[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19865-19867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11030]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-45-AD]
RIN 2120--AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (formerly
Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA31, PA31P, and PA31T Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede AD 93-25-08, which
currently requires replacing the main landing gear (MLG) actuator
reinforcement bracket with a part of improved design on certain The New
Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA31, PA31P, and PA31T series airplanes.
The proposed action would require the same action as AD 93-25-08. An
incorrect designation of Piper Model PA31-310 airplanes made in AD 93-
25-08 prompted the proposed AD action. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent the MLG from extending, when not
selected and while the airplane is in flight, caused by actuator
reinforcement bracket failure, which could result in substantial
airplane damage or loss of control 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-45-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-45-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-45-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
It has been brought to the attention of the FAA that AD 93-25-08,
which is applicable to Piper PA31, PA31P, and PA31T series airplanes,
should not have listed a Piper Model PA31-310 airplane.
[[Page 19866]]
The Piper Model PA31-310 airplane is not a recognized model on Type
Certificate Data Sheet No. A20SO. The data plate for the airplane
subject to the AD states Piper Model PA31, not a Piper Model PA31-310.
A concern was raised that some owners/operators of Model PA31 airplanes
may not have complied with AD 93-25-08, since the AD currently
specifies the airplane as a Piper Model PA31-310, 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 in the Applicability section of the AD
from Piper Model PA31-310 airplanes to Piper Model PA31 airplanes.
Piper has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 923, dated August 16,
1989, which specifies replacing any MLG actuator reinforcement bracket
having part number (P/N) 40776-00 with a new MLG actuator reinforcement
bracket, P/N 73786-02.
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 MLG from
extending, when not selected and while the airplane is in flight,
because of actuator reinforcement bracket failure, which could result
in substantial airplane damage or loss of control of the airplane.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Piper Model PA31 airplanes of the same type
design, instead of Piper Model PA31-310, the proposed AD would
supersede AD 93- 25-08 with a new AD that would retain the same
requirements as AD 93-25-08 and change the model designation in the
Applicability section from Piper Model PA31-310 airplanes to Piper
Model PA31 airplanes.
The FAA estimates that 2,448 airplanes in the U.S. registry would
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4
workhours to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $308 per
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,341,504. AD 93-25-08
currently requires the same actions as is proposed. The only difference
between the proposed AD and AD 93-25-08 is the change in model
designation from PA31-310 to PA31. With this in mind, the proposed
action would not provide any additional cost impact upon U.S. operators
over that already required by AD 93-25-08.
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 AD 93-25-08, Amendment 39-
8774, and by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. 95-CE-45-AD; Supersedes AD
93-25-08, Amendment 39-8774.
Applicability: The following Model and serial number airplanes,
certificated in any category.
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Model Serial No.
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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-7400001 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.
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Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability revision, 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 the next 200 hours time-in-
service (TIS) after February 11, 1994 (effective date of AD 93-25-
08) or within the next 25 hours TIS after the effective date of this
AD, whichever occurs later, unless already accomplished.
To prevent the main landing gear (MLG) from extending, when not
selected and while the airplane is in flight, because of actuator
reinforcement bracket failure, which could result in substantial
airplane damage or loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the
following:
(a) Replace any MLG actuator reinforcement bracket having part
number (P/N) 40776-00 with a new MLG actuator reinforcement bracket,
P/N 73786-02, in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 923, dated August 16, 1989.
(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
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
[[Page 19867]]
(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, 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 2: 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 93-25-08 (superseded by this action) are considered approved
as alternative methods of compliance with this AD.
(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies 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 93-25-08, Amendment 39-8774.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 26, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11030 Filed 5-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
