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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38806-38809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16003]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0437; Directorate Identifier: 2012-CE-036-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) that applies to certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31P 
airplanes. AD 76-06-09 currently requires repetitive inspection of 
certain exhaust system parts with replacement of parts mating with the 
turbocharger, as necessary, and allows installation of a certain 
tailpipe v-band coupling as terminating action. Since we issued AD 76-
06-09, there have been reports of exhaust system failures, the 
manufacturer issued new service information, and the tailpipe v-band 
coupling used for terminating action is obsolete. This proposed AD 
would require the use of the new service information and expand the 
scope of the inspections of the turbocharger exhaust system. We are 
proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 25, 2014.

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 AD, use the following 
contact information, as applicable, Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper 
Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; telephone: (772) 567-4361; fax: (772) 
978-6573; Internet: www.piper.com/home/pages/Publications.cfm; or 
Lycoming Engines, 652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, Pennsylvania 17701; 
telephone: (570)

[[Page 38807]]

323-6181; Internet: http://www.lycoming.textron.com/support/publications/index.html. You may review copies of 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-2014-
0437; 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: Gary Wechsler, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; telephone: (404) 474-5575; fax: (404) 474-
5606; email: gary.wechsler@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2014-0437; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-036-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

    On October 17, 1978, we issued AD 76-06-09, Amendment 39-3325 (43 
FR 50417, October 30, 1978), for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-
31P airplanes. AD 76-06-09 requires repetitive inspection of certain 
exhaust system parts with replacement of parts mating with the 
turbocharger, as necessary, and allows installation of a certain 
tailpipe v-band coupling as terminating action. AD 76-06-09 resulted 
from reports of exhaust system failure. We issued AD 76-06-09 to 
preclude failure of the engine exhaust system.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 76-06-09, Amendment 39-3325 (43 FR 50417, 
October 30, 1978), there have been exhaust system failures, the 
manufacturer issued new service information, and the tailpipe v-band 
coupling used for terminating action is obsolete.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Textron Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 393C, 
dated November 26, 1976; Piper Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin 
No. 462A, dated November 3, 1975; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin 
No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 
644E, dated May 9, 2012; Piper Aircraft Corporation kit part number (P/
N) 760 974, dated February 19, 1976; Piper Aircraft Corporation kit P/N 
761 045, dated February 19, 1976; and Piper Aircraft Corporation kit P/
N 761 047, dated February 19, 1976. The service information describes 
procedures for inspecting and replacing parts of the turbocharger 
exhaust v-band couplings, vibration isolators, and support brackets.

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 retain certain requirements of AD 76-06-09, 
Amendment 39-3325 (43 FR 50417, October 30, 1978). This proposed AD 
would require the use of the new service information and expand the 
scope of the inspections of the turbocharger exhaust system.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 85 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Cost on
              Action                     Labor cost                Parts cost             Cost per       U.S.
                                                                                          product     operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visual inspection.................  3 work-hours x $85    Not applicable..............         $255      $21,675
                                     per hour = $255.
Review of maintenance records.....  .5 work-hour x $85    Not applicable..............        42.50     3,612.50
                                     per hour = $42.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We have no way of determining how much damage may be found on each 
airplane during the proposed inspection. The scope of damage on the 
exhaust system could vary from airplane to airplane due to the manner 
and environments the airplane may operate. We estimate the following 
costs to do any necessary modification/installation/replacement that 
would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We 
have no way of determining what damage may be found or the number of 
airplanes that might need these modification/installation/replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification of the exhaust pipe slip joint...  5 work-hours x $85 per hour =             $2,841          $3,266
                                                 $425.
Installation of the bracket and clamp assembly  5 work-hours x $85 per hour =              5,000           5,425
                                                 $425.

[[Page 38808]]

 
Replacement of v-band coupling................  2 work-hours x $85 per hour =                780             950
                                                 $170.
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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 proposed 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 have 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 that the 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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
76-06-09, Amendment 39-3325 (43 FR 50417, October 30, 1978), and adding 
the following new AD:

Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2014-0437; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-CE-036-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by August 25, 
2014.

(b) Affected Ads

    This AD supersedes AD 76-06-09, Amendment 39-3325 (43 FR 50417, 
October 30, 1978).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31P airplanes, 
serial numbers 31P-1 through 31P-80 and 31P-7300110 through 31P-
7730012, that are certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 78, Engine Exhaust.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of exhaust system failures, new 
service information issued by the manufacturer, and the tailpipe v-
band coupling used for terminating action is obsolete. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent the possibility of an in-flight 
powerplant fire due to an exhaust system failure.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspection of Exhaust System

    (1) Within the next 60 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD or within the next 6 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, and repetitively 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 60 hours TIS or 6 months, 
whichever occurs first, inspect the parts as specified in table 1 of 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, if installed.

                             Table 1 of Paragraph (g)(1) of This AD: Inspection for Piper and Lycoming Exhaust System Parts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          With a light and mirror or other method  capable of achieving
      Product/part nomenclature                  Make                Model/part No.        an equivalent visual  resolution, inspect for  the following
                                                                                                                    conditions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airplane.............................  Piper..................  PA-31P.................  Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains.
Engine...............................  Lycoming...............  TIGO-541-E series......  Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains.
Pipe, exhaust, right-rear............  Lycoming...............  78012..................  Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains.
Pipe, exhaust, left-rear.............  Lycoming...............  78008..................  Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains.
Pipe, rear exhaust adapter...........  Lycoming...............  LW-13027...............  Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains.
Tail pipe assembly, upper............  Piper..................  46323-05...............  Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains.
Tail pipe assembly, lower............  Piper..................  48788-05...............  Bulges, cracks, and exhaust leak stains.
V-band coupling......................  Lycoming...............  LW-12093-5.............  Cracks and exhaust leak stains.
V-band coupling......................  Piper..................  555-366 or 557-369.....  Cracks and exhaust leak stains.
Isolator (CA-3383-1).................  Piper..................  467-442................  Cracks, looseness, and distortion.
Bracket--isolator, upper.............  Piper..................  47014-02...............  Cracks, looseness, and distortion.
Bracket--isolator, lower.............  Piper..................  47013-02...............  Cracks, looseness, and distortion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 38809]]

    (2) If any damage is found in any inspection required in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before further fight, do the corrective 
actions, as applicable, in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (g)(2)(iv).
    (i) Replace Piper v-band couplings exhibiting cracks and/or 
exhaust leak stains with airworthy parts following Piper Aircraft, 
Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 2012. Replace 
Lycoming v-band couplings exhibiting cracks and/or exhaust leak 
stains with airworthy parts following Lycoming Service Instruction 
No. 1238B, Revision B, dated January 6, 2010.

    Note to paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (h)(2)(iii): During replacement 
of v-band couplings, we recommend not opening the v-band coupling 
more than the MINIMUM diameter necessary to clear coupled flanges. 
It is recommended to replace any locknuts and/or mating couplings 
with airworthy parts when locknuts do not exhibit a prevailing 
torque when installed.

    (ii) Replace Lycoming exhaust system parts exhibiting bulges, 
cracks, and/or exhaust leak stains with airworthy parts following 
Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1320, dated March 7, 1975; or 
Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1391, dated October 5, 1979, as 
applicable.
    (iii) Replace Piper tail pipe assembly parts exhibiting bulges, 
cracks, and/or exhaust leak stains with airworthy parts following 
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 
9, 2012.
    (iv) Replace Piper isolators and brackets exhibiting cracks, 
looseness and/or distortion following Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service 
Bulletin No. 462A, dated November 3, 1975; and Service Bulletin No. 
492A, dated May 29, 2012.

(h) Exhaust System Modifications

    (1) Within the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD or within the next 12 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first, review the airplane maintenance 
records to positively identify whether the modifications described 
in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(iii) of this AD have been 
done.
    (i) Exhaust pipe slip joint modification following Piper 
Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012; and 
Lycoming Service Bulletin No. 393C, dated November 26, 1976.
    (ii) Installation of bracket and clamp assembly following Piper 
Kit No. 760-974 as specified in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service 
Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012; or Piper Aircraft, Inc. 
Service Bulletin 462A, dated November 3, 1975.
    (iii) Replacement of Piper v-band coupling, part number 556-053, 
with Piper v-band coupling, part number 557-369, following Piper 
Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 
2012.
    (2) If you cannot positively identify that the modifications 
described in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(iii) of this AD 
have been done, before further flight, you must do the modifications 
described in paragraphs (h)(2)(i) through (h)(2)(ii), as applicable.
    (i) Exhaust pipe slip joint modification following Piper 
Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012, and 
Lycoming Service Bulletin SB 393C, dated November 26, 1976.
    (ii) Installation of bracket and clamp assembly following Piper 
Kit No. 760-974 as specified in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service 
Bulletin No. 492A, dated May 29, 2012; or Piper Aircraft, Inc. 
Service Bulletin 462A, dated November 3, 1975.
    (iii) Replacement of Piper v-band coupling, part number 556-053, 
with Piper v-band coupling, part number 557-369, following Piper 
Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 
2012.

(i) 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 the Related Information 
section 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Gary Wechsler, 
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College 
Park, Georgia 30337; telephone: (404) 474-5575; fax: (404) 474-5606; 
email: gary.wechsler@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 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 June 24, 2014.
Timothy Smyth,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16003 Filed 7-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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