[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3575]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 17, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 93-CE-61-AD]

 

Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft Corporation PA24, PA28R, 
PA30, PA32R, PA32RT, PA34-200, PA34-200T, PA39, and PA44 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently became 
aware of an incident in England where the left main landing gear (MLG) 
collapsed on a Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper) Model PA34-200T 
airplane because of swivel pin failure. At that time, the FAA found no 
service difficulty reports on airplanes of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States. The FAA has since 
reviewed service difficulty reports of all Piper airplanes that have 
retractable MLG with the swivel pin configuration (certain PA24, PA28R, 
PA30, PA32R, PA32RT, PA34-200, PA34-200T, PA39, and PA44 series 
airplanes), and found two incidents of cracked swivel pins. The purpose 
of this advance notice is to seek comments from interested persons 
regarding the best action (if any) to take in order to correct any 
possible problems with retractable MLG swivel pins. All comments and 
ideas will be evaluated by the FAA and the FAA will research the 
situation to decide whether rulemaking is needed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 10, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-
CE-61-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.

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-61-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this ANPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-CE-61-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA is currently investigating a possible unsafe condition on 
Piper PA24, PA28R, PA30, PA32R, PA32RT, PA34-200, PA34-200T, PA39, and 
PA44 series airplanes that have retractable main landing gear (MLG) 
with a swivel pin configuration.
    The MLG collapsed on a Piper Model PA34-200T airplane that is 
certificated for operation in England because of MLG swivel pin 
failure. At that time, the FAA found no service difficulty reports of 
this type on airplanes of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States. The FAA has since reviewed service 
difficulty reports of all Piper airplanes that have retractable MLG 
with the swivel pin configuration (certain PA24, PA28R, PA30, PA32R, 
PA32RT, PA34-200, PA34-200T, PA39, and PA44 series airplanes), and 
found two incidents of swivel pin failure.
    Discussions with operators that utilize these type airplanes under 
14 CFR part 135 reveal that regular maintenance inspections require 
inspections in this area every 200 hours time-in-service (TIS), and 
that there have been no problems with the retractable MLG swivel pins.
    The inspection procedures in Piper's maintenance manual of the 
referenced airplanes calls for inspecting the MLG assembly every 100 
hours TIS. The inspection procedures do not specifically address a 
teardown inspection of this assembly. At this time, the FAA has 
determined that there is no basis to establish a threshold or 
repetitive teardown inspection interval of this assembly based on the 
information obtained.
    In order to adequately make a determination as to what type of 
action to take (if any), the FAA is issuing this advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to provide an opportunity for the general 
public to participate in the decision whether to initiate rulemaking. 
Interested persons are encouraged to provide information that describes 
what they consider the best action (if any) to be taken to correct the 
possible problem. In this regard, the FAA is especially interested in 
comments and viewpoints on the following:
    1. How often do you have the retractable MLG swivel pins inspected 
and in what detail, i.e., visual, dye penetrant, etc.?
    2. Does the checklist in the procedures you utilize during the MLG 
swivel pin inspections include removal of the swivel pins?
    3. Have you ever replaced the swivel pin?
    a. If so, please list the hours TIS replaced and the reason why for 
each instance?
    b. If not, how many hours TIS have you accumulated on your 
airplane?
    4. Do you feel that the current inspection requirements are 
adequate, i.e., 14 CFR part 43, your checklist, Piper's maintenance 
manual, etc.? Please list any specific recommendations that you may 
have concerning current or future inspection requirements.
    5. Please include the model and serial number of your airplane, and 
the part number of the retractable MLG swivel pin with this 
correspondence.
    6. Please provide any other information that you feel is pertinent 
in helping the FAA determine what type of action (if any) needs to be 
taken. The following figure (Figure 1) depicts the retractable MLG 
assembly, including the swivel pin.

BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

TP17FE94.002


BILLING CODE 4910-13-C
    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 11, 1994.
Mickael K. Dahl,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-3575 Filed 2-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U