[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 198 (Friday, October 10, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60201-60203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24136]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-1085; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-057-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-46-350P, 
PA-46R-350T, and PA-46-500TP Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA-46-350P, PA-46R-350T, 
and PA-46-500TP airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to 
install a stall warning heat control modification kit. This proposed AD 
results from ice forming on the stall vane heater during flights into 
icing conditions with the landing gear down. We are proposing this AD 
to prevent ice from forming on the stall vane, which may result in 
failure of the stall warning system. This failure could result in the 
pilot being unaware of an approaching stall situation.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 9, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 
telephone: (772) 567-4361; fax: (772) 978-6573; Web site: http://www.newpiper.com/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Lee, Aerospace Engineer, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown 
Center, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; 
telephone: (770) 994-6736; fax: (770) 703-6097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2008-1085; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-057-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    Recently, it was discovered on a Piper Model PA-46-500TP airplane 
that the stall warning did not activate when expected. Upon landing, 
the stall vane was found iced over, which temporarily disabled the lift 
detector.
    The design of the Model PA-46-500TP airplane includes a landing 
gear up-lock switch. When this switch is not

[[Page 60202]]

engaged, the electrical flow to the stall vane de-icing element is 
reduced. After reviewing the maintenance manual, it was determined that 
the system was functioning as designed.
    Piper changed the stall warning heat wiring schematic in Models PA-
46-350P, PA-46R-350T, and PA-46-500TP airplanes. All of the previous 
Piper PA-46 series airplanes have a two-stage stall vane heater. They 
are wired with a squat switch such that when stall warning heat is in 
the on position, the heater sets to low when there is weight on wheels 
(when the aircraft is on the ground) and switches to high when there is 
no weight on the wheels (during all phases of flight).
    Instead of using the squat switch to change the heat setting from 
low to high, Piper Models PA-46-350P, PA-46R-350T, and PA-46-500TP 
airplanes use the landing gear up-lock switch. When using this switch 
and the stall warning heat is in the on position, the heater sets to 
low when the landing gear doors are open and switches to high when the 
landing gear doors are closed.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
stall warning system. This failure could result in the pilot being 
unaware of an approaching stall situation.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Piper Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1192, dated 
September 15, 2008.
    The service information specifies installing Stall Warning Heat 
Control Modification Kit, Piper part number 88452-002.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD 
would require you to install a stall warning heat control modification 
kit.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 803 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed modification:

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                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $120.........................             $95             $215         $172,645
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    Warranty credit may be given to the extent noted in the service 
bulletin.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not 
have a substantial direct effect 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2008-1085; Directorate 
Identifier 2008-CE-057-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by December 9, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Model                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PA-46-350P...........................  4622001 through 4622200 and
                                        4636001 through 4636445.
PA-46R-350T..........................  4692001 through 4692054.
PA-46-500TP..........................  4697001 through 4697365.
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Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from ice forming on the stall vane heater 
during flights into icing conditions with the landing gear down. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent ice from forming on the stall vane, 
which may result in failure of the stall warning system. This 
failure could result in the pilot being unaware of an approaching 
stall situation.

[[Page 60203]]

Compliance

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless 
already done:

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               Actions                             Compliance                            Procedures
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Install Stall Warning Heat Control    Within the next 100 hours time-in-    As specified in Piper Mandatory
 Modification Kit, Piper part number   service after the effective date of   Service Bulletin No. 1192, dated
 88452-002.                            this AD.                              September 15, 2008, following
                                                                             Drawing No. 88452 dated June 19,
                                                                             2008.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to 
ATTN: John Lee, Aerospace Engineer, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Atlanta ACO, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone: (770) 994-6736; fax: (770) 703-
6097. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the 
AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in 
the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, 
your local FSDO.

Related Information

    (g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, 
Florida 32960; telephone: (772) 567-4361; fax: (772) 978-6573; Web 
site: http://www.newpiper.com/. To view the AD docket, go to U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, 
DC 20590, or on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 3, 2008.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-24136 Filed 10-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P