AD 2007-24-12 Airworthiness Directives; Eclipse Aviation Corporation Model EA500 Airplanes

Models named: EA500. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to Model EA500 airplanes, serial numbers 000039 through 000062, that are certificated in any category.

To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done:   Actions Compliance Procedures (1) Inspect the right and left fuel filler adapters for application of primer and/or paint At whichever of the following occurs first: (i) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after November 27, 2007 (the effective date of this AD) (ii) Within 30 days after November 27, 2007 (the effective date of this AD) Follow the procedures in Eclipse Aviation Corporation Alert Service Bulletin SB 500-57-007, Rev A, dated October 12, 2007, or Eclipse Aviation Corporation Alert Service Bulletin SB 500-57-007, Rev B, dated October 23, 2007. (2) Remove any primer and/or paint from the fuel filler adapter surround Before further flight after the inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD where primer and/or paint was found on the fuel filler adapter surround Follow the procedures in Eclipse Aviation Corporation Alert Service Bulletin SB 500-57-007, Rev B, dated October 23, 2007. Special Flight Permit (f) Under 14 CFR 39.23, we are limiting the special flight permits for this AD by allowing “Flight in Day Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Only.” Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (g) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Mitchell Soth, Flight Test Engineer, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222-5104; fax: (817) 222-5960. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. Material Incorporated by Reference (h) You must use Eclipse Aviation Corporation Alert Service Bulletin SB 500-57-007, Rev A, dated October 12, 2007 or Eclipse Aviation Corporation Alert Service Bulletin SB 500-57-007, Rev B, dated October 23, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 4100 Aerospace Parkway, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121; phone (505) 245-7555; fax: (505) 241-8802; e-mail: customercare@EclipseAviation.com . (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html . Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 20, 2007. Kim Smith, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E7-23024 Filed 11-26-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from an observation during a factory walk-around that the fuel filler surround was primed instead of being bare metal. We are issuing this AD to inspect and, if necessary, remove any paint and/or primer to restore the fuel filler adapter lightning strike protection. A lightning strike on the filler cap with insulating primer on the surround could result in the strike not dissipating to the surround. This could lead to arcing and ignition of fuel vapor inside the fuel tank.