[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 198 (Thursday, October 10, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53155-53157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26043]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 198 / Thursday, October 10, 1996 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 53155]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-29-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft Corporation 
Models PA31, PA31-325, PA31-350, and PA31P Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede airworthiness directive 
(AD) 81-11-04 that applies to The New Piper Aircraft (Piper) Models 
PA31, PA31-325, and PA31-350 airplanes that have Cleveland nose wheel 
assembly part number (P/N) 40-76B installed. AD 81-11-04 currently 
requires inspecting the nose wheel flange for cracks. The repetitive 
inspection may be terminated when the nose wheel assembly is replaced 
with Cleveland P/N 40-140, which is an improved design. This action was 
prompted by the lack of designation of Piper Model PA31P in the 
Applicability section of AD 81-11-04, and the subsequent failure of a 
nose wheel assembly on a Piper Model PA31P airplane during taxiing 
operations. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent 
the failure of the nose wheel, which if not corrected, could result in 
loss of control of the airplane during taxiing, take-off, or landing 
operations.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 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. 96-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 the proposed AD may be obtained 
from The New Piper Aircraft Corporation, 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: Christina Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, Campus Building, 1701 
Columbia Ave., 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. 96-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. 96-CE-29-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion

Events Leading to the Proposed Action

    The FAA has received reports on PA31 series airplanes indicating 
that after 2,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) cracks have occurred in 
the flange area of Cleveland (Parker Hannifin) nose wheel assembly, 
part number (P/N) 40-76B (Piper P/N 451 785). AD 81-11-04 was issued to 
mandate inspection of the nose wheel assembly on Piper PA31 series 
airplanes. This required inspection may be terminated by installing a 
nose wheel assembly of improved design (Cleveland P/N 40-140). The 
improved nose wheel assembly contains a thicker flange and is rated to 
a higher static load and limit load rating which will alleviate the 
unsafe condition.
    Since the issuance of AD 81-11-04, the nose wheel on a Piper Model 
PA31P airplane failed during a taxiing operation. This airplane was not 
subject to AD 81-11-04 because the AD did not specify Piper Model PA31P 
airplanes. After the promulgation of AD 81-11-04, Piper issued a 
superseding service bulletin including the Piper Model PA31P in the 
applicability. Therefore, the FAA is proposing to supersede AD 81-11-04 
with a new AD that includes Piper Model PA31P airplanes in the 
applicability and would require the same actions as AD 81-11-04.

Relevant Service Information

    Piper issued service bulletin (SB) 700A, dated October 12, 1981, 
which specifies inspecting the nose wheel assembly with an option for 
terminating the inspection requirements by installing an improved nose 
wheel assembly.

FAA's Determination

    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 failure of the 
nose wheel, which if not corrected, could result in loss of control of 
the airplane during taxiing, take-off and landing operations.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Piper Models PA31, PA31-325, PA31-350 and 
PA31P

[[Page 53156]]

airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would supersede AD 
81-11-04 with a new AD that would retain the same requirements as AD 
81-11-04, which are inspecting the nose wheel assembly for cracks, and 
if cracked, replacing the nose wheel assembly with the same kind of 
nose wheel assembly and maintaining the repetitive inspection 
requirements, or replacing the nose wheel assembly with one of improved 
design. If no cracks are found, continue to repetitively inspect at 
regular intervals or at each tire change. Replacing the old assembly 
with an assembly of improved design would terminate the repetitive 
inspections. The proposed AD only changes the applicability of AD 81-
11-04 to include Piper Model PA31P airplanes. The actions are to be 
done in accordance with the instructions in Piper SB 700A, dated 
October 12, 1981.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 1,842 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 3 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The improved parts 
cost approximately $450 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$1,160,460 or $630 per airplane. These only account for the replacement 
of the new part and do not take into account the cost for the 
repetitive inspections that would be incurred prior to installing the 
improved parts.
    Piper has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to 
equip 8 airplanes in the United States which reduce the total figure 
from $1,160,460 to $1,155,420.

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, 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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13--[Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing airworthiness directive 
(AD) 81-11-04, Amendment 39-4114, and by adding a new AD to read as 
follows:

The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. 96-CE-29-AD, Supersedes AD 
81-11-04, Amendment 39-4114.

    Applicability: The following Model and serial number airplanes 
that are equipped with Cleveland part number (P/N) 40-76B (Piper P/N 
451 784) nose wheel assembly, certificated in any category.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Models                           Serial numbers            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PA31 and PA31-325..............  31-2 through 31-8112038.               
PA31-350.......................  31-5001 through 31-8152088.            
PA31P..........................  31P-3 through 31P-7730012.             
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 (d) 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 
(TIS) after May 22, 1981 (effective date of AD 81-11-04); within the 
next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD; or upon the 
accumulation of 2,000 hours TIS on the nose wheel assembly, 
whichever occurs later, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent the failure of the nose wheel, which if not 
corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane during 
taxiing, take-off, or landing operations, accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect the nose wheel assembly, Cleveland part number (P/N) 
40-76B (Piper P/N 451 784), for cracks in accordance with the 
``Instructions'' section of Piper Service Bulletin (SB) 700A, dated 
October 12, 1981.
    (1) If cracked, prior to further flight, replace Cleveland P/N 
40-76B (Piper P/N 451 784) with a new Cleveland P/N 40-76B (Piper P/
N 451 784) nose wheel assembly. Upon the accumulation of 2,000 hours 
TIS, reinspect at 100 hour intervals or at each tire change, 
whichever occurs first; or,
    (2) As an alternative to paragraph (a)(1), if cracked, replace 
Cleveland P/N 40-76B (Piper P/N 451 784) with a serviceable 
Cleveland P/N 40-140 (Piper P/N 551 791) nose wheel assembly of 
improved design in accordance with the ``Instructions'' section of 
Piper Service Bulletin (SB) 700A, dated October 12, 1981.
    (3) If no cracks are found and Cleveland P/N 40-140 (Piper P/N 
551-791 is not installed, repetitively inspect at intervals not to 
exceed 100 hours TIS or at each tire change, whichever occurs first.
    (b) The installation of Cleveland P/N 40-140 (Piper P/N 551 791) 
is considered terminating action for the inspection requirements of 
paragraph (a) and (a)(3) of this AD.
    (c) 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.
    (d) An alternative method of or adjustment of the initial and 
repetitive compliance time that provides an equivalent level of 
safety may be approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft 
Certification Office, Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Ave., 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, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft 
Certification Office.
    (e) Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance 
with AD 81-11-04 (superseded by this action) are considered approved 
as alternative methods of compliance with this AD.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.

    (f) 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.

[[Page 53157]]

    (g) This amendment supersedes AD 81-11-04, Amendment 39-4114.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 4, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-26043 Filed 10-9-96; 8:45 am]
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