[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19174-19175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9344]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-21-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft Corporation Model PA-
31T2 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper) 
Model PA-31T2 airplanes that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake 
Conversion Kit 199-111 installed in accordance with Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) SA599GL. The proposed action would require rerouting 
the landing gear emergency extension air line. Three incidents of the 
brake cylinder contacting the landing gear emergency extension air line 
on both wheels prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by 
the proposed AD are intended to prevent the brake cylinder from chafing 
against the landing gear emergency extension air line when the gear is 
in the up and locked position, which, if not detected and corrected, 
could result in damage to the air line and subsequent loss of emergency 
gear extension capability.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 19, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-21-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 Parker Hannifan Corporation, Aircraft Wheel & Brake, 1160 
Center Road, P.O. Box 158, Avon, Ohio 44011; telephone (216) 937-6211; 
facsimile (216) 937-5409. This information also may be examined at the 
Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Nick Miller, Aerospace Engineer, 
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, 
Room 232, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone (708) 294-7379; 
facsimile (708) 294-7834; or Mr. Charles Perry, 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. 95-CE-21-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. 95-CE-21-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received three reports of the brake cylinder chafing 
against the landing gear emergency extension air line of both wheels on 
Piper Model PA-31T2 airplanes that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and 
Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 installed in accordance with STC SA599GL. 
As the brake linings become worn through regular usage, the brake 
cylinder repositions. Then, when the landing gear is in the up and 
locked position, the brake cylinder chafes against the air line. This 
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in damage to the 
landing gear emergency extension air line and subsequent loss of 
emergency gear extension capability.
    Parker Hannifan has issued Service Bulletin SB7034, dated April 23, 
1994, which specifies procedures for rerouting the landing gear 
emergency extension air line on these Piper Model PA-31T2 airplanes 
that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 
installed in accordance with STC SA599GL.
    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 brake cylinder 
from chafing against the landing gear emergency extension air line when 
the gear is in the up and locked position, which, if not detected and 
corrected, could result in damage to the air line and subsequent loss 
of emergency gear extension capability.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Piper Model PA-31T2 airplanes of the same 
type design that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 
199-111 installed in accordance with STC SA599GL, the proposed AD would 
require rerouting the landing gear emergency extension air line. The 
proposed action would be accomplished in accordance with the 
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Parker Hannifan Service Bulletin 
SB7034, dated April 23, 1994.
    The FAA estimates that there are 62 Piper Model PA-31T2 airplanes 
in the U.S. registry that could incorporate a Parker Hannifin Wheel and 
Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 (in accordance with STC SA599GL), that it 
would take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the 
proposed action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 
an hour. Parts cost approximately $20 per airplane. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators 
could be as much as $16,120 if all affected airplanes had the 
referenced conversion kit installed.
    Parker Hannifan has informed the FAA that it has distributed 31 
kits to Piper Model PA-31T2 airplane owners/operators. Based on each of 
the 31 kits being incorporated on an affected airplane, the cost impact 
of the proposed AD on U.S. owners and operators would be reduced 50 
percent from $16,120 to $8,060. The reduction [[Page 19175]] results 
from the difference between the 62 airplanes that are type certificated 
to have a Parker Hannifan Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 
installed (in accordance with STC SA599GL) and the owners/operators of 
the 31 of the 62 airplanes that have received these kits.
    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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:

Piper Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 95-CE-21-AD.

    Applicability: Model PA31-T2 airplanes (serial numbers 31T-
8166001 through 31T-1166062), certificated in any category, that 
have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 
installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
SA599GL.

    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 use the authority 
provided in paragraph (c) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any aircraft from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent the brake cylinder from chafing against the landing 
gear emergency extension air line when the gear is in the up and 
locked position, which, if not detected and corrected, could result 
in damage to the air line and subsequent loss of emergency gear 
extension capability, accomplish the following:
    (a) Reroute the landing gear emergency extension air line in 
accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Parker 
Hannifan Service Bulletin SB7034, dated April 23, 1994.
    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, 300 East Devon Avenue, Room 232, Des Plaines, Illinois 
60018. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Chicago ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Chicago ACO.

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to the Parker Hannifan 
Corporation, Aircraft Wheel & Brake, 1160 Center Road, P.O. Box 158, 
Avon, Ohio 44011; 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 April 11, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-9344 Filed 4-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U