[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