AD 2009-02-03

Effective February 9, 2009.

We must receive any comments on this AD by March 24, 2009.

Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD.

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.

• Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

• Fax: (202) 493-2251.

For Precision Airmotive LLC and Bendix, Richard Simonson, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055; e-mail: Richard.simonson@faa.gov; telephone (425) 917-6507; fax (425) 917-6590.

For Lycoming Engines, Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; e-mail: Norman.perenson@faa.gov; telephone (516) 228-7337; fax (516) 794-5531.

For Teledyne Continental Motors, Kevin Brane, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30349; e-mail: kevin.brane@faa.gov; telephone (770) 703-6063; fax (770) 703-6097.

For Superior Air Parts, Inc., Tausif Butt, Aerospace Engineer, Special Certification Office, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Southwest Regional Headquarters, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; e-mail: Tausif.butt@faa.gov; telephone (817) 222-5195; fax (817) 222-5785.

The FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 by superseding AD 2008-08-14, Amendment 39-15466 (73 FR 19977, April 14, 2008). That AD requires:

• Inspecting servo plugs for looseness and damage on fuel injection servos that have a servo plug gasket, P/N 365533 installed since August 22, 2006, and if loose;

• Inspecting both the threads on the servo plug and the servo regulator cover for damage;

• Inspecting the gasket for damage, reinstalling acceptable parts; and

• Torquing the servo plug to a new, higher torque to maintain the proper clamp-up force between the plug and cover.

That AD was the result of eighteen reports of fuel injection servo plugs, P/N 383493 that had loosened or completely backed out of the threaded plug hole on the regulator cover of the fuel injection servo. That condition, if not corrected, could result in a lean running engine, which could result in a substantial loss of engine power and subsequent loss of control of the airplane.

Since that AD was issued, Precision Airmotive LLC introduced the installation of a new improved servo plug gasket, P/N 2577258, to the Precision Airmotive LLC, RSA-5 and RSA-10 series, and Bendix, RSA-5 and RSA-10 series, fuel injection servos. Installation of this gasket with a new higher torque eliminates repetitive inspections of the servo plug.

Also since that AD was issued, we discovered that we inadvertently omitted certain Bendix, RSA-5 and RSA-10 series, fuel injection servos, from the AD applicability. We now include those fuel injection servos in this AD applicability.

The unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other engines of the same type design. We are issuing this AD to prevent a lean running engine, which could result in a substantial loss of engine power and subsequent loss of control of the airplane. This AD requires:

• Inspecting servo plugs for looseness and damage on affected fuel injection servos that have a servo plug gasket, P/N 365533, installed, and if loose;

• Inspecting both the servo plug and regulator threads for damage;

• Replacing gasket P/N 365533, with gasket P/N 2577258;

• Torquing the servo plug to a new, higher torque to maintain the proper clamp-up force between the plug and cover; and

• By December 31, 2009, as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections required by this AD, replacing all servo plug gaskets, P/N 365533 on affected servos, with new, improved gasket, P/N 2577258, and prohibiting the installation of P/N 365533 gaskets.

Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD, we have found that notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable, and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public comment; however, we invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2008-0420; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-10-AD” in the subject line of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might suggest a need to modify it.

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 with FAA personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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.

We have determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

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); 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.

We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the address listed under ADDRESSES.

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:

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

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-15466 (73 FR 19977, April 14, 2008), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, Amendment 39-15793, to read as follows: