[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 18, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57534-57536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22953]



[[Page 57534]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0983; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-001-AD;]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) that applies to all Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-325, 
and PA-31-350 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires a detailed 
repetitive inspection of the exhaust system downstream of the 
turbochargers and repair or replacement of parts as necessary. Since we 
issued that AD, forced landings of aircraft have occurred due to 
exhaust system failures upstream of aircraft turbochargers and between 
recurring detailed inspections. This proposed AD would require both 
visual and detailed repetitive inspections, expanding the inspection 
scope to include the entirety of each airplane exhaust system. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent the possibility of an inflight powerplant 
fire due to an exhaust system failure.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 2, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     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: Deliver to Mail address above 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; Internet: 
www.piper.com/home/pages/Publications.cfm. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket 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 AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Wechsler, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; telephone: (404) 474-5575; fax: (404) 474-
5606; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0983; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-001-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because 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 about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    On April 7, 1986, AD 82-16-05 R1, amendment 39-5278 (51 FR 11707-
01, April 7, 1986), was published in the Federal Register for certain 
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. 
That AD requires a detailed repetitive inspection of the exhaust system 
downstream of the turbochargers and repair or replacement of parts as 
necessary. That AD resulted from exhaust system failures downstream 
from turbochargers. We issued that AD to prevent the possibility of an 
inflight powerplant fire due to an exhaust system failure.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 82-16-05 R1 (51 FR 11707-01, April 7, 1986), 
forced landings of aircraft have occurred due to exhaust system 
failures upstream of aircraft turbochargers and between recurring 
detailed inspections.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type 
designs.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 82-16-05 
R1 (51 FR 11707-01, April 7, 1986). This proposed AD would require a 
detailed repetitive inspection of the entire exhaust systems.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,016 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost              Parts cost          product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visual inspection................  2 work-hours x $85 per    Not applicable.....            $170        $172,720
                                    hour = $170.
Disassembled inspection..........  5 work-hours x $85 per    Not applicable.....             425         431,800
                                    hour = $425.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The on-condition costs of exhaust system part repairs and 
replacement cannot be predicted because the multitude of manner and 
environments in which aircraft operate will result in widely varying 
exhaust system conditions over time.

[[Page 57535]]

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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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 removing airworthiness directive 
(AD) 82-16-05 R1, Amendment 39-5278 (51 FR 11707-01, April 7, 1986), 
and adding the following new AD:

    Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2012-0983; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-CE-001-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November 2, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 82-16-05 R1, Amendment 39-5278.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to turbocharged Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-
31, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes, all serial numbers, 
certificated in any category.

 (d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 78, Engine Exhaust.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the forced landings of aircraft due to 
exhaust system failures between recurring detailed inspections. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent the possibility of an inflight 
powerplant fire due to an exhaust system failure.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Visual Inspection

    Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD or within the next 6 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, and repetitively 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS or 6 months, 
whichever occurs first, inspect the entirety of each exhaust system 
by gaining access to (but not disassembling) each exhaust system. 
Using a flashlight and a mirror, visually inspect the entirety of 
each exhaust system for bulges, burned areas, corrosion, cracks, 
deformation, exhaust stains, and holes and pinholes. Riveted 
couplings should be checked for loose rivets and cracks emanating 
from rivet holes. Inspection procedure references can be found in 
FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B, Change 1, dated September 27, 2001, 
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, And Practices--Aircraft Inspection 
and Repair (http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/99C827DB9BAAC81B86256B4500596C4E?OpenDocument&Highlight=ac%2043.13-1b).

(h) Detailed Inspection

    Within the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this 
AD or within the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first, and repetitively thereafter at intervals not 
to exceed 100 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first, do the 
following:
    (1) Gain access to each exhaust system and remove all exhaust 
system v-band couplings.

    Note 1 to paragraph (h) of this AD:  During removal, we 
recommend not opening the v-band couplings more than the MINIMUM 
diameter necessary to clear coupled flanges.

    (2) Using either a dye-penetrant inspection method or a light 
and a 10-power magnifying glass (inspection procedure references can 
be found in FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B, Change 1, dated 
September 27, 2001, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices-
Aircraft Inspection and Repair (http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/99C827DB9BAAC81B86256B4500596C4E?OpenDocument&Highlight=ac%2043.13-1b), accomplish the following:
    (i) Inspect the tailpipe assembly for damage including bulges, 
burned areas, corrosion, cracks, deformation, exhaust stains, and 
holes and pinholes.
    (ii) Inspect each v-band coupling for damage including bending, 
cracks (those emanating from rivets, too), failed spot welds, 
indications of exhaust flanges bottoming in couplings, loose rivets, 
overstress, and spreading of v-band segments. Inspect the bolt and 
nut of each coupling for thread damage.
    (iii) Inspect the flanges of the exhaust system (which mate with 
the transition), the transition, the tail pipe, and the turbocharger 
(uncoupled) for cracks, distortion, and evidence indicative of 
improper surface mating.
    (3) Inspect the three exhaust system slip joints between each 
turbocharger and its closest riser for seizure.

    Note 2 to paragraph (h) of this AD:  We established the 
repetitive inspection compliance times of this AD so they may 
coincide with scheduled oil changes and annual inspections.

(i) Corrective Actions

    (1) If any damage is found as a result of the inspections 
required in paragraph (g) of this AD, before further flight, do the 
following corrective actions:
    (i) Replace loose or damaged v-band couplings following the 
instructions in paragraph (k) of this AD.
    (ii) Repair or replace loose fasteners and damaged exhaust 
system parts with airworthy parts.
    (2) If any damage is found as a result of the inspections listed 
in paragraph (h) of this AD, before further flight, do the following 
corrective actions:
    (i) Replace any loose or damaged v-band couplings following the 
instructions in paragraph (k) of this AD.
    (ii) Repair or replace loose fasteners, seized slip joints, and 
damaged exhaust system parts with airworthy parts.
    (iii) Replace any part exhibiting flange cracking or distortion, 
and remove any carbon deposits from mating flange surfaces.

(j) Mandatory Replacement

    (1) Initially replace the v-band coupling following the 
procedures in paragraph (k) of

[[Page 57536]]

this AD at whichever of the following occurs later:
    (i) The v-band coupling reaches a total of 1,000 hours time-in-
service (TIS); or
    (ii) 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, or 6 
months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
earlier.
    (2) After the initial replacement required in paragraph (j)(1) 
of this AD, repetitively thereafter replace the v-band coupling 
every 1,000 hours TIS.

(k) Flange and V-Band Coupling

    (1) Install serviceable and replacement v-band couplings 
following the applicable instructions contained in Piper Aircraft 
Corporation Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 2012 and/or 
Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1238B, dated January 6, 2010.
    (2) Use the applicable torque values specified within Piper 
Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin No. 644E, dated May 9, 2012, 
for Piper v-band couplings; and within Lycoming Service Instruction 
No. 1238B, dated January 6, 2010, for Lycoming v-band couplings; 
making sure the torque indicator wrench socket is properly aligned 
to prevent side loads upon the (v-band coupling) bolt.
    (3) Align each flange couple so that mating flange surfaces are 
flat against each other (do not use a v-band coupling to pull 
flanges into alignment).
    (4) Verify that the locknuts exhibit a prevailing torque, and 
replace any locknuts and/or mating couplings with airworthy parts 
when locknuts are not exhibiting a prevailing torque.

    Note 1 to paragraph (k) of this AD:  During installation, we 
recommend not opening the v-band coupling more than the MINIMUM 
diameter necessary to clear coupled flanges.

 (l) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(m) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Gary Wechsler, 
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College 
Park, Georgia 30337; telephone: (404) 474-5575; fax: (404) 474-5606; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 
telephone: (772) 567-4361; fax: (772) 978-6573; Internet: 
www.piper.com/home/pages/Publications.cfm. You may review copies of 
the referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 11, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-22953 Filed 9-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P