Document ID: FAA-2012-0731-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2012-08-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45979-45981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18618]

 ========================================================================
 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. 77, No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 45979]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0731; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-020-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (type certificate previously held by The 
New Piper Aircraft Inc.) PA-28, PA-32, PA-34, and PA-44 airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports of control cable assembly failures 
that may lead to failure of the horizontal stabilator control system 
and could result in loss of pitch control. This proposed AD would 
require inspections of the stabilator control system and replacement of 
parts as necessary. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 17, 
2012.

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 proposed AD, contact 
Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 
telephone: (772) 567-4361; Internet: www.piper.com. 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; 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: Hector Hernandez, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; telephone: (404) 474-5587; fax: (404) 474-
5606; email: hector.hernandez@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0731; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-020-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

    We received reports of control cable assembly failures that may 
lead to failure of the horizontal stabilator control system on Piper 
PA-28, PA-32, PA-34, and PA-44 airplanes. We have had reports of 
cracks, corrosion, failure of the turnbuckle, control cable fraying, 
the cable swage end broken and the system being held together by 
turnbuckle safety wire. In one report, an elevator cable was found 
broken at the terminal end near the turnbuckle, and, in another report, 
the elevator cable failed at the fitting that treads into the 
turnbuckle. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure 
of the horizontal stabilator control system with subsequent loss of 
pitch control.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 
1245, dated May 3, 2012. That service information describes procedures 
for inspections of the stabilator control system.

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 require inspections of the stabilator 
control system and replacement of parts as necessary. We are proposing 
this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 34,013 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 45980]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
             Action                  Labor cost               Parts cost              product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of the horizontal     5 work-hours x $85  Not applicable.............            $425     $14,455,525
 stabilator control system.       per hour = $425.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. 
We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need 
these replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement of all stabilator control cable     10 work-hours x $85 per hour =              $608          $1,458
 system--per set of cables.                      $850.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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 this 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

    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 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2012-0731; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-CE-020-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 17, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model PA-28-236, PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-
151, PA-28-160, PA-28-161, PA-28-180, PA-28-181, PA-28-201T, PA-28R-
201, PA-28-235, PA-28R-201T, PA-28S-160, PA-28S-180, PA-28R-180, PA-
28R-200, PA-28RT-201, PA-28RT-201T, PA-32-260, PA-32-301, PA-32-
301T, PA-32-300, PA-32R-300, PA-32R-301T, PA-32R-301 (SP), PA-32R-
301 (HP), PA-32RT-300, PA-32RT-300T, PA-32S-300, PA-32-301FT, PA-32-
301XTC, PA-34-200, PA-34-200T, PA-34-220T, PA-44-180, and PA-44-180T 
airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 2740, Stabilizer Control System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of control cable assembly 
failures that may lead to failure of the horizontal stabilator 
control system and could result in loss of pitch control. This 
proposed AD would require inspections of the stabilator control 
system and replacement of parts as necessary. We are issuing this AD 
to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection

    (1) As of the effective date of this AD, if the age of the 
airplane is at or exceeds 15 years, then at the next annual 
inspection or within the next 12 months after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs later, do an initial inspection of the 
stabilator control system following instructions 1 through 10 of 
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1245, dated May 
3, 2012.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, if the age of the 
airplane is less than 15 years, then, upon the age of the airplane 
reaching 15 years, at the next annual inspection or within the next 
12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later, do an initial inspection of the stabilator control system 
following instructions 1 through 10 of Piper Aircraft, Inc. 
Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1245, dated May 3, 2012.
    (3) As of the effective date of this AD, if the age of the 
airplane cannot be determined, then at the next annual inspection or 
within the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later, do an initial inspection of the stabilator 
control system following instructions 1 through 10 of Piper 
Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1245, dated May 3, 
2012.

    Note for paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2) and (g)(3) of this AD: To 
assist in determining the age of the airplane, you may contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach,

[[Page 45981]]

Florida 32960; telephone: (772) 567-4361; Internet: www.piper.com; 
or access the FAA airplane registry database at: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Serial_Inquiry.aspx.

    (4) After the applicable initial inspection required in 
paragraph (g)(1), (g)(2) or (g)(3) of this AD, repetitively 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,000 hours time-in-service or 
7 years, whichever occurs first, inspect the stabilator control 
system following instructions 1 through 10 of Piper Aircraft, Inc. 
Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1245, dated May 3, 2012.

(h) Repair

    If any cracks, corrosion, or cable fraying are found during any 
inspection required in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), (g)(3) or (g)(4) 
of this AD, before further flight, replace the damaged part with an 
airworthy part.

(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 Hector 
Hernandez, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta ACO, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; telephone: (404) 474-5587; fax: 
(404) 474-5606; email: hector.hernandez@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 
telephone: (772) 567-4361; Internet: www.piper.com. You may review 
copies of the 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 25, 2012.
James Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-18618 Filed 8-1-12; 8:45 am]
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