[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5787-5788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3022]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 90-CE-59-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Formerly 
Piper Aircraft Corporation) Models PA-31, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, 
PA-31T1, and PA-31T Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This document withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have 
applied to The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA-31, PA-31-
325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA-31T1, and PA-31T airplanes. That NPRM would 
have superseded AD 80-26-05 with a new AD that would have retained the 
requirement of repetitively inspecting the main landing gear (MLG) 
inboard door hinges and attachment angles for cracks, and replacing any 
cracked MLG inboard door hinge or attachment angle; and would have 
required incorporating MLG inboard door hinge and attachment angle 
assembly, part number (P/N) 47529-32, as terminating action for the 
repetitive inspection requirement. Since the issuance of the NPRM, the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received reports of cracks in 
the P/N 47529-32 MLG inboard door hinge and attachment angle assembly, 
and has determined that more information and analysis is needed before 
hinge assembly replacements are mandated through an AD. The FAA will 
solicit service history and comments from affected airplane owners/
operators in a separate action through an advanced notice of proposed 
rulemaking (ANPRM). Based on the comments, the FAA may initiate further 
rulemaking in the future.

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:

Discussion

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to Piper Models PA-31, 
PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA-31T1, and PA-31T airplanes was 
published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) on December 7, 1995 (60 FR 62774). The action proposed to 
supersede AD 80-26-05, Amendment 39-3994, with a new AD that would (1) 
retain the requirement of repetitively inspecting the MLG inboard door 
hinges and attachment angles for cracks, and replacing any cracked MLG 
inboard door hinge or attachment angle; and (2) require incorporating a 
MLG inboard door hinge and attachment angle assembly of improved design 
(part number 47529-32) or FAA-approved hinges and angles made of steel 
as terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirement. 
Accomplishment of the proposed inspections would be in accordance with 
Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 682, dated July 24, 1980.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the one comment received.

Improved Design Hinge Assemblies Susceptible to Fatigue Cracking

    The commenter believes that the improved hinge assemblies, part 
number (P/N) 47529-32, are also susceptible to fatigue cracking, and 
that installing this assembly should not eliminate the need for the 
repetitive inspections currently required by AD 80-26-05. The commenter 
states that three failures and three incidents related to fatigue 
cracking of the P/N 47529-32 hinge assemblies have occurred on the 
commenter's fleet of airplanes.
    The FAA conducted a review of the manufacturer's service history 
and service difficulty reports in the FAA database associated with the 
P/N 47529-32 main landing gear hinge assembly. Based on a review of 
this information, including the information received from the 
commenter, the FAA has determined that more information and analysis is 
needed before hinge assembly replacements are mandated through an AD as 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections currently required by 
AD 80-26-05.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that the NPRM 
should be withdrawn until further information is received and analyzed 
regarding the service history of P/N 47529-32 hinge assemblies. The FAA 
is issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in a 
separate action to provide an opportunity for the general public to 
participate in the decision as to what course of rulemaking the FAA 
should take.
    Withdrawal of this NPRM constitutes only such action, and does not 
preclude the agency from issuing another notice in the future, nor does 
it commit the agency to any course of action in the future.

Regulatory Impact

    Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed 
rule nor a final rule and, therefore, is not covered under Executive 
Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT

[[Page 5788]]

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket No. 90-CE-
59-AD, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 1995 (60 FR 
62774), is withdrawn.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 31, 1997.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3022 Filed 2-6 97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P