[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2425-2427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-728]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 2009 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 2425]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0007; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-072-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-46-350P 
and PA-46R-350T Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-46-350P and PA-46R-350T 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection to verify the 
35-amp and 250-amp current limiters are installed in the proper 
locations and would require a correction to the installation if the 
current limiters are not installed in the proper locations. This 
proposed AD would also limit operation to ``only under day visual 
flight rules (VFR)'' until the current limiter installation is 
inspected and corrected. This proposed AD results from three reports of 
incorrectly installed current limiters. We are proposing this AD to 
detect incorrect installation of 35-amp and 250-amp current limiters, 
which could result in failure of the 35-amp current limiter if 
installed in the 250-amp location. This failure could lead to a total 
loss of electrical power.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 16, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 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., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 
telephone: (772) 978-6573; Internet: http://www.newpiper.com/company/publications.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Lee, Aerospace Engineer, One 
Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; 
telephone: (770) 994-6736; fax: (770) 703-6097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2009-0007; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-072-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend the proposed AD in light 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 concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received information that, when troubleshooting an 
alternator problem, a mechanic found a blown 35-amp current limiter 
installed in place of a 250-amp current limiter in the electrical power 
panel assembly on a Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-46-350P airplane. 
Further inspection revealed a 250-amp current limiter installed in 
place of a 35-amp current limiter in the same electrical power panel 
assembly. The 35-amp current limiter was installed where the 250-amp 
current limiter should have been installed, and the 250-amp current 
limiter was installed where the 35-amp current limiter should have been 
installed. We have also received reports of two other occurrences of 
current limiters installed in the wrong locations on the affected 
airplanes.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in total loss of 
electrical power.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 2000, 
dated September 16, 2008. The service information describes procedures 
for inspecting the 35-amp and 250-amp current limiter installations and 
correcting the installation if the current limiters are not installed 
in the proper locations.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD 
would require an inspection to verify the 35-amp and 250-amp current 
limiters are installed in the proper locations and correct the 
installation if the current limiters are not installed in the proper 
locations. This proposed AD would also limit operation to only under 
day VFR until the current limiter installation is inspected and 
corrected.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 118 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                              Parts cost                airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80.............  Not applicable.................             $80           $9,440
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 2426]]

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repairs that 
would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We 
have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need this 
repair:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
            Labor cost                  Parts cost           airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80.  Not applicable......             $80
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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); 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2009-0007; Directorate 
Identifier 2008-CE-072-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by March 16, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Models                            Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PA-46-350P                               4636375 through 4636447.
PA-46R-350T............................  4692001 through 4692068.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from three reports of incorrectly installed 
current limiters. We are issuing this AD to detect incorrect 
installation of 35-amp and 250-amp current limiters, which could 
result in failure of the 35-amp current limiter if installed in the 
250-amp location. This failure could lead to a total loss of 
electrical power.

Compliance

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless 
already done:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Insert the following into     Before further      Under 14 CFR 43.7,
 the Limitations section of the    flight after the    the owner/
 airplane flight manual (AFM):     effective date of   operator holding
 ``Operate Only under Day Visual   this AD.            at least a
 Flight Rules (VFR).'' You may                         private pilot
 remove the limitations                                certificate is
 specified in this paragraph                           allowed to insert
 after doing the action required                       the information
 in paragraphs (e)(2) and (e)(3)                       into the AFM as
 of this AD, as applicable.                            specified in
                                                       paragraph (e)(1)
                                                       of this AD. You
                                                       may insert a copy
                                                       of this AD into
                                                       the Limitations
                                                       section of the
                                                       AFM to comply
                                                       with this action.
                                                       Make an entry
                                                       into the aircraft
                                                       logbook showing
                                                       compliance with
                                                       this portion of
                                                       the AD per
                                                       compliance with
                                                       14 CFR 43.9.
(2) Inspect the 35-amp and 250-   Within 100 hours    Follow Piper
 amp current limiters for          time-in-service     Aircraft, Inc.
 installation in the proper        after the           Service Bulletin
 location.                         effective date of   No. 2000, dated
                                   this AD.            September 16,
                                                       2008.
(3) If you find any current       Before further      Follow Piper
 limiter not in the proper         flight after the    Aircraft, Inc.
 location, reinstall the current   inspection          Service Bulletin
 limiter in the proper location.   required in         No. 2000, dated
                                   paragraph (e)(2)    September 16,
                                   of this AD.         2008.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 2427]]

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) 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. Send information to 
ATTN: John Lee, Aerospace Engineer, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix 
Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone: (770) 994-6736; 
fax: (770) 703-6097. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane 
to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), 
or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.

Related Information

    (g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, 
Florida 32960; telephone: (772) 978-6573; Internet: http://www.newpiper.com/company/publications.asp. To view the AD docket, go 
to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 7, 2009.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-728 Filed 1-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P