[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44597-44598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22336]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 163 / Friday, August 22, 1997 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 44597]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-48-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-
31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 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 The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) 
Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. The 
proposed AD would require replacing the lower wing splice plate and 
reworking the lower spar caps. The proposed AD results from numerous 
reports of fretting and cracking of the lower wing splice plates on 
Piper PA-31 series airplanes in Australia, and a report of one incident 
in the United States. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent failure of the lower wing splice plate caused by 
fretting and cracking, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-48-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, Inc., Customer Services, 2926 Piper Drive, 
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 Avenue, 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. 97-CE-48-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. 97-CE-48-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received numerous reports of fretting and cracking of 
the lower wing splice plates on Piper PA-31 series airplanes in 
Australia, and a report of one incident in the United States. The lower 
wing spar splice plate on these airplanes is located at buttock line 
(BL) 0 and connects to the right and left wing lower spar caps. The 
fretting and cracking were discovered on the upper surface of the lower 
wing splice plates. The fretting is occurring because a sharp 
(unrounded and unchamfered) edge of the lower wing spar caps is rubbing 
against the upper surface of the lower wing spar plates. The residual 
stresses caused by the fretting could induce cracking in this area on 
the lower wing splice plates.
    This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result 
in failure of the lower wing splice plate with consequent loss of 
control of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Piper has issued Service Bulletin No. 1003, dated June 16, 1997, 
which specifies replacing the wing spar splice plate and reworking the 
lower spar caps. The following kits include the parts and procedures 
necessary for accomplishing this replacement and rework:

--Main Spar Splice Plate Replacement (Lower) Kit, Piper part number 
766-640, which applies to Models PA-31, PA-31-300, and Piper PA-31-325 
airplanes; and
--Main Spar Splice Plate Replacement (Lower) Kit, Piper part number 
766-641, which applies to Model PA-31-350 airplanes.

The FAA's Determination

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, including the 
referenced service information, the FAA has determined that AD action 
should be taken to prevent failure of the lower wing splice plate 
caused by fretting and cracking, which could result in loss of control 
of the airplane.

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 Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, and 
PA-31-350 airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would 
require replacing the lower wing spar splice plate and reworking the 
lower spar caps.

[[Page 44598]]

Accomplishment of the replacement would be in accordance with the 
service information referenced in the ``Relevant Service Information'' 
section of this document.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 1,700 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 8 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed replacement, and that 
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $210 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$1,173,000, or $690 per airplane.
    Piper has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to 
equip 1 affected airplane. Presuming that this set of parts is 
installed on an affected airplane, the cost impact of the proposed AD 
would be reduced by $690, from $1,173,000 to $1,172,310.

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 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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.


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. 97-CE-48-AD.

    Applicability: The following airplane model and serial numbers, 
certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Models                             Serial Nos.        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PA-31, PA-31-300, and PA-31-325...........  31-2 through 31-8312019     
PA-31-350.................................  31-5001 through 31-8553002  
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 upon the accumulation of 2,500 hours time-
in-service (TIS) on the lower spar splice plate or within the next 
100 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent failure of the lower wing splice plate caused by 
fretting and cracking, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Replace the lower wing spar splice plate and rework the 
lower spar caps in accordance with the instructions included in the 
following kit, as applicable, and as referenced in Piper Service 
Bulletin No. 1003, dated June 16, 1997:
    (1) Main Spar Splice Plate Replacement (Lower) Kit, Piper part 
number (P/N) 766-640, which applies to Models PA-31, PA-31-300, and 
Piper PA-31-325 airplanes; and
    (2) Main Spar Splice Plate Replacement (Lower) Kit, Piper P/N 
766-641, which applies to Model PA-31-350 airplanes.
    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 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, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), 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 ACO.

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

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the documents referred to herein upon request to The New Piper 
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, 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 August 15, 1997.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-22336 Filed 8-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U