[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 193 (Thursday, October 5, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52131-52133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24818]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-51-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; the New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly
Piper Aircraft Corporation) Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, and
PA-28-180 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 New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper)
Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, and PA-28-180 airplanes. The
proposed action would require a complete landing light support
replacement. This proposed AD action is prompted by reports of two
accidents and two incidents resulting from the landing light retainer
support seal breaking apart and entering the carburetor. The actions
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the landing light
retainer support seal from being ingested by the updraft carburetor,
which, if not detected and corrected, could possibly result in rough
engine operation or engine stoppage.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 5, 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-51-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.
Piper Service Bulletin (SB) number (No.) 975, dated November 2,
1994, may be obtained from the New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Attn: Customer
Service, 2926 Piper Dr., Vero Beach, Florida, 32960. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Juanita Craft-Lloyd, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft
Certification Office, Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, suite 2-
160, College Park, Georgia 30337-2748; telephone (404) 305-7573;
facsimile (404) 305-7348.
[[Page 52132]]
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-51-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-51-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The FAA has received reports of two accidents and two incidents of
the landing light retainer support seals breaking off and becoming
lodged in the throat of the updraft carburetor on certain Piper model
PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, and PA-28-180 airplanes. This
condition, if left uncorrected, could result in rough engine operation
of engine failure and possible loss of control of the airplane.
Piper has issued SB No. 975, dated November 2, 1994, which
specifies procedures for replacement of the landing light support and
seal assembly with a landing light support and seal of improved design.
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent the landing light
retainer seal from breaking off and getting lodged in the updraft
carburetor, which, if not detected and corrected, could possibly result
in rough engine operation or engine stoppage.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Piper Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160,
and PA-28-180 airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would
require removing the old landing light support and seal assembly and
replacing it with a new support and seal assembly of improved design.
The FAA estimates that 16,440 airplanes in the U.S. registry would
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $140 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$4,274,400. This figure is based on the assumption that all of the
affected airplanes have old landing light support and seal assemblies
and that none of the owners/operators of the affected airplanes have
placed the landing light support and seal assemblies with parts of
improved design.
Piper has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to
equip approximately 850 airplanes. Assuming that these distributed
parts are incorporated on the affected airplanes, the cost of the
proposed AD would be reduced by $221,000 from $4,274,400 to $4,053,400.
The regulations proposed herein would 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 ``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 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:
Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers,
certificated in any category:
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Models Serial Nos.
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PA-28-140.......................... 28-20000 through 28-7725290.
OPA-28-150, PA-28-160, and PA-28- 28-1 through 28-7505259, and 28-
180. E13.
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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 (c) 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 100 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, or upon replacement of
the landing light, whichever occurs first, unless already
accomplished.
Note 2: Early compliance is encouraged.
To prevent the landing light seal from lodging in the
carburetor, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in
rough
[[Page 52133]]
engine operation or possible engine failure and possible loss of
control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Replace landing light support and seal assembly in
accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 975, dated November 2,
1994.
(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, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office,
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 Aircraft Certification Office.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to The New Piper
Aircraft, Inc., Attn: Customer Service, 2926 Piper Dr., 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 September 26, 1995.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-24818 Filed 10-4-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M