[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29992-29994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14954]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-21-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly 
Piper Aircraft Corporation) Model PA31T2 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); Reopening of 
the comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to revise an earlier proposed 
airworthiness directive (AD), which would have required rerouting the 
landing gear emergency extension air line on The New Piper Aircraft, 
Inc. (Piper) Model PA31T2 airplanes that have Parker Hannifin Wheel and 
Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 incorporated in accordance with 
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA599GL. Three incidents of the 
brake cylinder contacting the landing gear emergency extension air line 
on both wheel wells of the affected airplanes prompted the proposal. 
Since issuance of the proposal, the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA) has determined that additional serial numbers of Piper Model 
PA31T2 airplanes should be included in the Applicability section of the 
proposed AD, and that revised service information should be 
incorporated. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent the brake cylinder from chafing against the landing gear 
emergency extension air line when the gear is in the up and locked 
position, which could result in damage to the air line and subsequent 
loss of emergency gear extension capability. Since the comment period 
for the original proposal has closed and the change described above 
goes beyond the scope of what was originally proposed, the FAA is 
allowing additional time for the public to comment.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 16, 1996.

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-21-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 Parker Hannifin Corporation, Aircraft Wheel & Brake, 1160 
Center Road, P.O. Box 158, Avon, Ohio 44011; telephone (216) 937-6211; 
facsimile (216) 937-5409. This information also may be examined at the 
Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Nick Miller, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 2300 East Devon 
Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone (847) 294-7837; 
facsimile (847) 294-7834.

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

[[Page 29993]]

supplemental 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 supplemental notice must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 95-CE-21-AD.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of Supplemental NPRM

    Any person may obtain a copy of this supplemental NPRM by 
submitting a request to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-21-AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    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 Model 
PA31T2 airplanes that have Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion 
Kit 199-111 incorporated in accordance with STC SA599GL was published 
in the Federal Register on April 17, 1995 (60 FR 19174). The action 
proposed to require rerouting the landing gear emergency extension air 
line. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with 
Parker Hannifin Service Bulletin SB7034, dated March 23, 1994 (since 
revised to Revision B, dated December 19, 1995).
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.
    Since issuance of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the FAA 
has determined that the Applicability section of the proposed AD should 
be revised to include additional serial numbers of Piper Model PA31T2 
airplanes. In addition, Parker Hannifin Service Bulletin SB7034 has 
been revised (Revision B, dated December 19, 1995) to reflect the Piper 
Model PA31T2 airplane serial numbers change.

Evaluation of All Applicable Information

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the subject described above, including the 
comments received, the FAA has determined that the NPRM should be 
revised to include the above-referenced serial number change and 
revised service bulletin, and that AD action should still be taken to 
prevent brake cylinders from chafing against the landing gear emergency 
extension air line when the gear is in the up and locked position. This 
condition could result in damage to the air line and subsequent loss of 
emergency gear extension capability.
    Since this revision of the NPRM to add serial numbers for the Piper 
Model PA31T2 airplanes proposes actions that go beyond the scope of 
what was already proposed, the FAA is reopening the comment period to 
allow the public additional time to comment on this proposed action.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Piper Model PA31T2 airplanes of the same type 
design that have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-
111 incorporated in accordance with STC SA599GL, the proposed AD would 
require rerouting the landing gear emergency extension air line. 
Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with 
Parker Hannifin Service Bulletin SB7034, Revision B, dated December 19, 
1995.

Cost Impact

    The FAA has determined that there are 62 Piper Model PA31T2 
airplanes in the U.S. registry that could incorporate a Parker Hannifin 
Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 (in accordance with STC 
SA599GL), that it would take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to 
accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor rate is 
approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $20 per airplane. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators could be as much as $16,120 if all affected airplanes 
had the referenced conversion kit installed.
    Parker Hannifin has informed the FAA that it has distributed 31 
kits (shipped after March 28, 1994) to Piper Model PA31T2 airplane 
owners/operators. Kits shipped after March 28, 1994, included the 
replacement parts referenced in Parker Hannifin SB7034, Revision B. 
Based on each of the 31 kits being incorporated on an affected 
airplane, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. owners and 
operators would be reduced 50 percent from $16,120 to $8,060. The 
reduction results from the difference between the 62 airplanes that are 
type certificated to have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion 
Kit 199-111 incorporated (in accordance with STC SA599GL) and the 31 
kits that have already been distributed.

Regulatory Impact

    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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

[[Page 29994]]

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. 95-CE-21-AD.

    Applicability: Model PA31T2 airplanes (serial numbers 31T-
8166001 through 31T-8166062), certificated in any category, that 
have a Parker Hannifin Wheel and Brake Conversion Kit 199-111 
incorporated in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
SA599GL.

    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 request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent the brake cylinder from chafing against the landing 
gear emergency extension air line when the gear is in the up and 
locked position, which could result in damage to the air line and 
subsequent loss of emergency gear extension capability, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Reroute the landing gear emergency extension air line in 
accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Parker 
Hannifin Service Bulletin SB7034, Revision B, dated December 19, 
1995.
    (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, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. The 
request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance 
Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, 
Chicago ACO.

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

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to the Parker Hannifin 
Corporation, Aircraft Wheel & Brake, 1160 Center Road, P.O. Box 158, 
Avon, Ohio 44011; 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 June 4, 1996.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-14954 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P