[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19867-19869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11027]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-56-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly
Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA23, PA31, PA31P, PA31T, and PA42 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede AD 86-17-07, which
currently requires replacing all hydraulic hoses with hydraulic hoses
of an improved design on certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper)
PA23, PA31, PA31P, PA31T, and PA42 series airplanes. The proposed
action would require inspecting for improperly manufactured hydraulic
hoses replaced during a specific time frame and replacing all affected
hydraulic hoses. An incorrect designation of a Piper Model PA31-310 and
a Piper Model PA23-150 airplane prompted the proposed AD action. The
action specified by the proposed AD is intended to prevent hydraulic
hose failure which could cause loss of hydraulic capabilities resulting
in a gear-up landing and possible loss of the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 8, 1996.
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-56-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 New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Attn: Customer Service, 2926 Piper
Dr., Vero Beach, Florida, 32960. This information also may be examined
at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Marsh, 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-56-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-56-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
It has been brought to the attention of the FAA that AD 86-17-07,
which is applicable to Piper PA31 and PA23 series airplanes, should not
have listed a Piper Model PA31-310 and a Piper Model PA23-150 airplane,
respectively. The Piper Model PA31-310 airplane is not a recognized
model on the Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A20SO and the airplane's
data plate will specify a Model PA31 not a Model PA31-310. Similarly,
the Piper Model PA23-150 airplane is not a recognized model on the
Aircraft Specification No. 1A10 and the airplane's data plate will
specify a Model PA23, not a Model PA23-150. The concern was raised that
some owners/operators of PA31 and PA23 series airplanes may not have
complied with AD 86-17-07, since the AD currently specifies the
airplanes as Piper Models PA31-310 or PA23-150, even though their
serial number falls within the serial number range in the current AD.
For this reason, the FAA is proposing to supersede the current AD to
change the model designation from Piper Models PA31-310 and PA23-150
airplanes to Piper Models PA31 and PA23 airplanes, respectively.
Piper has issued service bulletin (SB), No. 822, dated April 2,
1986, which specifies procedures for inspecting for improperly
manufactured hydraulic hoses, part number (P/N) 17766-02 or 465-138,
and if found installed, installing hydraulic hoses (P/N 17766-02) to
replace the improperly manufactured hydraulic hoses currently in place
on the airplane.
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 ensure that the correct
hydraulic hoses are installed and if not installed, replacing the
hydraulic hoses with the correct hoses to avoid a loss of hydraulic
capabilities resulting in a gear-up landing and possible loss of the
airplane.
[[Page 19868]]
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Piper PA23, PA31, PA31P, PA31T, and PA42
series airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would
supersede AD 86-17-07 with a new AD that would retain the same
requirements as AD 87-17-07 and change the model designation in the
Applicability section from Piper Model PA31-310 and PA23-150 airplanes
to Piper Model PA31 and PA23 airplanes, respectively.
The FAA estimates that 10,737 airplanes in the U.S. registry would
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 hour
per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The FAA is only using
the inspection criteria (1 workhour) since there is no way to determine
the number of these Piper airplanes already in compliance with AD 86-
17-07. Based on the figures above, the initial cost of the proposed AD
upon U.S. operators of the affected airplanes is estimated to be
$644,220. This figure only includes the cost for the initial inspection
and does not include replacement costs of the hydraulic hoses. Parts
cost approximately $53 per hydraulic hose. Piper installed on newly
manufactured aircraft and distributed approximately 93 defective hoses,
which could affect 93 airplanes. The FAA has no way of determining
which Piper airplanes may have these improperly manufactured hydraulic
hoses installed. Labor costs for the installation of one hose is
estimated to be 2 hours at approximately $60 per hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $660,309. The only difference between the proposed AD
and AD 87-17-07 is the change in model designation from PA31-310 and
PA23-150 airplanes to PA31 and PA23 airplanes, respectively. With this
in mind, the proposed action would not provide any additional cost
impact upon U.S. operators over that already required by AD 87-17-07.
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 14
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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.Section 39.13 is amended by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
86-17-07, Amendment 39-5400, and by adding a new AD to read as follows:
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. 95-CE-56-AD; Supersedes AD
86-17-07, Amendment 39-5400.
Applicability: The following models and serial numbers,
certificated in any category.
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Models Serial numbers
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PA23 and PA23-160............ 23-1 through 23-2046.
PA23-235..................... 27-505 through 27-622.
PA23-250..................... 27-1 through 27-8154030.
PA31, PA31-300, and PA31-325. 31-2 through 31-8312019.
PA31-350..................... 31-5001 through 31-8553002.
PA31P........................ 31P-1 through 31P-7730012.
PA31P-350.................... 31P-8414001 through 31P-8414050.
PA31T........................ 31T-7400002 through 31T-8120104.
PA31T1....................... 31T-7804001 through 31T-8304003, and 31T-
1104004 through 31T-1104017.
PA31T2....................... 31T-8166001 through 31T-8166076 and, 31T-
1166001 through 31T-1166008.
PA31T3....................... 31T-8275001 through 31T-8475001 and, 31T-
5575001.
PA42......................... 42-7800001, 42-7800002, 42-7801003, 42-
7801004, 42-8001001 through 42-8001106,
42-8301001, 42-8301002, 42-5501003
through 42-5501023, and 42-5501025.
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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 request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) 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 the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after
September 2, 1986 (the effective date of AD 86-17-07) or within 10
hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
later, unless already accomplished.
To prevent hydraulic hose failure which could cause loss of
hydraulic capabilities resulting in a gear-up landing and possible
loss of the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Inspect and replace all hydraulic hoses identified as Piper
part number (P/N) 17766-02 or 465-138 and having a smooth rubber
surface and a blue colored end nut, with hoses of the same part
number having a woven outer covering and black colored end nut, in
accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Service Bulletin
(SB) No. 822, dated April 2, 1986.
Note 2: These hoses were available for installation starting
February 1, 1985, and may have been installed in newly manufactured
airplanes or as spares at any subsequent time.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where
[[Page 19869]]
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
initial compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety
may be approved by the Manager, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification
Office, Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, suite 2-160, College
Park, Georgia 30337-2748. The request shall be forwarded through an
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then
send it to the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.
(d) Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance
with AD 87-17-07 (superseded by this action) are considered approved
as alternative methods of compliance with this AD.
(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain a copy of
the document referred to herein upon request to The New Piper
Aircraft, Inc., Attn: Customer Service, 2926 Piper Dr., Vero Beach,
Florida, 32960; 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.
(f) This amendment supersedes AD 86-17-07, Amendment 39-5400.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 26, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11027 Filed 5-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
