[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 125 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15859]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 30, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-CE-01-AD; Amendment 39-8962; AD 94-14-14]
Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft Corporation; PA28R,
PA28RT, and PA44 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to certain Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper) PA28R, PA28RT,
and PA44 series airplanes. This action requires installing a certain
nose landing gear modification kit. Several service difficulty reports
of collapsed nosegear on the affected airplanes prompted this action.
In particular, these reports reveal failure of the bolt (AN4-20)
connecting the lower drag link of the nosegear to the upper drag link.
The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent nose gear
collapse because of AN4-20 bolt failure, which could lead to airplane
damage.
DATES: Effective August 19, 1994.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of August 19, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained
from the Piper Aircraft Corporation, Customer Services, 2926 Piper
Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. This information may also be examined
at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of
the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800
North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Marsh, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Suite
210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (404) 991-2910; facsimile (404)
991-3606.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply
to certain Piper PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 series airplanes was published
in the Federal Register on February 24, 1994 (59 FR 8879). The action
proposed to require installing Nose Landing Gear Modification Kit,
Piper part number
(P/N) 764-377 (for PA28R and PA28RT series airplanes) or Piper P/N 764-
378 (for PA44 series airplanes). The proposed action would be
accomplished in accordance with the instructions included with these
kits.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the one comment received.
The commenter supports the proposal and requests that the FAA
reference Piper Service Letter (SL) 988, dated July 29, 1986. The
commenter states that Piper SL 988 includes a statement of FAA-approval
of the referenced kits and the instructions to the kits does not
include this statement. The FAA concurs that the statement of FAA-
approval is included in the service letter, and that for informational
purposes, reference should be given to Piper SL 988 in the AD. The FAA
has added a note to the final rule referencing this service letter. The
actions are still required to be accomplished in accordance with the
kit instructions.
After careful review of all available information, the FAA has
determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption
of the rule as proposed except for the addition of the above-referenced
note and minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that this
addition and any minor corrections will not change the meaning of the
AD nor add any additional burden upon the public than was already
proposed.
The FAA estimates that 6,888 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 6 workhours per
airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor
rate is approximately $55 an hour. Parts cost approximately $52 per
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on
U.S. operators is estimated to be $2,631,216. This figure is based on
the assumption that no affected airplane owner/operator has
accomplished the required action. The FAA believes that some airplane
owners have already accomplished the required actions. With this in
mind, the FAA anticipates that the cost of this AD will be much lower
than the figure referenced above.
The regulations adopted herein will 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 final
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this
action is contained 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, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:
94-14-14 Piper Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-8962; Docket No.
94-CE-01-AD.
Applicability: The following model and serial number airplanes,
certificated in any category:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PA28R-180........... 28R-30004 through 28R-7130013.
PA28R-200........... 28R-35001 through 28R-7635545.
PA28R-201........... 28R-7737001 through 28R-7837317.
PA28R-201T.......... 28R-7703001 through 28R-7803373.
PA28RT-201.......... 28R-7918001 through 28R-8218003.
PA28RT-201T......... 28R-7931001 through 28R-8231009.
PA44-180............ 44-7995001 through 44-8195026.
PA44-180T........... 44-8107001 through 44-8207005.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent nose gear collapse, which could lead to airplane
damage, accomplish the following:
(a) Incorporate Nose Landing Gear Modification Kit, Piper part
number (P/N) 764-377 (for PA28R and PA28RT series airplanes) or
Piper P/N 764-378 (for PA44 series airplanes). Accomplish this
action in accordance with the procedures and sketches included with
the instructions to the above referenced kits.
Note 1: The modification kits referenced in paragraph (a) of
this AD consist of a close tolerance bolt (NAS464P4-27), four
bearings, and all other associated hardware for installation on the
draglink assembly. This NAS464P4-27 bolt replaces the AN4-20 bolt
used to connect the upper and lower draglinks.
Note 2: Piper Service Letter 988, dated July 29, 1986,
references the above-mentioned kits.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 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, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Suite 210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349. The
request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance
Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager,
Atlanta ACO.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.
(d) The inspections required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with the instructions to Nose Landing Gear Modification
Kit, Piper part number 764-377 (for PA28R and PA28RT series
airplanes) or Piper part number 764-378 (for PA44 series airplanes),
both dated May 13, 1986. This incorporation by reference was
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the
Piper Aircraft Corporation, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida
32960. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of
the Assistant Chief Counsel, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
PART NUMBER 764-378 (FOR PA44 SERIES AIRPLANES), BOTH DATED MAY 13,
1986. THIS INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE WAS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR
OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH 5 U.S.C. 552(A) AND 1
CFR PART 51. COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PIPER AIRCRAFT
CORPORATION, 2926 PIPER DRIVE, VERO BEACH, FLORIDA 32960. COPIES
MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE FAA, CENTRAL REGION, OFFICE OF THE
ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL, ROOM 1558, 601 E. 12TH STREET, KANSAS
CITY, MISSOURI, OR AT THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER, 800 NORTH
CAPITOL STREET, NW., SUITE 700, WASHINGTON, DC.
(f) This amendment (39-8962) becomes effective on August 19,
1994.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 24, 1994.
Michael K. Dahl,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-15859 Filed 6-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
