[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 125 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15859]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-01-AD; Amendment 39-8962; AD 94-14-14]

 

Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft Corporation; PA28R, 
PA28RT, and PA44 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper) PA28R, PA28RT, 
and PA44 series airplanes. This action requires 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 this AD are intended to prevent nose gear 
collapse because of AN4-20 bolt failure, which could lead to airplane 
damage.

DATES: Effective August 19, 1994.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of August 19, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from the Piper Aircraft Corporation, Customer Services, 2926 Piper 
Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. This information may also be examined 
at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

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: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply 
to certain Piper PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 series airplanes was published 
in the Federal Register on February 24, 1994 (59 FR 8879). The action 
proposed to 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 these 
kits.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the one comment received.
    The commenter supports the proposal and requests that the FAA 
reference Piper Service Letter (SL) 988, dated July 29, 1986. The 
commenter states that Piper SL 988 includes a statement of FAA-approval 
of the referenced kits and the instructions to the kits does not 
include this statement. The FAA concurs that the statement of FAA-
approval is included in the service letter, and that for informational 
purposes, reference should be given to Piper SL 988 in the AD. The FAA 
has added a note to the final rule referencing this service letter. The 
actions are still required to be accomplished in accordance with the 
kit instructions.
    After careful review of all available information, the FAA has 
determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption 
of the rule as proposed except for the addition of the above-referenced 
note and minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that this 
addition and any minor corrections will not change the meaning of the 
AD nor add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed.
    The FAA estimates that 6,888 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 6 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish the required 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 AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $2,631,216. This figure is based on 
the assumption that no affected airplane owner/operator has 
accomplished the required action. The FAA believes that some airplane 
owners have already accomplished the required actions. With this in 
mind, the FAA anticipates that the cost of this AD will be much lower 
than the figure referenced above.
    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. 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 a new AD to read as follows:

94-14-14  Piper Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-8962; Docket No. 
94-CE-01-AD.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Model                              Serial No.                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
    Note 2: Piper Service Letter 988, dated July 29, 1986, 
references the above-mentioned kits.

    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

    (d) The inspections required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with the instructions to Nose Landing Gear Modification 
Kit, Piper part number 764-377 (for PA28R and PA28RT series 
airplanes) or Piper part number 764-378 (for PA44 series airplanes), 
both dated May 13, 1986. This incorporation by reference was 
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the 
Piper Aircraft Corporation, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 
32960. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.


PART NUMBER 764-378 (FOR PA44 SERIES AIRPLANES), BOTH DATED MAY 13, 
1986. THIS INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE WAS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR 
  OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH 5 U.S.C. 552(A) AND 1 
       CFR PART 51. COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PIPER AIRCRAFT 
  CORPORATION, 2926 PIPER DRIVE, VERO BEACH, FLORIDA 32960. COPIES 
        MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE FAA, CENTRAL REGION, OFFICE OF THE 
    ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL, ROOM 1558, 601 E. 12TH STREET, KANSAS 
CITY, MISSOURI, OR AT THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER, 800 NORTH 
                    CAPITOL STREET, NW., SUITE 700, WASHINGTON, DC.

    (f) This amendment (39-8962) becomes effective on August 19, 
1994.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 24, 1994.
Michael K. Dahl,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-15859 Filed 6-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U