[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19174-19175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9344]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-21-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft Corporation Model PA-
31T2 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper)
Model PA-31T2 airplanes that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake
Conversion Kit 199-111 installed in accordance with Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC) SA599GL. The proposed action would require rerouting
the landing gear emergency extension air line. Three incidents of the
brake cylinder contacting the landing gear emergency extension air line
on both wheels prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by
the proposed AD are intended to prevent the brake cylinder from chafing
against the landing gear emergency extension air line when the gear is
in the up and locked position, which, if not detected and corrected,
could result in damage to the air line and subsequent loss of emergency
gear extension capability.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 19, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-21-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 Parker Hannifan Corporation, Aircraft Wheel & Brake, 1160
Center Road, P.O. Box 158, Avon, Ohio 44011; telephone (216) 937-6211;
facsimile (216) 937-5409. This information also may be examined at the
Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Nick Miller, Aerospace Engineer,
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue,
Room 232, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone (708) 294-7379;
facsimile (708) 294-7834; or Mr. Charles Perry, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, Campus Building, 1701
Columbia Avenue, suite 2-160, College Park, Georgia 30337-2748;
telephone (404) 305-7362; facsimile (404) 305-7348.
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. 95-CE-21-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. 95-CE-21-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The FAA has received three reports of the brake cylinder chafing
against the landing gear emergency extension air line of both wheels on
Piper Model PA-31T2 airplanes that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and
Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 installed in accordance with STC SA599GL.
As the brake linings become worn through regular usage, the brake
cylinder repositions. Then, when the landing gear is in the up and
locked position, the brake cylinder chafes against the air line. This
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in damage to the
landing gear emergency extension air line and subsequent loss of
emergency gear extension capability.
Parker Hannifan has issued Service Bulletin SB7034, dated April 23,
1994, which specifies procedures for rerouting the landing gear
emergency extension air line on these Piper Model PA-31T2 airplanes
that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-111
installed in accordance with STC SA599GL.
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent the brake cylinder
from chafing against the landing gear emergency extension air line when
the gear is in the up and locked position, which, if not detected and
corrected, could result in damage to the air line and subsequent loss
of emergency gear extension capability.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Piper Model PA-31T2 airplanes of the same
type design that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit
199-111 installed in accordance with STC SA599GL, the proposed AD would
require rerouting the landing gear emergency extension air line. The
proposed action would be accomplished in accordance with the
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Parker Hannifan Service Bulletin
SB7034, dated April 23, 1994.
The FAA estimates that there are 62 Piper Model PA-31T2 airplanes
in the U.S. registry that could incorporate a Parker Hannifin Wheel and
Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 (in accordance with STC SA599GL), that it
would take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the
proposed action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60
an hour. Parts cost approximately $20 per airplane. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators
could be as much as $16,120 if all affected airplanes had the
referenced conversion kit installed.
Parker Hannifan has informed the FAA that it has distributed 31
kits to Piper Model PA-31T2 airplane owners/operators. Based on each of
the 31 kits being incorporated on an affected airplane, the cost impact
of the proposed AD on U.S. owners and operators would be reduced 50
percent from $16,120 to $8,060. The reduction [[Page 19175]] results
from the difference between the 62 airplanes that are type certificated
to have a Parker Hannifan Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-111
installed (in accordance with STC SA599GL) and the owners/operators of
the 31 of the 62 airplanes that have received these kits.
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
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. 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 a new AD to read as follows:
Piper Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 95-CE-21-AD.
Applicability: Model PA31-T2 airplanes (serial numbers 31T-
8166001 through 31T-1166062), certificated in any category, that
have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-111
installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)
SA599GL.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, 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 use the authority
provided in paragraph (c) of this AD to request approval from the
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair
remove any aircraft from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent the brake cylinder from chafing against the landing
gear emergency extension air line when the gear is in the up and
locked position, which, if not detected and corrected, could result
in damage to the air line and subsequent loss of emergency gear
extension capability, accomplish the following:
(a) Reroute the landing gear emergency extension air line in
accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Parker
Hannifan Service Bulletin SB7034, dated April 23, 1994.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), FAA, 300 East Devon Avenue, Room 232, Des Plaines, Illinois
60018. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Chicago ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Chicago ACO.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to the Parker Hannifan
Corporation, Aircraft Wheel & Brake, 1160 Center Road, P.O. Box 158,
Avon, Ohio 44011; 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 11, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-9344 Filed 4-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
