This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

44597

Vol. 62, No. 163

Friday, August 22, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–48–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The New

Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA–31, PA–

31–300, PA–31–325, and PA–31–350

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain The

New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models

PA–31, PA–31–300, PA–31–325, and

PA–31–350 airplanes. The proposed AD

would require replacing the lower wing

splice plate and reworking the lower

spar caps. The proposed AD results

from numerous reports of fretting and

cracking of the lower wing splice plates

on Piper PA–31 series airplanes in

Australia, and a report of one incident

in the United States. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent failure of the lower

wing splice plate caused by fretting and

cracking, which could result in loss of

control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before October 30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–CE–48–

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., Customer

Services, 2926 Piper Drive, 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. 97–CE–48–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. 97–CE–48–AD, Room

1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The FAA has received numerous

reports of fretting and cracking of the

lower wing splice plates on Piper PA–

31 series airplanes in Australia, and a

report of one incident in the United

States. The lower wing spar splice plate

on these airplanes is located at buttock

line (BL) 0 and connects to the right and

left wing lower spar caps. The fretting

and cracking were discovered on the

upper surface of the lower wing splice

plates. The fretting is occurring because

a sharp (unrounded and unchamfered)

edge of the lower wing spar caps is

rubbing against the upper surface of the

lower wing spar plates. The residual

stresses caused by the fretting could

induce cracking in this area on the

lower wing splice plates.

This condition, if not corrected in a

timely manner, could result in failure of

the lower wing splice plate with

consequent loss of control of the

airplane.

Relevant Service Information

Piper has issued Service Bulletin No.

1003, dated June 16, 1997, which

specifies replacing the wing spar splice

plate and reworking the lower spar caps.

The following kits include the parts and

procedures necessary for accomplishing

this replacement and rework:

—Main Spar Splice Plate Replacement

(Lower) Kit, Piper part number 766–

640, which applies to Models PA–31,

PA–31–300, and Piper PA–31–325

airplanes; and

—Main Spar Splice Plate Replacement

(Lower) Kit, Piper part number 766–

641, which applies to Model PA–31–

350 airplanes.

The FAA’s Determination

After examining the circumstances

and reviewing all available information

related to the incidents described above,

including the referenced service

information, the FAA has determined

that AD action should be taken to

prevent failure of the lower wing splice

plate caused by fretting and cracking,

which could result in loss of control of

the airplane.

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Piper Models PA–31,

PA–31–300, PA–31–325, and PA–31–

350 airplanes of the same type design,

the proposed AD would require

replacing the lower wing spar splice

plate and reworking the lower spar caps.
44598 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 163 / Friday, August 22, 1997 / Proposed Rules

Accomplishment of the replacement

would be in accordance with the service

information referenced in the ‘‘Relevant

Service Information’’ section of this

document.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 1,700

airplanes in the U.S. registry would be

affected by the proposed AD, that it

would take approximately 8 workhours

per airplane to accomplish the proposed

replacement, and that the average labor

rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts

cost approximately $210 per airplane.

Based on these figures, the total cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $1,173,000,

or $690 per airplane.

Piper has informed the FAA that parts

have been distributed to equip 1

affected airplane. Presuming that this

set of parts is installed on an affected

airplane, the cost impact of the

proposed AD would be reduced by

$690, from $1,173,000 to $1,172,310.

Regulatory Impact

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.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. 97–

CE–48–AD.

Applicability: The following airplane

model and serial numbers, certificated in any

category:

Models Serial Nos.

PA–31, PA–31–300,

and PA–31–325.

31–2 through 31–

8312019

PA–31–350 ................ 31–5001 through 31–

8553002

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 upon the

accumulation of 2,500 hours time-in-service

(TIS) on the lower spar splice plate or within

the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date

of this AD, whichever occurs later, unless

already accomplished.

To prevent failure of the lower wing splice

plate caused by fretting and cracking, which

could result in loss of control of the airplane,

accomplish the following:

(a) Replace the lower wing spar splice plate

and rework the lower spar caps in

accordance with the instructions included in

the following kit, as applicable, and as

referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No.

1003, dated June 16, 1997:

(1) Main Spar Splice Plate Replacement

(Lower) Kit, Piper part number (P/N) 766–

640, which applies to Models PA–31, PA–

31–300, and Piper PA–31–325 airplanes; and

(2) Main Spar Splice Plate Replacement

(Lower) Kit, Piper P/N 766–641, which

applies to Model PA–31-350 airplanes.

(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.

(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), 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 ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

(d) All persons affected by this directive

may obtain copies of the documents referred

to herein upon request to The New Piper

Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, 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.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August

15, 1997.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–22336 Filed 8–21–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 94–AWA–1]

Proposed Modification of the Phoenix

Class B Airspace Area; Arizona

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of

proposed rulemaking (SNPRM).

SUMMARY: On February 4, 1997, the FAA

published a Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking (NPRM) which proposed to

modify the Phoenix (PHX), AZ, Class B

airspace area. Specifically, that action

proposed to: Reconfigure several area

boundaries; create new areas; and raise

and/or lower the floors of several of the

existing areas. In the NPRM, several

subareas of the PHX Class B airspace

area were inadvertently plotted and

described using incorrect bearings from

the Phoenix Very High Frequency

Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air

Navigation (VORTAC). This document

corrects that error and amends the

proposed legal description of the PHX

Class B airspace area by changing the

incorrect bearings to reflect the actual

intentions of the FAA.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before September 22, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the

proposal in triplicate to the Federal

Aviation Administration, Office of the