (ERCO) 415-D, (ERCO) 415-E, (ERCO) 415-G, 
(Forney) F-1, and (Forney) F-1A Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes two different airworthiness 
directives that require you to inspect the fuel line nipple for damage, 
replace any suspect part, and replace the elbow fitting on certain 
Univair Aircraft Corporation (Univair) Models (ERCO) 415-C, (ERCO) 415-
CD, (ERCO) 415-D, (ERCO) 415-E, (ERCO) 415-G, (Forney) F-1, and 
(Forney) F-1A airplanes. This AD requires you to accomplish the 
following on airplanes with the gascolator connected to the side of the 
carburetor: Replace any aluminum fuel line nipple or elbow fitting with 
a brass or steel fuel line nipple or elbow fitting, inspect for double 
support tubes on the gascolator, install these tubes if they do not 
exist, and inspect the fuel line fittings between the carburetor and 
gascolator for cracks or misalignment and replace as necessary. This AD 
will not affect those airplanes with the gascolator mounted on the 
firewall. This AD is a result of cracks in the subject area on 
airplanes in compliance with the current ADs. The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent failure of the fuel line fittings or 
the gascolator because of the current airplane design configuration 
(aluminum fuel line nipples, aluminum fuel line elbows, and/or no 
double support tubes on the gascolator). Such failure could result in a 
lack of fuel to the engine with consequent loss of control of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on September 13, 2002.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
September 13, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Univair Aircraft Corporation, 2500 Himalaya Road, Aurora, Colorado 
80011; telephone: (303) 375-8882; facsimile: (303) 375-8888. You may 
view this information at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 
No. 2000-CE-79-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 
or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Bumann, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Denver Aircraft Certification Office, 26805 East 68th Avenue, Room 
214, Denver, Colorado 80249; telephone: (303) 342-1083; facsimile: 
(303) 342-1088.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    Reports of fuel leakage due to cracked fuel line nipples on Univair 
415 series and Models F1 and F1A airplanes caused FAA to issue AD 86-
22-09, Amendment 39-5457. This AD requires you to do the following on 
Univair Models (ERCO) 415-C, (ERCO) 415-CD, (ERCO) 415-D, (ERCO) 415-E, 
(ERCO) 415-G, (Forney) F-1, and (Forney) F-1A airplanes:
--inspect the fuel line nipple between the gascolator and the 
carburetor for cracks, incorrect alignment, or over torque; and
--replace any suspect part.

    These actions are specified in Univair Service Bulletin No. 24A, 
dated August 22, 1986.
    In addition, the potential for fuel system failures due to the 
installation of part number (P/N) 914-2D dural elbow fittings on Erco 
(now Univair) Models 415-C, 415-CD, and 415-D airplanes caused FAA to 
issue AD 46-38-03. This AD requires you to replace this P/N 914-2 D 
dural elbow fitting with a P/N 914-2 elbow fitting.

What Has Happened To Initiate This Action?

    The FAA has received reports of failure of the aluminum fuel line 
nipple, part number AN911-2D, on airplanes that were in compliance with 
AD 86-22-09. In one instance, a Model (ERCO) 415-C made an emergency 
landing because the failure led to engine fuel starvation.
    AD 86-22-09 requires a one-time inspection of the part number 
AN911-2D fuel line nipple. Since 15 years have passed since issuance of 
that AD, most of the affected airplanes have had this inspection 
accomplished. If the fuel line nipple was not suspect at the time of 
inspection, then final AD compliance was obtained. In 15 years, cracks 
could develop in the aluminum fuel line nipple on these airplanes in 
compliance with AD 86-22-09.
    In addition, Univair Service Bulletin No. 24A, dated August 22, 
1986, also specifies replacing any aluminum fuel line nipple with a 
brass or steel fuel line nipple and installing double support tubes on 
the gascolator for those airplanes with a gascolator connected to the 
side of the carburetor. AD 86-22-09 required the fuel line nipple 
replacement only if damage was found during the one-time inspection and 
did not require installation of the double support tubes.
    The installation of these parts would eliminate the need for AD 46-
38-03.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
fuel line nipple or the gascolator because of the current

[[Page 52405]]

airplane design configuration (aluminum fuel line nipples or no double 
support tubes on the gascolator). Such failure could result in a lack 
of fuel to the engine with consequent loss of control of the airplane.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to 
certain Univair (ERCO) 415-1986C, (ERCO) 415-CD, (ERCO) 415-D, (ERCO) 
415-E, (ERCO) 415-G, (Forney) F-1, and (Forney) F-1A airplanes. This 
proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on October 4, 2001 (66 FR 50578). The NPRM proposed 
to supersede AD 86-22-09 with a new AD that would require you to 
accomplish the following on airplanes with the gascolator connected to 
the side of the carburetor:

--replace any aluminum fuel line nipple with a brass or steel fuel line 
nipple; and
--inspect for the existence of double support tubes on the gascolator 
and install these tubes if they do not exist.

    The proposed AD would not affect those airplanes with the 
gascolator mounted on the firewall.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. Comments received on the NPRM caused us to revise 
the proposed action to add requirements to replace the elbow fittings 
with brass or steel elbow fittings and inspect the fuel line fittings 
between the carburetor and gascolator for cracks or misalignment and 
replace as necessary.
    Because these additions increased the burden upon the public above 
that already proposed, we issued a supplemental NPRM on April 5, 2002 
(67 FR 18141, April 15, 2002).
    We then encouraged interested persons to again participate in the 
making of this amendment. We did not receive any comments on the 
supplemental NPRM.

FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed in the 
supplemental NPRM except for minor editorial corrections. We have 
determined that these minor corrections:
--provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the 
unsafe condition; and
--do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 2,500 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the replacement and 
installation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Total cost
          Labor cost            Parts cost   Total cost per    on U.S.
                                                airplane      operators
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 workhours  x  $60 per hour          $70.  $190 per           $475,000.
 = $120.                                     airplane.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
46-38-03 and AD 86-22-09, Amendment 39-5457, and by adding a new AD to 
read as follows:

2002-16-04 Univair Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-12843; Docket 
No. 2000-CE-79-AD; Supersedes AD 46-38-03 and AD 86-22-09, Amendment 
39-5457.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects all 
serial numbers of Models (ERCO) 415-C, (ERCO) 415-CD, (ERCO) 415-D, 
(ERCO) 415-E, (ERCO) 415-G, (Forney) F-1, and (Forney) F-1A 
airplanes that:
    (1) are certificated in any category; and
    (2) have the gascolator connected to the side of the carburetor. 
This AD does not affect those airplanes with the gascolator mounted 
on the firewall.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent failure of the fuel line fittings or 
the gascolator because of the current airplane design configuration 
(aluminum fuel line nipples, aluminum fuel line elbows, and/or no 
double support tubes on the gascolator). Such failure could result 
in a lack of fuel to the engine with consequent loss of control of 
the airplane.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

[[Page 52406]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Visually inspect the      Inspect within the    In accordance with
 fuel line nipple and elbow    next 25 ours time-    Univair Service
 located between the           in-service (TIS)      Bulletin No. 24B,
 carburetor and gascolator     after September 13,   dated January 29,
 for cracks or misalignment,   2002 (the effective   2002.
 and replace as necessary.     date of this AD)
                               and replace prior
                               to further flight
                               after the
                               inspection. You
                               must inspect even
                               if you have
                               inspected
                               previously.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Replace any aluminum      Within the next 25    In accordance with
 fuel line nipple with one     TIS after September   Univair Service
 made of brass or steel.       13, 2002 (the         Bulletin No. 24B,
                               effective date of     dated January 29,
                               this AD), unless      2002.
                               already
                               accomplished
                               (compliance with AD
                               86-22-09 and/or
                               Univair Service
                               Bulletin No. 24A,
                               dated August 22,
                               1986).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Replace any aluminum      Within the next 25    In accordance with
 fuel elbow fitting with one   hours TIS after       Univair Service
 made of brass or steel.       September 13, 2002    Bulletin No. 24B,
 Manufacturer replacement      (the effective date   dated January 29,
 parts numbers are             of this AD), unless   2002.
 referenced in the service     already
 information.                  accomplished
                               (compliance with AD
                               46-38-03).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Inspect for the           Inspect within the    In accordance with
 existence of double support   next 25 hours TIS     Univair Service
 tubes on the gascolator and   after September 13,   Bulletin No. 24B,
 install these tubes if they   2002 (the effective   dated January 29,
 do not exist, as follows:     date of this AD)      2002.
(i) For all affected           and install the
 airplanes except for          double support
 (Forney) F-1 and (Forney) F-  tubes prior to
 1A airplanes, install part    further flight
 numbers 48076 and 48096 (or   after the
 FAA-approved equivalent       inspection, unless
 part numbers) double          already
 support tubes; and.           accomplished
(ii) For all affected          (compliance with
 (Forney) F-1 and (Forney)     Univair Service
 F1-A airplanes, install       Bulletin No. 24A,
 part numbers 48098 and        dated August 22,
 48099 (or FAA-approved        1986).
 equivalent part numbers)
 double support tubes..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Do not install, on any    As of September 13,   Not Applicable.
 affected airplane, an         2002 (the effective
 aluminum fuel line nipple     date of this AD).
 or aluminum elbow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) Do not install a          As of September 13,   Not Applicable.
 gascolator on the side of     2002 (the effective
 the carburetor on any         date of this AD).
 affected airplane, unless
 the double support tubes
 specified in paragraph
 (d)(4)(i) or (d)(4)(ii) of
 this AD are installed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way?
    (1) You may use an alternative method of compliance or adjust 
the compliance time if:
    (i) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (ii) The Manager, Denver Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Denver ACO.
    (2) Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance 
with AD 46-38-03 and/or AD 86-22-09, which are superseded by this 
AD, are not approved as alternative methods of compliance with this 
AD.

    Note: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Elizabeth Bumann, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Denver Aircraft Certification Office, 26805 
East 68th Avenue, Room 214, Denver, Colorado 80249; telephone: (303) 
342-1083; facsimile: (303) 342-1088.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where you 
can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Univair Service Bulletin No. 24B, dated January 29, 2002. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved this incorporation by 
reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get 
copies from Univair Aircraft Corporation, 2500 Himalaya Road, 
Aurora, Colorado 80011. You can look at copies at the FAA, Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) Does this AD action affect any existing AD actions? This 
amendment supersedes AD 46-38-03 and AD 86-22-09, Amendment 39-5457.
    (j) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on September 13, 2002.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 30, 2002.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-19874 Filed 8-9-02; 8:45 am]
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