[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2090]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 1, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 93-CE-60-AD]

 

Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft Corporation PA24, PA30, 
and PA39 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede AD 74-13-01, which 
currently requires inspecting (one-time) the stabilator torque tube 
bearing support fittings for looseness on certain Piper Aircraft 
Corporation (Piper) PA24, PA30, and PA39 series airplanes, and, if 
looseness is found, incorporating Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet 
Replacement). The proposed action would retain the initial inspection 
of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, and would make 
these inspections repetitive unless the above referenced service kit is 
incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support 
fittings. Incidents of looseness of the stabilator torque tube bearing 
support fittings on several of the affected airplanes in compliance 
with the current AD prompted this action. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of pitch control because of 
looseness of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, which 
could result in loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 8, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-CE-60-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 Piper Aircraft Corporation, Customer Services, 2926 Piper 
Drive, 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, 1669 Phoenix Parkway, suite 
210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (404) 991-2910; facsimile (404) 
991-3606.

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. 93-CE-60-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. 93-CE-60-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    AD 74-13-01, Amendment 39-1870, currently requires inspecting (one-
time) the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings for looseness 
on Piper PA24, PA30, and PA39 series airplanes, and, if looseness is 
found, incorporating Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet 
Replacement).
    The FAA has received reports of incidents where looseness of the 
stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings was discovered on 
several Piper PA24, PA30, and PA39 airplanes. All of these airplanes 
were in compliance with the one-time inspection requirement of AD 74-
13-01, but did not have Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet 
Replacement) incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing 
support fittings.
    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has 
determined that (1) The one-time inspection of the stabilator torque 
tube bearing support fittings on the referenced airplanes that is 
currently required by AD 74-13-01 should be accomplished repetitively 
unless Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) is 
incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support 
fittings; and (2) AD action should be taken to prevent loss of pitch 
control because of looseness of the stabilator torque tube bearing 
support fittings, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Piper PA24, PA30, and PA39 series airplanes 
of the same type design that have not incorporated Piper Kit No. 760 
835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) on all four stabilator torque tube 
bearing support fittings, the proposed AD would supersede AD 74-13-01 
with a new AD that would retain the initial inspection of the 
stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, and would make these 
inspections repetitive unless the above referenced service kit is 
incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support 
fittings.
    The FAA estimates that 4,409 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 
workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed initial inspection, 
and that the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Based on 
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $242,495. This figure does not account for 
any repetitive inspections that would be required by the proposed AD. 
However, incorporating Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet 
Replacement) on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support 
fittings eliminates the need for the repetitive inspection requirement 
of this AD. In addition, this kit may have been incorporated through 
compliance with AD 75-27-08, Amendment 39-2624. This AD requires 
inspecting the rivets of the stabilator torque tube bearing support 
fittings, and the modification for any misaligned rivets is the 
incorporation of the referenced kit. The cost figure presented above is 
based on the assumption that none of the owners/operators that would be 
affected by the proposed AD have incorporated Piper Kit No. 760 835. 
The FAA anticipates that numerous owners/operators have incorporated 
this kit, thereby reducing the cost impact of the proposed action.
    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. 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 removing AD 74-13-01, Amendment 39-
1870, and by adding the following new airworthiness directive to read 
as follows:

Piper Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 93-CE-60-AD; Supersedes AD 
74-13-01, Amendment 39-1870.

    Applicability: The following model and serial number airplanes, 
certificated in any category, that have not incorporated Piper Kit 
No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) on all four stabilator 
torque tube bearing support fittings:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Model                             Serial Nos.             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PA24-180, PA24-250 and PA24-260..  24-1 through 24-5047.                
PA24-400.........................  26-2 through 26-148.                 
PA30.............................  30-1 through 30-2000.                
PA39.............................  39-1 through 39-155.                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1: Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement), may 
have been incorporated through compliance with AD 75-27-08, 
Amendment 39-2624. This AD requires inspecting the rivets of the 
stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, and the 
modification for any misaligned rivets is the incorporation of the 
referenced kit. Airplanes incorporating this kit on all four 
stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings are not affected by 
this AD.

    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hour time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished, and thereafter as indicated.
    To prevent loss of pitch control because of looseness of the 
stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, which could result 
in loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings 
for looseness by accomplishing the following:
    (1) Remove the tail cone and right rear aft fuselage access 
door.
    (2) Grasp the stabilator tip and shake the tip from left to 
right and up and down.

    Note 2: Piper Service Bulletin 411A, dated April 10, 1974, 
specifies these same procedures for inspecting the stabilator torque 
tube bearing support fittings.

    (b) If looseness is found during the inspection specified in 
paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further flight, incorporate Piper 
Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) on the affected 
fitting, and reinstall the tail cone and right rear aft fuselage 
access door.
    (c) If looseness is not found during the inspection specified in 
paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further flight, reinstall the 
tail cone and right rear aft fuselage access door, and reinspect the 
stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings for looseness at 
intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS until Piper Kit No. 760 835 
(Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) is incorporated on all four stabilator 
torque tube bearing support fittings.
    (d) Incorporating Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet 
Replacement) on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support 
fittings is considered terminating action for the inspection 
requirement of this AD.
    (e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 
21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (f) 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 
(ACO), 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Suite 210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349. The 
request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance 
Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, 
Atlanta ACO.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

    (g) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to the Piper Aircraft 
Corporation, 2926 Piper Drive, 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.
    (h) This amendment supersedes AD 74-13-01, Amendment 39-1870.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 24, 1994.
Bobby W. Sexton,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-2090 Filed 1-31-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U