SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES . Include “Docket No. FAA-2005-22358; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-20-AD” in the subject line of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the DMS Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, including 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) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the docket that contains the proposal, any comments received and any final disposition in person at the DMS Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation Nassif Building at the street address stated in ADDRESSES . Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

On December 19, 2005, we issued AD 2005-26-10, Amendment 39-14431 (70 FR 76385, December 27, 2005). That AD requires replacing ECi cylinder assemblies P/N AEL65102 series “Classic Cast”, having casting P/N AEL65099 and SN 1 through 9879. That AD was the result of reports of about 30 failures of the subject cylinder assemblies marketed by ECi. That condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of engine power due to cracks in the cylinder assemblies and possible engine failure caused by separation of a cylinder head.

Actions Since AD 2005-26-10 was Issued

Since AD 2005-26-10 was issued, we received reports of errors in the “Engine Models” Table 1, and “Engines Installed On, But Not Limited To” Table 2. Also, we discovered an incorrect part number in paragraph (h)(3).

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products of this same type design. For that reason, we are proposing this AD to ensure that operators are provided with the correct applicability, which would require:

• Replacing ECi cylinder assemblies P/N AEL65102 series “Classic Cast”, having casting P/N AEL65099 and SN 1 through 9879 (sold from January 1997 to September 2001); (same as AD 2005-26-10);
• Replacing the “Engine Models” Table 1 with a corrected Table 1, to ensure that operators are provided with the correct applicability; and
• Replacing the “Engines Installed On, But Not Limited To” Table 2 with a corrected Table 2; and
• Replacing casting P/N AEL85009 with P/N AEL85099 in paragraph (h)(3), ( printed page 9481) “Definition of a Replacement Cylinder Assembly”.

Costs of Compliance

There were 9,879 ECi cylinder assemblies produced of the affected design available to the worldwide fleet. ECi reported that about fifteen percent of their cylinder assemblies go to foreign countries. We estimate ten percent of the remaining cylinders were never installed or are already removed from service, leaving 7,557 cylinder assemblies in service in the United States. We estimate that 1,574 Lycoming engines are in the United States with the subject cylinder assemblies installed. We estimate that it would take about two work hours per engine to perform the proposed aircraft inspections of the cylinder assemblies for applicability, and that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. From the Lycoming Engines “Removal and Installation Labor Allowance Guidebook”, dated May 2000, the complete cylinder replacement for a four cylinder engine takes 12 hours, while the complete cylinder replacement for a six cylinder engine takes 16 hours. Required parts would cost about $1,000 per cylinder assembly. Based on these figures, we estimate that the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $9,152,140. ECi indicated that they might give operators and repair stations credit for returned cylinder assemblies toward the purchase of new ECi cylinder assemblies.

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 have 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 that the 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); and

3. Would 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

The Proposed Amendment

Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows: