[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76398-76400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30882]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-7205; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-025-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 Airworthiness Directive (AD) 96-12-12, 
which applies to certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-300, 
PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. AD 96-12-12 currently requires a 
one-time inspection of the bulkhead assembly at fuselage station (FS) 
317.75 for cracks and the installation of one of two reinforcement kits 
determined by whether cracks were found during the inspection. Since we 
issued AD 96-12-12, bulkhead cracks were found on airplanes that had 
complied with AD 96-12-12 and on additional airplanes not affected by 
AD 96-12-12. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of 
the bulkhead assembly at FS 317.75 for cracks, repair of cracks as 
necessary, and the installation of a reinforcement modification. We are 
proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 25, 
2016.

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, FL 32960; 
telephone: (415) 330-9500; email: [email protected]; and Internet: http://www.piper.com/technical-publications/. You may view this 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
7205; 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: Gregory ``Keith'' Noles, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5551; 
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-2015-7205; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-025-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 May 30, 1996, we issued AD 96-12-12, Amendment 39-9654 (61 FR 
28732, June 6, 1996) (``AD 96-12-12''), for certain Piper Aircraft, 
Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. AD 
96-12-12 requires a one-time inspection of the bulkhead assembly at 
fuselage station (FS) 317.75 for cracks and the installation of one of 
two reinforcement kits, determined by whether cracks were found during 
the inspection. AD 96-12-12 resulted from cracks found in the FS 317.75 
upper bulkhead. We issued AD 96-12-12 to prevent structural failure of 
the vertical fin forward spar caused by cracks in the FS 317.75 upper 
bulkhead, which could lead to loss of control.

Actions Since AD 96-12-12 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 96-12-12, cracks were found on the bulkhead 
assembly of airplanes in compliance with AD 96-12-12 and on additional 
airplanes not affected by AD 96-12-12 but of a similar type design. 
Piper Aircraft, Inc. has issued new service information that gives 
instructions for repair of the cracks and instructions for the 
installation of a reinforcement modification to prevent cracks from 
developing.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273A, dated 
October 22, 2015. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
inspecting the bulkhead assembly at FS 317.75, repairing any cracks 
found, and installation of a reinforcement modification to prevent 
cracks from developing. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have access to it through 
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

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 the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would retain none of the requirements of AD 96-12-
12. This NPRM would add airplanes to the Applicability, paragraph (c) 
of this proposed AD. This proposed AD would also require accomplishing 
the actions specified in the service information described previously. 
Airplanes in compliance with AD 96-12-12 must be re-inspected, repaired 
if necessary, and modified following the new service information.

[[Page 76399]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 977 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                       Labor cost            Parts cost          product        operators
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Inspection of the bulkhead assembly.  2 work-hours x $85 per    Not applicable.             $170        $166,090
                                       hour = $170.
Repair/reinforcement of bulkhead      8 work-hours x $85 per               $500            1,180       1,152,860
 assembly.                             hour = $680.
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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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
96-12-12, Amendment 39-9654 (61 FR 28732, June 6, 1996), and adding the 
following new AD:

Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2015-7205; Directorate 
Identifier 2015-CE-025-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January 25, 
2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces 96-12-12, Amendment 39-9654 (61 FR 28732, June 
6, 1996) (``AD 96-12-12'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following Piper Aircraft, Inc. airplanes 
listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in 
any category:
    (1) Models PA-31, PA-31-300, and PA-31-325: Serial numbers 31-2 
through 31-900 and 31-7300901 through 31-8312019; and
    (2) Model PA-31-350: Serial numbers 31-5001 through 31-5004 and 
31-7305005 through 31-8553002.

    Note 1 to paragraph (c)(1) of this AD:  The Model PA-31 may also 
be identified as a PA-31-310, even though the PA-31-310 is not a 
model recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the 
type certificate data sheet.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by bulkhead cracks found on airplanes that 
had complied with AD 96-12-12 and on additional airplanes not 
affected by AD 96-12-12. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
structural failure of the vertical fin forward spar caused by cracks 
in the fuselage station (FS) at 317.75 upper bulkhead, which could 
lead to loss of control.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection/Repair

    (1) Before or upon accumulating 2,000 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) or within the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs later, and repetitively thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, inspect the bulkhead assembly 
at FS 317.75 for cracks following Part I of the Instructions in 
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273A, dated October 22, 
2015.
    (2) If any cracks are found during the inspection required in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before further flight, repair the 
cracks and install the reinforcement modification following Part I 
of the Instructions in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 
1273A, dated October 22, 2015. This repair/modification terminates 
the requirements for the repetitive inspections required in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
    (3) You may do the modification required in paragraph (h) of 
this AD to terminate the repetitive inspections required in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.

(h) Modification

    Unless already done as a repair for cracks found in the 
inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before or upon 
accumulating 2,500 hours TIS or within the next 500 hours after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, install the 
reinforcement modification following Part II of the Instructions in 
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273A, dated October 22, 
2015. This modification terminates the repetitive inspections 
required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.

[[Page 76400]]

(i) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    This AD allows credit for the inspection required in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD and the repair required in paragraph (g)(2) of 
this AD, if done before the effective date of this AD, following 
Part I of the Instructions in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin 
No. 1273, dated June 4, 2015. This AD also allows credit for the 
modification required in paragraph (h) of this AD, if done before 
the effective date of this AD, following Part II of the Instructions 
in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273, dated June 4, 
2015.

(j) 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 Related Information, paragraph 
(j)(1) 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Gregory 
``Keith'' Noles, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta ACO, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5551; fax: 
(404) 474-5606; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc. 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960; telephone: 
(415) 330-9500; email: [email protected]; and Internet: http://www.piper.com/technical-publications/. You may view this 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 December 1, 2015.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30882 Filed 12-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P