[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19865-19867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11030]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-45-AD]
RIN 2120--AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (formerly 
Piper Aircraft Corporation) PA31, PA31P, and PA31T Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede AD 93-25-08, which 
currently requires replacing the main landing gear (MLG) actuator 
reinforcement bracket with a part of improved design on certain The New 
Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA31, PA31P, and PA31T series airplanes. 
The proposed action would require the same action as AD 93-25-08. An 
incorrect designation of Piper Model PA31-310 airplanes made in AD 93-
25-08 prompted the proposed AD action. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent the MLG from extending, when not 
selected and while the airplane is in flight, caused by actuator 
reinforcement bracket failure, which could result in substantial 
airplane damage or loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 8, 1996.

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-45-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: Christina Marsh, 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-45-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-45-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    It has been brought to the attention of the FAA that AD 93-25-08, 
which is applicable to Piper PA31, PA31P, and PA31T series airplanes, 
should not have listed a Piper Model PA31-310 airplane.

[[Page 19866]]

The Piper Model PA31-310 airplane is not a recognized model on Type 
Certificate Data Sheet No. A20SO. The data plate for the airplane 
subject to the AD states Piper Model PA31, not a Piper Model PA31-310. 
A concern was raised that some owners/operators of Model PA31 airplanes 
may not have complied with AD 93-25-08, since the AD currently 
specifies the airplane as a Piper Model PA31-310, even though their 
serial number falls within the serial number range in the current AD. 
For this reason, the FAA is proposing to supersede the current AD to 
change the model designation in the Applicability section of the AD 
from Piper Model PA31-310 airplanes to Piper Model PA31 airplanes.
    Piper has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 923, dated August 16, 
1989, which specifies replacing any MLG actuator reinforcement bracket 
having part number (P/N) 40776-00 with a new MLG actuator reinforcement 
bracket, P/N 73786-02.
    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 MLG from 
extending, when not selected and while the airplane is in flight, 
because of actuator reinforcement bracket failure, which could result 
in substantial airplane damage or loss of control of the airplane.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Piper Model PA31 airplanes of the same type 
design, instead of Piper Model PA31-310, the proposed AD would 
supersede AD 93- 25-08 with a new AD that would retain the same 
requirements as AD 93-25-08 and change the model designation in the 
Applicability section from Piper Model PA31-310 airplanes to Piper 
Model PA31 airplanes.
    The FAA estimates that 2,448 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4 
workhours to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor 
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $308 per 
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed 
AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,341,504. AD 93-25-08 
currently requires the same actions as is proposed. The only difference 
between the proposed AD and AD 93-25-08 is the change in model 
designation from PA31-310 to PA31. With this in mind, the proposed 
action would not provide any additional cost impact upon U.S. operators 
over that already required by AD 93-25-08.
    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 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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. Section 39.13 is amended by removing AD 93-25-08, Amendment 39-
8774, and by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. 95-CE-45-AD; Supersedes AD 
93-25-08, Amendment 39-8774.

    Applicability: The following Model and serial number airplanes, 
certificated in any category.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Model                              Serial No.               
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PA31, PA31-300, and PA31-325.  31-2 through 31-8312019.                 
PA31-350.....................  31-5001 through 31-8553002.              
PA31P........................  31P-1 through 31P-7730012.               
PA31P-350....................  31P-8414001 through 31P-8414050.         
PA31T........................  31T-7400001 through 31T-8120104.         
PA31T1.......................  31T-7804001 through 31T-8304003 and 31T- 
                                1104004 through 31T-1104017.            
PA31T2.......................  31T-8166001 through 31T-8166076 and 31T- 
                                1166001 through 31T-1166008.            
PA31T3.......................  31T-8275001 through 31T-8475001 and 31T- 
                                5575001.                                
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    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability revision, 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 200 hours time-in-
service (TIS) after February 11, 1994 (effective date of AD 93-25-
08) or within the next 25 hours TIS after the effective date of this 
AD, whichever occurs later, unless already accomplished.

    To prevent the main landing gear (MLG) from extending, when not 
selected and while the airplane is in flight, because of actuator 
reinforcement bracket failure, which could result in substantial 
airplane damage or loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Replace any MLG actuator reinforcement bracket having part 
number (P/N) 40776-00 with a new MLG actuator reinforcement bracket, 
P/N 73786-02, in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 923, dated August 16, 1989.
    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

[[Page 19867]]

    (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, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 
Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, suite 2-160, College Park, 
Georgia 30337-2748. 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.

    Note 2: 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) Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance 
with AD 93-25-08 (superseded by this action) are considered approved 
as alternative methods of compliance with this AD.
    (e) 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 Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (f) This amendment supersedes AD 93-25-08, Amendment 39-8774.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 26, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11030 Filed 5-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U