Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 201 / Monday, October 19, 2015 / Proposed Rules 63151 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 

5, 2015. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–26217 Filed 10–16–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–4213; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–CE–022–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Piper 

Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA–46–500TP 

airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report of the wing upper 

skin joints being manufactured without 

sealant, which allows water to enter and 

stay in sealed, bonded stringers. This 

proposed AD would require inspecting 

the upper wing surface for sealant; 

inspecting the wing stringers for water 

intrusion; inspecting for deformation 

and corrosion if evidence of water 

intrusion exists; and taking corrective 

actions as necessary. We are proposing 

this AD to correct the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by December 3, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Piper 

Aircraft, Inc., Customer Service, 2926 

Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 

telephone: (877) 879–0275; fax: none; 

email: customer.service@piper.com; 

Internet: www.piper.com. You may 

review the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Small Airplane 

Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (816) 329–4148. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

4213; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Gregory ‘‘Keith’’ Noles, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft 

Certification Office, 1701 Columbia 

Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; 

phone: (404) 474–5551; fax: (404) 474– 

5606; email: gregory.noles@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2015–4213; Directorate Identifier 2015– 

CE–022–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

We received a report of wing upper 

skin joints on Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model 

PA–46–500TP airplanes being 

manufactured without sealant, which 

allows water to enter and stay in sealed, 

bonded stringers. This condition, if not 

corrected, could result in water entering 

the stringers common to the upper wing 

skin. Left uncorrected, corrosion could 

develop, and freeze/thaw cycles of 

water at this location could cause 

deformation of the skin with follow-on 

disbonding between the stringer flanges 

and the inner surface of the wing skin. 

Consequently, the corrosion or 

disbonding could reduce the structural 

integrity of the wing. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. 

Service Bulletin No. 1262B, dated April 

23, 2015. The service bulletin provides 

instructions for inspecting the upper 

wing surface for sealant and sealing or 

resealing (if necessary). This service 

bulletin also provides instructions for 

inspecting the wing stringers for water 

intrusion, and, if water intrusion was 

found as a result of the inspection, 

inspecting for corrosion or deformation. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section of 

this NPRM. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information described 

previously. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 440 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
63152 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 201 / Monday, October 19, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Inspection for sealant .............................. 2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 ...... Not Applicable ........ $170 $74,800 

We estimate the following costs to do 

any additional necessary inspections, 

rework of the stringers, and installation 

of sealant that would be required based 

on the results of the proposed initial 

inspection. We have no way of 

determining the number of airplanes 

that might need this rework of the 

stringers and installation of sealant: 

ON-CONDITION COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Rework stringers and seal skin joints .......................... 12 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,020 ...................... $200 $1,220 

According to the manufacturer, some 

of the costs of this proposed AD may be 

covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

individuals. We do not control warranty 

coverage for affected individuals. As a 

result, we have included all costs in our 

cost estimate. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, section 44701: 

‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would not have a 

substantial direct effect 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. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

the DOT Regulatory Policies and 

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 

1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA–2015– 

4213; Directorate Identifier 2015–CE– 

022–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by December 3, 

2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Piper Aircraft, Inc. 

Model PA–46–500TP airplanes, serial 

numbers 4697001 through 4697528, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 5700, Wings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of wing 

upper skin joints being manufactured 

without sealant, which allows water to enter 

and stay in sealed, bonded stringers. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent water from 

entering the stringers common to the upper 

wing skin. Left uncorrected, corrosion could 

develop, and freeze/thaw cycles of water at 

this location could cause deformation of the 

skin with follow-on disbonding between the 

stringer flanges and the inner surface of the 

wing skin. Consequently, the corrosion or 

disbonding could reduce the structural 

integrity of the wing. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspect the Upper Skin Joints for 

Adequate Sealant 

Within the next 100 hours time-in-service 

(TIS) after the effective date of this AD or 12 

months after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs first, inspect the upper 

skin joints for adequate sealant following Part 

I of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 

1262B, dated April 23, 2015. No further 

action per this AD is required if adequate 

sealant is already applied. 

(h) Inspect for Evidence of Water Intrusion/ 

Moisture 

If you find missing or inadequate sealant 

during the inspection required by paragraph 

(g) of this AD, before further flight, inspect 

for evidence of water intrusion/moisture 

following Part II of Piper Aircraft, Inc. 

Service Bulletin No. 1262B, dated April 23, 

2015. 

(1) If no evidence of water intrusion/

moisture is found during the inspection 

required in paragraph (h) of this AD, before 

further flight, rework the stringers and apply 

sealant as required in paragraph (k) of this 

AD. 

(2) If evidence of water intrusion/moisture 

is found during the inspection required in 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 201 / Monday, October 19, 2015 / Proposed Rules 63153 

paragraph (h) of this AD, before further flight, 

do the actions required in paragraphs (i) and 

(j) of this AD. 

(i) Inspect for Corrosion 

If you find, as a result of the inspection 

required by paragraph (h) of this AD, 

evidence of water intrusion/moisture, before 

further flight, inspect for corrosion following 

Part II of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin 

No. 1262B, dated April 23, 2015. 

(1) If no evidence of corrosion is found 

during the inspection required in paragraph 

(i) of this AD, before further flight, rework the 

stringers and apply sealant as required in 

paragraph (k) of this AD. 

(2) If evidence of corrosion is found during 

the inspection required in paragraph (i) of 

this AD, before further flight, obtain and 

implement an FAA-approved corrective 

action, approved specifically for this AD. At 

the operator’s discretion, assistance may be 

provided by contacting Piper Aircraft, Inc. at 

the address identified in paragraph (o)(2) of 

this AD. After obtaining and implementing 

an FAA-approved corrective action, 

approved specifically for this AD, before 

further flight, rework the stringers and apply 

sealant as required in paragraph (k) of this 

AD. 

(j) Inspect for Deformation 

If you find, as a result of the inspection 

required by paragraph (h) of this AD, 

evidence of water intrusion/moisture, before 

further flight, do a visual inspection for skin 

or stringer deformation. 

(1) If no evidence of deformation is found 

during the inspection required in paragraph 

(j) of this AD, before further flight, rework the 

stringers and apply sealant as required in 

paragraph (k) of this AD. 

(2) If any visible deformation is found 

during the inspection required in paragraph 

(j) of this AD, before further flight, obtain and 

implement an FAA-approved corrective 

action, approved specifically for this AD. At 

the operator’s discretion, assistance may be 

provided by contacting Piper Aircraft, Inc. at 

the address identified in paragraph (o)(2) of 

this AD. After obtaining and implementing 

an FAA-approved corrective action, 

approved specifically for this AD, before 

further flight, rework the stringers and apply 

sealant as required in paragraph (k) of this 

AD. 

(k) Rework Stringers and Seal Skin Joints 

If any inspection required by paragraphs 

(g) through (j) of this AD reveals 

discrepancies (no sealant/inadequate sealant, 

evidence of water intrusion/moisture, 

corrosion, or deformation), before further 

flight, after completing any necessary 

corrective actions, rework wing stringers and 

seal skin joints following Part II of Piper 

Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1262B, 

dated April 23, 2015. 

(l) Credit for Actions Done in Accordance 

With Previous Service Information 

Actions done before the effective date of 

this AD following Part I and Part II of Piper 

Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1262, dated 

October 16, 2013; or Part I and Part II of Piper 

Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1262A, 

dated November 14, 2013, as applicable, are 

considered acceptable for compliance with 

the corresponding actions specified in 

paragraphs (g), (h), (i), and (k) (including 

subparagraphs) of this AD. Additional 

inspections beyond Service Bulletin No. 1262 

are required to fully comply with paragraph 

(j) of this AD. 

(m) Special Flight Permit 

(1) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.23, a 

single flight is allowed to a location to do the 

actions in paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(2) In accordance with 14 CFR 39.23, a 

single flight is allowed to a location to do the 

inspections, rework and installation of 

sealant required in paragraphs (h) through (k) 

of this AD. Prior to the flight to perform the 

inspections, rework, and installation of 

sealant, the following inspection must be 

performed: If the inspection required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD reveals no sealant, 

inspect for evidence of wing damage (skin or 

stringer deformation, e.g. buckling). Any 

wing damage that is found must be repaired 

before further flight and before any special 

flight permit is authorized. 

(n) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (l)(1) of this AD. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/

certificate holding district office. 

(o) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Gregory ‘‘Keith’’ Noles, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Atlanta ACO, 1701 Columbia 

Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: 

(404) 474–5551; fax: (404) 474–5606; email: 

gregory.noles@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Piper Aircraft, Inc., 

Customer Service, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero 

Beach, Florida 32960; telephone: (877) 879– 

0275; fax: none; email: customer.service@

piper.com; Internet: www.piper.com. You 

may view this referenced service information 

at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (816) 329–4148. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on 

October 7, 2015. 

Pat Mullen, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–26230 Filed 10–16–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 73 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–3680; Airspace 

Docket No. 13–ASW–15] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Proposed Establishment of and 

Modification to Restricted Areas; Fort 

Sill, OK 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

establish 2 new restricted areas 

(R–5601G and R–5601H) to expand the 

special use airspace (SUA) complex 

located at Fort Sill, OK, to provide 

additional maneuvering airspace for 

current and planned training activities 

determined to be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. Specifically, the 

proposed restricted areas would provide 

participating fighter or bomber aircraft 

with laser-firing and maneuvering 

airspace when training at the Falcon 

Bombing Range contained in R–5601C, 

at the West Range Target Area contained 

in R–5601B, or at the East Range Target 

Area contained in R–5601A. In addition, 

the using agency for all Fort Sill 

restricted areas would be updated to 

reflect the current organization tasked 

with that responsibility. The U.S. Army 

requested that the FAA take this action 

to allow realistic training on current 

tactics developed and refined during 

recent combat operations for employing 

hazardous targeting laser systems and 

weapons capabilities at longer ranges 

from the target area. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before December 3, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001; telephone: 

(202) 366–9826. You must identify FAA 

Docket No. FAA–2015–3680 and 

Airspace Docket No. 13–ASW–15, at the 

beginning of your comments. You may 

also submit comments through the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. 

Comments on environmental and land 

use aspects to should be directed to: Mr. 

Glen Wheat, U.S. Army Garrison, 

Directorate of Public Works, IMWE– 

SIL–PWE, 5503 NW. Currie Road, Fort 

Sill, OK 73503–9051; email: 

glen.wheat@us.army.mil and telephone: 

(580) 442–2715. 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS