[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29511-29513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13621]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-29-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft Corporation Model PA-46-
350P 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) 
Model PA-46-350P airplanes. The proposed action would require 
installing to the right of the manifold pressure gauge in full view of 
the pilot a placard that specifies manifold pressure limits, and 
incorporating a revision into the Limitations section of the Pilots' 
Operating Handbook (POH). After recent review of the Piper Model PA-46-
350P powerplant data, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
determined that certain manifold pressure limitations should be 
incorporated. These limitations fall outside the normal continuous 
operation range of the engine, and therefore testing was not performed 
in this area during original type certification. The actions specified 
by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue damage to the 
propeller caused by operating above certain manifold pressure limits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 11, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-29-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 this 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, Campus Building, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, suite 2-160, College Park, Georgia 30337-2748; 
telephone (404) 305-7362; facsimile (404) 305-7348.

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. 95-CE-29-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. 95-CE-29-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    Following the Piper Model PA-46-350P airplane power plant review, 
the FAA realized that the vibration approval for the Hartzell propeller 
Model HC-12YR-1 (BF) and Lycoming engine model TIO-540-AE2A contains a 
manifold pressure restriction, as follows:

     [[Page 29512]] ``Do not exceed 36 inches manifold pressure 
below 2,400 RPM and 32 inches manifold pressure below 2,300 RPM.''

These restrictions fall outside the normal continuous operation range 
of the engine; therefore testing was not performed in this area during 
original type certification and the vibratory stress levels are 
unknown. The FAA has determined that (1) it is possible for the 
airplane to register these lower revolutions per minute (r.p.m.) 
combinations while operating at these high manifold pressure limits; 
and (2) the airplane operator should observe the limitations discussed 
above.
    On March 29, 1995, Piper revised page 2-16 of Revision 14 
(PR950329) to Report: VB-1332 of the PA-46-350P Pilots' Operating 
Handbook (POH). This POH revision references revised paragraph 2.35 
regarding placards, specifically a placard containing manifold pressure 
limits. This revision is also referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 
982, dated April 3, 1995.
    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the subject described above, the FAA has 
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent fatigue damage to 
the propeller caused by operating above certain manifold pressure 
limits.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Piper Model PA-46-350P airplanes of the same 
type design, the proposed AD would require installing to the right of 
the manifold pressure gauge in full view of the pilot a placard that 
specifies manifold pressure limits. The proposed action would also 
require incorporating revised page 2-16 (dated March 29, 1995) of 
Revision 14 (PR950329) to Report: VB-1332 into the Limitations Section 
of the PA-46-350P POH. Piper Service Bulletin No. 982, dated April 3, 
1995, contains the placard, and instructions on installing the placard 
and incorporating the POH revision. An owner/operator who holds a 
private pilot's certificate as authorized by sections 43.7 and 43.11 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7 and 43.11) may perform 
these actions.
    The compliance time of the proposed AD is presented in calendar 
time instead of hours time-in-service. Although the unsafe condition 
develops as result of airplane usage, it cannot develop unless the 
manifold pressure limits specified in the proposed action are exceeded. 
Therefore, to ensure that all owners/operators of the affected 
airplanes incorporate the manifold pressure limits in a reasonable 
amount of time, a compliance based on calendar time is proposed.
    The FAA estimates that 189 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 action. Since an 
owner/operator who holds a private pilot's certificate as authorized by 
sections 43.7 and 43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
43.7 and 43.11) can accomplish this action, the only impact this action 
would have upon the public is the time it takes each owner/operator to 
install the placard and incorporate the POH revision.
    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 
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:

Piper Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 95-CE-29-AD.

    Applicability: Model PA-46-350P airplanes, serial numbers 
4622001 through 4622189, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority 
provided in paragraph (e) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required within the next 2 calendar months after the 
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent fatigue damage to the propeller caused by operating 
above certain manifold pressure limits, accomplish the following:
    (a) Install to the right of the manifold pressure gauge in full 
view of the pilot a placard that specifies the following manifold 
pressure limits:

DO NOT EXCEED

36'' MP

BELOW 2400 RPM

32'' MP

BELOW 2300 RPM

Accomplish this installation in accordance with Piper Service 
Bulletin No. 982, dated April 3, 1995. This placard is included with 
the referenced service bulletin.
    (b) Incorporate revised page 2-16 (dated March 29, 1995) of 
Revision 14 (PR950329) to Report: VB-1332 into the Limitations 
Section of the PA-46-350P Pilots' Operating Handbook. Piper Service 
Bulletin No. 982, dated April 3, 1995, contains the instructions for 
incorporating this POH revision.
    (c) Installing the placard and incorporating the POH revision as 
required by this AD may be performed by the owner/operator holding 
at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 
of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and must be 
entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in 
accordance with section 43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 
(14 CFR 43.11).
    (d) 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. [[Page 29513]] 
    (e) 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), Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, suite 2-160, College 
Park, Georgia 30337-2748. 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.

    (f) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the POH revision, placard, and service information referred to 
herein upon request to Piper Aircraft Corporation, Customer 
Services, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; or may 
examine these documents 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 May 26, 1995.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.

[FR Doc. 95-13621 Filed 6-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U