[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3064-3067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01059]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0015; Product Identifier 2017-CE-045-AD; Amendment
39-19158; AD 2018-02-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc.
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-151, PA-28-160,
PA-28-161, PA-28-180, PA-28-181,
[[Page 3065]]
PA-28-236, PA-28-201T, PA-28R-180, PA-28R-200, PA-28R-201, PA-28R-201T,
PA-28RT-201, and PA-28RT-201T airplanes. This AD requires inspecting
the fuel tank selector cover to verify the left and right fuel tank
selector placards are located at the proper positions and replacing
those that are improperly located with new placards. This AD was
prompted by a quality control issue at the manufacturer that resulted
in the installation of the fuel tank selector covers with the left and
right fuel tank selector placards improperly located. We are issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective February 7, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 7,
2018.
We must receive comments on this AD by March 9, 2018.
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: 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 final rule, contact
Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960;
telephone: (772) 567-4361; internet: www.piper.com/technical-publications-documents/. You may view this service information at the
FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0015.
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-2018-
0015; or in person at the Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The street address for the Docket Operations (phone:
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Segall, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia
30337; phone: (404) 474-5541; fax: (404) 474-5506; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We received a report from Piper Aircraft, Inc., that they had a
quality control issue that resulted in the installation of fuel tank
selector covers with the placement of the left and right fuel tank
selector placards installed in reverse on certain Piper Aircraft, Inc.
Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-151, PA-28-160, PA-28-161, PA-28-
180, PA-28-181, PA-28-236, PA-28-201T, PA-28R-180, PA-28R-200, PA-28R-
201, PA-28R-201T, PA-28RT-201, and PA-28RT-201T airplanes. This
condition, if not addressed, could result in fuel management errors
resulting in fuel starvation and loss of engine power in flight. We are
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1309, dated
October 10, 2017. The service bulletin describes procedures for
inspecting the fuel tank selector cover to verify the left and right
fuel tank selector placards are located at the 12:00 and 3:00 clock
positions, respectively, and replacing those that are improperly
located with new placards. 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.
FAA's Determination
We are issuing 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.
AD Requirements
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because improper fuel selection could result in fuel starvation and
loss of engine power in flight. Therefore, we find good cause that
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable. In
addition, for the reason stated above, we find that good cause exists
for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or
arguments about this final rule. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2018-
0015 and Product Identifier 2017-CE-045-AD at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final rule. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
final rule 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 final rule.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 17,957 airplanes, of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
[[Page 3066]]
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Inspect the left and right fuel .5 work-hour x $85 Not applicable............. $42.50 $763,172.50
tank selector placards for per hour = $42.50.
proper installation.
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We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this
replacements:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Install new fuel selector placards on the fuel .5 work-hour x $85 per hour = $9.26 $51.76
selector cover. $42.50.
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According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders, and
domestic business jet transport airplanes and associated appliances to
the Director of the Policy and Innovation Division.
Regulatory Findings
This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
(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),
(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.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2018-02-05 Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Amendment 39-19158; Docket No. FAA-
2018-0015; Product Identifier 2017-CE-045-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective February 7, 2018.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to the following Piper Aircraft, Inc. airplane
models and serial numbers (S/Ns) that are certificated in any
category:
Table 1 to Paragraph (c) of This AD--Applicable Airplane Models and S/Ns
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Model Serial No.
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PA-28-140................... 28-20001 through 28-26946; 28-7125001
through 28-7725290.
PA-28-150................... 28-03, 28-1 through 28-4377, and 28-1760A.
PA-28-151................... 28-741500l through 28-7715314.
PA-28-160................... 28-03, 28-1 through 28-4377, and 28-1760A.
PA-28-161................... 2841001 through 2841365, 28-7716001
through 28-8216300, 28-8316001 through 28-
8616057, 2816001 through 2816109, 2816110
through 2816119, and 2842001 through
2842420.
PA-28-180................... 28-03, 28-671 through 28-5859, 28-7105001
through 28-7205318, 28-E13, and 28-
7305001 through 28-7505261.
[[Page 3067]]
PA-28-181................... 28-769000l through 28-8690056, 28-8690061,
28-8690062, 289000l through 2890205,
2890206 through 2890231, and 2843001
through 2843879.
PA-28-236................... 28-7911001 through 28-8611008 and 2811001
through 2811050.
PA-28-201T.................. 28-7921001 through 28-7921095.
PA-28R-180.................. 28R-30002 through 28R-31270 and 28R-
7130001 through 28R-7130019.
PA-28R-200.................. 28R-30482, 28R-35001 through 28R-35820,
28R-7135001 through 28R-7135238, and 28R-
7235001 through 28R-7635545.
PA-28R-201.................. 28R-7737002 through 28R-7837317, 2837001
through 2837061, and 2844001 through
2844171.
PA-28R-201T................. 28R-7703001 through 28R-7803374 and
2803001 through 2803015.
PA-28RT-201................. 28R-7918001 through 28R-8218026.
PA-28RT-201T................ 28R-7931001 through 28R-8631005, and
2831001 through 2831038.
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(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 11, Placard and Markings.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a quality control issue at the
manufacturer that resulted in the installation of fuel tank selector
covers with the left and right fuel tank selector placards
improperly located. We are issuing this AD to prevent fuel
management error. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could
result in fuel starvation and loss of engine power in flight.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Inspect Fuel Selector Cover
Before further flight after February 7, 2018 (the effective date
of this AD), inspect the left and right fuel selector cover placards
for proper installation using Part I of Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper)
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 1309, dated October 10, 2017. If the fuel
selectors placards are properly installed, no further action is
required.
(h) Install Temporary Fuel Selector Placards
If improper (reversed clock positions) installation of the left
and right fuel selector placards is found during the inspection
required in paragraph (g) of this AD, before further flight,
fabricate and install temporary left and right fuel selector
placards using Part II of Piper SB No. 1309, dated October 10, 2017.
In lieu of installing the temporary placards required by this
paragraph, you may install the permanent placards specified in
paragraph (i) of this AD.
(i) Install Permanent Fuel Selector Placards
Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after February
7, 2018 (the effective date of this AD), replace the temporary
placard installed in paragraph (h) of this AD with permanent left
and right fuel selector placards using Part III of Piper SB No.
1309, dated October 10, 2017, unless already done in lieu of
installing the temporary placards specified in paragraph (h) of this
AD.
(j) Special Flight Permit
A special flight permit is allowed for this AD per 14 CFR 39.23
with the following limitations: Flights are not to exceed a total of
100 hours TIS with temporary placards installed.
(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the
person identified in Related Information, paragraph (l), 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.
(l) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Ronald Segall,
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue,
College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5541; fax: (404) 474-
5506; email: [email protected].
(m) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1309, dated
October 10, 2017.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For Piper Aircraft, Inc. service information identified in
this AD, contact Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach,
FL 32960; telephone: (772) 567-4361; internet: www.piper.com/technical-publications-documents/.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Policy and
Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
(816) 329-4148.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 16, 2018.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-01059 Filed 1-22-18; 8:45 am]
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