[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42275-42276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19747]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-01-AD; Amendment 39-11241; AD 99-16-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-
46-350P Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-46-
350P airplanes. This AD requires installing reinforcement plates to the 
wing forward and aft attach fittings. This AD is the result of a report 
that sheet steel material that is below design strength standards may 
have been utilized on the wing attach fittings on the Model PA-46-350P 
airplanes manufactured since January 1995. The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the wing attach 
fittings caused by the utilization of substandard material, which could 
result in the wing separating from the airplane with consequent loss of 
control.

DATES: Effective September 24, 1999.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of September 24, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Customer Services, 2926 Piper Drive, 
Vero Beach, Florida 32960. This information may also be examined at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-01-AD, Room 1558, 
601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of 
the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William O. Herderich, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown Center, 
1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone: 
(770) 703-6084; facsimile: (770) 703-6097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

    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 
PA-46-350P airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on March 19, 1999 (64 FR 13530). The NPRM 
proposed to require installing reinforcement plates to the wing forward 
and aft attach fittings by incorporating the Wing to Fuselage 
Reinforcement Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656. 
Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the NPRM would be 
required in accordance with the instructions to the above-referenced 
kit, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 1027, dated November 
19, 1998.
    The NPRM was the result of a report that sheet steel material that 
is below design strength standards may have

[[Page 42276]]

been utilized on the wing attach fittings on the Model PA-46-350P 
airplanes manufactured since January 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.

The FAA's Determination

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 185 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 30 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish the installation, and that the average labor 
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Piper will give warranty credit for 
parts on all affected aircraft. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $333,000, or 
$1,800 per airplane.
    Piper has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to 
accomplish the installation on 6 of the affected airplanes. Presuming 
that these parts were incorporated on 6 of the affected airplanes, this 
will reduce the cost impact of this AD by $10,800 from $333,000 to 
$322,200.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

99-16-06  The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Amendment 39-11241; Docket 
No. 99-CE-01-AD.

    Applicability: Model PA-46-350P airplanes, serial numbers 
4622191 through 4622200 and 4636001 through 4636175, certificated in 
any category.

    Note 1: The affected serial numbers refer to airplanes that have 
been delivered since January 1995 and could have insufficient 
strength wing attach fittings installed. Airplanes manufactured 
after serial number 4636175 have this problem corrected prior to 
delivery.
    Note 2: 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 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent the potential for failure of the wing attach fittings 
caused by the utilization of substandard material, which could 
result in the wing separating from the airplane with consequent loss 
of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Install reinforcement plates to the wing forward and aft 
attach fittings by incorporating the Wing to Fuselage Reinforcement 
Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656. Accomplishment of the 
installation is required in accordance with the instructions to the 
above-referenced kit, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 
1027, dated November 19, 1998.
    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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 
(ACO), One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30349. 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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

    (d) The installation required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with the instructions to the Wing to Fuselage 
Reinforcement Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656, dated 
November 6, 1998, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 1027, 
dated November 19, 1998. This incorporation by reference was 
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from The 
New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Customer Services, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero 
Beach, Florida 32960. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on September 24, 1999. 
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 26, 1999.
Mike Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-19747 Filed 8-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U