[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4126]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-01-AD]

 

Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft Corporation PA28R, 
PA28RT, and PA44 Series 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) 
PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 series airplanes. The proposed action would 
require installing a certain nose landing gear modification kit. 
Several service difficulty reports of collapsed nosegear on the 
affected airplanes prompted this action. In particular, these reports 
reveal failure of the bolt (AN4-20) connecting the lower drag link of 
the nosegear to the upper drag link. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent nose gear collapse because of AN4-
20 bolt failure, which could lead to airplane damage.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 2, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-01-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. 94-CE-01-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. 94-CE-01-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received several service difficulty reports of 
collapsed nosegear on certain Piper PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 series 
airplanes. In particular, these reports reveal failure of the bolt 
(AN4-20) connecting the lower drag link of the nosegear to the upper 
drag link.
    For example, the nose landing gear of a Piper Model PA44-180 
airplane collapsed during the landing roll. The accident occurred 
during a normal touchdown and was a result of AN4-20 bolt failure. Both 
the left and right propellers struck the ground and were damaged beyond 
repair.
    Piper Service Letter No. 988, dated July 29, 1986, references Nose 
Landing Gear Modification Kit, Piper part number (P/N) 764-377 (for 
PA28R and PA28RT series airplanes) and Piper P/N 764-378 (for PA44 
series airplanes). The modification kits consist of a close tolerance 
bolt (NAS464P4-27), four bearings, and all other associated hardware 
for installation on the draglink assembly. This NAS464P4-27 bolt 
replaces the AN4-20 bolt used to connect the upper and lower draglinks. 
Instructions to these kits specify complete installation procedures for 
these parts, including a check of the nosegear downlock hook to ensure 
that it rotates freely.
    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the accident and incidents described above, the 
FAA has determined that AD action should be taken to prevent nose gear 
collapse because of failure of the AN4-20 bolt, which could lead to 
airplane damage.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Piper PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 series 
airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require 
installing Nose Landing Gear Modification Kit, Piper part number (P/N) 
764-377 (for PA28R and PA28RT series airplanes) or Piper P/N 764-378 
(for PA44 series airplanes). The proposed action would be accomplished 
in accordance with the instructions included with the referenced kits.
    The FAA estimates that 6,888 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $52 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$2,631,216. This figure is based on the assumption that none of the 
affected airplane owners/operators have accomplished the proposed 
modification.
    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 adding the following new AD:

Piper Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-01-AD.

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

                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Model                              Serial Nos.                     
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PA28R-180.......  28R-30004 through 28R-7130013.                        
PA28R-200.......  28R-35001 through 28R-7635545.                        
PA28R-201.......  28R-7737001 through 28R-7837317.                      
PA28R-201T......  28R-7703001 through 28R-7803373.                      
PA28RT-201......  28R-7918001 through 28R-8218003.                      
PA28RT-201T.....  28R-7931001 through 28R-8231009.                      
PA44-180........  44-7995001 through 44-8195026.                        
PA44-180T.......  44-8107001 through 44-8207005.                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent nose gear collapse, which could lead to airplane 
damage, accomplish the following:
    (a) Incorporate Nose Landing Gear Modification Kit, Piper part 
number (P/N) 764-377 (for PA28R and PA28RT series airplanes) or 
Piper P/N 764-378 (for PA44 series airplanes). Accomplish this 
action in accordance with the procedures and sketches included with 
the instructions to the above referenced kits.

    Note 1: The modification kits referenced in paragraph (a) of 
this AD consist of a close tolerance bolt (NAS464P4-27), four 
bearings, and all other associated hardware for installation on the 
draglink assembly. This NAS464P4-27 bolt replaces the AN4-20 bolt 
used to connect the upper and lower draglinks.

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

    (d) 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 15, 1994.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-4126 Filed 2-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U