31374 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 110 /Tuesday, June 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

(d) This service information may be

examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office

of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E.

12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French AD 95–261(A)R1, dated November

20, 1996

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 1,

1998.

Ronald K. Rathgeber,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–15201 Filed 6–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95–CE–51–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; The New

Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly Piper

Aircraft Corporation) Models PA–28–

140, PA–28–150, PA–28–160, and PA–

28–180 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 96–

10–01, which currently requires a

complete landing light support

replacement on certain The New Piper

Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA–28–

140, PA–28–150, PA–28–160, and PA–

28–180 airplanes. Some of the serial

numbers for these airplanes were

incorrectly referenced in the

Applicability section of AD 96–10–01.

The proposed AD maintains the

requirements of AD 96–10–01, and

corrects the serial numbers referenced

in the applicability section. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent the landing light

retainer support seal from being

ingested by the updraft carburetor,

which could result in rough engine

operation or possible engine failure and

loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 95–CE–51–

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:

William O. Herderich, Aerospace

Engineer, Atlanta Aircraft Certification

Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix

Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349;

telephone (770) 703–6069; fax (770)

703–6097.

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–51–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

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 95–CE–51–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

AD 96–10–01, Amendment 39–9606

(61 FR 19813, May 3, 1996), currently

requires a complete landing light

support replacement on Piper Models

PA–28–140, PA–28–150, PA–20–160

and PA–28–180 airplanes.

Accomplishment of this action is

required in accordance with Piper

Service Bulletin No. 975, dated

November 2, 1994.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

The FAA has since realized that it

incorrectly included Models PA–28–

150, 160, and 180 airplanes, serial

numbers 28–1761 through 28–7505259

and 28–E13, in AD 96–10–01. Since

these airplanes have the air intake on

the side of the cowling, they are not

affected by the condition of the landing

light seals.

The FAA’s Determination

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 landing

light retainer support seal from being

ingested by the updraft carburetor,

which could result in rough engine

operation or possible engine failure and

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–28–

140, PA–28–150, PA–28–160, and PA–

28–180 airplanes of the same type

design, the proposed AD would revise

AD 96–10–01 to require the same

actions, but would change the

applicability of the AD from Models

PA–28–140 airplanes, serial numbers

(S/N) 28–20000 through 28–7725290,

Models PA–28–150, 160, and 180

airplanes, S/N 28–1 through 28–

7505259, and S/N 28–E13 to Models

PA–28–140 airplanes, S/N 28–20000

through 28–7725290, PA–28–150, PA–

28–160, and PA–28–180, serial numbers

28–1 through 28–1760.

The actions of the proposed AD

would still be required in accordance

with Piper SB No. 975, dated November

2, 1994.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 10,100

airplanes in the U.S. registry would be

affected by the proposed AD, that it

would take approximately 2 workhours

per airplane to accomplish the proposed

action, and that the average labor rate is

approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost

approximately $140 per airplane. Based

on these figures, the total cost impact of

the proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $2,626,000. This figure

is based on the assumption that all of

the affected airplanes have old landing
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 110 /Tuesday, June 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 31375

light support and seal assemblies and

that none of the owners/operators of the

affected airplanes have replaced the

landing light support and seal

assemblies with parts of improved

design.

Piper has informed the FAA that parts

have been distributed to equip

approximately 7,021 airplanes.

Assuming that these distributed parts

are incorporated on the affected

airplanes, the cost of this AD will be

reduced by $1,825,460 from $2,626,000

to $800,540.

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 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13, is amended by

removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)

96–10–01, Amendment 39–39-9606, and

adding a new AD to read as follows:

The New Piper Aircraft Inc.: Docket No. 95–

CE–51–AD; Revises AD 96–10–01,

Amendment 39–9606.

Applicability: The following airplane

models and serial numbers, certificated in

any category:

Models Serial numbers

PA–28–140 ................ 28–20000 through

28–7725290.

PA–28–150, PA–28–

160, and PA–28–

180.

28–1 through 28–

1760.

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 within the next 100

hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective

date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

Note 2: Early compliance is encouraged.

To prevent the landing light seal from

lodging in the carburetor, which could result

in rough engine operation or possible engine

failure and possible loss of control of the

airplane, accomplish the following:

(a) Replace the landing light support and

seal assembly in accordance with the

ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS

section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 975,

dated November 2, 1994.

(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, One Crown Center, 1895

Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia

30349.

(1) 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.

(2) Alternative methods of compliance

approved in accordance with AD 96–10–01,

are considered approved as alternative

methods of compliance for this AD.

Note 3: 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) 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 Regional Counsel, Room

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

Missouri 64106.

(e) This amendment revises AD 96–10–01,

Amendment 39–9606.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 1,

1998.

Ronald K. Rathgeber,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–15200 Filed 6–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–CE–12–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Glaser-Dirks

Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG–400

Gliders

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 GlaserDirks Flugzeugbau GmbH (Glaser-Dirks)

Model DG–400 gliders. The proposed

action would require inspecting the

powerplant mount and the propeller

mount for any loose parts. If parts are

loose, the proposed AD would require

immediately modifying the starter

motor, retrofitting the holder for the

starter motor, and checking the engine

ignition timing. If parts are not found

loose, the proposed AD would require

modifying the starter motor, retrofitting

the holder for the starter motor, and

checking the engine ignition timing at a

later time. The proposed AD is the

result of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information (MCAI)

issued by the airworthiness authority for

Germany. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent

damage to the engine caused by

vibration, which could result in loss of

engine power during critical phases of

flight.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,