Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-34 Series Airplanes, 6782-6786 [05-2374]
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6782
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 70, No. 26
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2004–19960; Directorate
Identifier 2004–CE–47–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The New
Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA–34 Series
Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
The FAA proposes to
supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
93–24–14, which applies to all The New
Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA–34 series
airplanes. AD 93–24–14 currently
requires you to repetitively replace the
bolt and stack up that connect the upper
drag link to the nose gear trunnion. This
proposed AD is the result of many
service difficulty reports related to the
collapse or inadvertent retraction of the
nose landing gear (NLG). Consequently,
this proposed AD would retain the
actions required in AD 93–24–14 until
the actions of the proposed AD would
begin, require you to inspect the NLG
and components of the NLG using new
procedures for rigging the nose gear
installation, and require you to replace
unserviceable parts. We are also issuing
this proposed AD to detect, correct, and
prevent future failure in certain
components of the NLG, lack of
cleanliness of the NLG due to
inadequate maintenance, or lack of
lubricant in the NLG or NLG
components. This failure of the NLG
could lead to loss of control of the
airplane during take-off, landing, or
taxiing operations.
DATES: We must receive any comments
on this proposed AD by April 11, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to
submit comments on this proposed AD:
• DOT Docket Web site: Go to
https://dms.dot.gov and follow the
SUMMARY:
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instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–
001.
• Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on
the plaza level of the Nassif Building,
400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
To get the service information
identified in this proposed AD, contact
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper
Drive, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960.
To view the comments to this
proposed AD, go to https://dms.dot.gov.
This is docket number FAA–2004–
19960.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hassan Amini, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification
Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix
Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia
30349; telephone: (770) 703–6080;
facsimile: (770) 703–6097.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
How do I comment on this proposed
AD? We invite you to submit any
written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposal. Send
your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include the docket
number, ‘‘FAA–2004–19960; Directorate
Identifier 2004–CE–47–AD’’ at the
beginning of your comments. We will
post all comments we receive, without
change, to https://dms.dot.gov, including
any personal information you provide.
We will also post a report summarizing
each substantive verbal contact with
FAA personnel concerning this
proposed rulemaking. Using the search
function of our docket web site, anyone
can find and read the comments
received into any of our dockets,
including the name of the individual
who sent the comment (or signed the
comment on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). This is
docket number FAA–2004–19960. You
may review the DOT’s complete Privacy
Act Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
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19477–78) or you may visit https://
dms.dot.gov.
Are there any specific portions of this
proposed AD I should pay attention to?
We specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
this proposed AD. If you contact us
through a nonwritten communication
and that contact relates to a substantive
part of this proposed AD, we will
summarize the contact and place the
summary in the docket. We will
consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this
proposed AD in light of those comments
and contacts.
Docket Information
Where can I go to view the docket
information? You may view the AD
docket that contains the proposal, any
comments received, and any final
disposition in person at the DMS Docket
Offices between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
(eastern standard time), Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
The Docket Office (telephone 1–800–
647–5227) is located on the plaza level
of the Department of Transportation
NASSIF Building at the street address
stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view
the AD docket on the Internet at
https://dms.dot.gov. The comments will
be available in the AD docket shortly
after the DMS receives them.
Discussion
Has FAA taken any action to this
point? Several incidents where the nose
landing gear (NLG) on The New Piper
Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA–34 series
airplanes collapsed caused us to issue
AD 93–24–14, Amendment 39–8762 (58
FR 65115, December 13, 1993). AD 93–
24–14 currently requires the repetitive
replacement of the bolt and stack up
that connect the upper drag link to the
nose gear trunnion on all Piper PA–34
series airplanes.
What has happened since AD 93–24–
14 to initiate this proposed action? The
FAA has received 188 service difficulty
reports (SDRs) related to the NLG on
Piper PA–34 series airplanes. There are
72 SDRs that describe the collapse or
inadvertent retraction of the NLG.
A review of the SDRs related to the
NLG and the collapse or inadvertent
retraction of the NLG found that one or
more of the following conditions could
result in collapse of the NLG:
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—nose gear steering control excessive
travel and the disengagement of the
tiller roller;
—failure or out of tolerances of the
retraction links and bolts;
—crack(s) in the nose gear trunnion;
—failure of the nose gear upper drag
link attach bolt;
—failure of the nose gear retraction link
retention spring;
—out of rig and failure of the nose gear
down lock link assembly;
—failure of the nose gear actuator
mounting bracket and its attachments;
—failure of the attachment of the
retraction link to the actuator
mounting bracket;
—lack of lubricant in the NLG or NLG
components; or
—lack of cleanliness of the NLG or the
NLG components.
The exact cause of the collapse or
inadvertent retraction of the NLG cannot
be determined.
Consequently, Piper took the
following actions to prevent future
failure of the NLG:
—modified certain components to
improve their long-term service life;
—corrected and clarified the rigging
procedures for the nose gear
installation; and
—revised the periodic inspection
requirements of the applicable
maintenance manuals.
What is the potential impact if FAA
took no action? Failure in certain
components of the NLG, a lack of
cleanliness of the NLG, or a lack of
lubricant in the NLG or the NLG
components could result in failure of
the NLG. This failure of the NLG could
lead to loss of control of the airplane
during take-off, landing, or taxiing
operations.
Is there service information that
applies to this subject? The New Piper
Aircraft, Inc. has issued Service Bulletin
No. 1123A, dated November 30, 2004.
What are the provisions of this service
information? The service bulletin
includes procedures for:
—inspecting the NLG and the NLG
components;
—rigging of the nose gear installation;
and
—replacing older parts of the NLG with
new modified parts having improved
service life.
FAA’s Determination and Requirements
of This Proposed AD
What has FAA decided? We have
evaluated all pertinent information and
identified an unsafe condition that is
likely to exist or develop on other
products of this same type design. For
this reason, we are proposing AD action.
What would this proposed AD
require? This proposed AD would
supersede AD 93–24–14 with a new AD
that would incorporate the actions in
Piper Service Bulletin No. 1123A, dated
November 30, 2004.
How does the revision to 14 CFR part
39 affect this proposed AD? On July 10,
2002, we published a new version of 14
CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, July 22,
2002), which governs FAA’s AD system.
This regulation now includes material
that relates to altered products, special
flight permits, and alternative methods
of compliance. This material previously
was included in each individual AD.
Since this material is included in 14
CFR part 39, we will not include it in
future AD actions.
Costs of Compliance
How many airplanes would this
proposed AD impact? We estimate that
this proposed AD affects 2,047 airplanes
in the U.S. registry.
What would be the cost impact of this
proposed AD on owners/operators of the
affected airplanes? We estimate the
following costs to do the proposed
inspections and the rigging of the nose
gear installation:
Labor cost
Parts cost
Total cost
per airplane
9 workhours × $65 per hour = $585 ........................................
No cost for parts .....................
$585
We estimate the following costs to do
all the necessary replacements that
would be required based on the results
of this proposed inspection. We have no
way of determining the number of
Total cost on U.S. operators
2,047 × $585 = $1,197,495.
airplanes that may need these
replacements:
Labor cost
Parts cost
44 workhours × $65 per hour = $2,860 ............................
$920 (only if cracks or damage found in the NLG) ........
What is the difference between the
cost impact of this proposed AD and the
cost impact of AD 93–24–14? The cost
estimate in 1993 was for approximately
1,893 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and
the cost estimate for the proposed AD is
approximately 2,047 airplanes on the
U.S. Registry. Therefore, there is an
initial cost difference of $81,158 (154
airplanes × $527 per airplane) between
that originally calculated in 1993 and
what is proposed now. The difference of
154 airplanes could be attributed to the
following:
—additional airplanes manufactured
since 1993;
—additional airplanes brought into the
United States and added to the U.S.
Registry; and
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—improved tools for calculating the
number of U.S. registered aircraft in
2004/2005 compared to 1993.
Additionally, there are the costs of
doing any necessary replacements based
on the results of the proposed
inspections.
Authority for This Rulemaking
What authority does FAA have for
issuing this rulemaking action? 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.
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Total cost per airplane
$2,860 + $920 = $3,780.
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 AD.
Regulatory Findings
Would this proposed AD impact
various entities? We have determined
that this proposed AD would not have
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 9, 2005 / Proposed Rules
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.
Would this proposed AD involve a
significant rule or regulatory action? For
the reasons discussed above, I certify
that this proposed AD:
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 summary of the costs
to comply with this proposed AD and
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get
a copy of this summary by sending a
request to us at the address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘AD Docket No.
2004–CE–47–AD’’ in your request.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation
safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority
delegated to me by the Administrator,
the Federal Aviation Administration
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.
§ 39.13
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by
removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
93–24–14, Amendment 39–8762 (58 FR
65115, December 13, 1993), and by
adding a new AD to read as follows:
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No.
FAA–2004–19960; Directorate Identifier
2004–CE–47–AD.
When Is the Last Date I Can Submit
Comments on This Proposed AD?
(a) We must receive comments on this
proposed airworthiness directive (AD) by
April 11, 2005.
What Other ADs Are Affected by This
Action?
(b) This AD supersedes AD 93–24–14,
Amendment 39–8762.
What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?
(c) This AD affects Models PA–34–200,
PA–34–200T, and PA–34–220T airplanes, all
serial numbers, that are certificated in any
category.
What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in
This AD?
(d) This AD is the result of service
difficulty reports related to the collapse or
inadvertent retraction of the nose landing
gear (NLG). The actions specified in this AD
are intended to detect, correct, and prevent
future failure in certain components of the
NLG, lack of cleanliness of the NLG due to
inadequate maintenance, or lack of lubricant
in the NLG or NLG components. This failure
of the NLG could lead to loss of control of
the airplane during take-off, landing, or
taxiing operations.
What Must I Do To Address This Problem?
(e) To address this problem, you must do
the following:
Actions
Compliance
Procedures
(1) Replace the bolt and stack up that connects
the upper drag link to the nose gear trunnion
with new parts of the following:
(i) Piper part number (P/N) 400 274 (AN7–35)
bolt;
(ii) Piper P/N 407 591 (AN960–716L) washer,
as applicable;
(iii) Piper P/N 407 568 (AN960–716);
(iv) Piper P/N 404 396 (AN320–7) nut; and
(v) Piper P/N 424 085 cotter pin.
Within the next 100 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after January 28, 1994 (the effective
date of AD 93–24–14), unless already done
within the last 400 hours TIS before January 28, 1994 (compliance with AD 93–24–
14). Repetitively replace thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours TIS. Continue
to repetitiveely replace until the actions in
paragraph (e)(2) and (e)(3) of this AD
begin.
Follow Figure 1 of this AD.
(2) Do the inspections, replacements, and other
corrective actions specified in Table 1
‘‘Specified Maintenance’’ of Piper Service
Bulletin No. 1123A, dated November 30,
2004.
Within the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, unless already done,
Repetitively inspect thereafter at the intervals referenced in the Inspection Time column of the INSTRUCTIONS paragraph in
Piper Service Bulletin No. 1123A, dated November 30, 2004.
Follow The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service
Bulletin No. 1123A, dated November 30,
2004.
(3) Do any necessary corrective actions as a
result of the actions specified in Table 1
‘‘Specified Maintenance’’ of Piper Service
Bulletin No. 1123A, dated November 30,
2004.
Before further flight after any action required
by paragraph (e)(2) of this AD.
Follow The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service
Bulletin No. 1123A, dated November 30,
2004.
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 9, 2005 / Proposed Rules
Note 1: Paragraph 2. Modified Components
of the INSTRUCTIONS section of The New
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No.
1123A, dated November 30, 2004, specifies
modified parts that you may install for
improved service life.
Note 2: The Actions column of the table in
paragraph (e) of this AD may include one or
a combination of these actions: replacement,
repair, adjustment, alignment, cleaning,
lubricating, or other action.
May I Request an Alternative Method of
Compliance?
(f) You may request a different method of
compliance or a different compliance time
for this AD by following the procedures in 14
CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise,
send your request to your principal
inspector. The principal inspector may add
comments and will send your request to the
Manager, Aircraft Certification Office (ACO),
FAA. For information on any already
approved alternative methods of compliance,
contact Hassan Amini, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Atlanta ACO, One Crown Center, 1895
Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta,
Georgia 30349; telephone: (770) 703–6080;
facsimile: (770) 703–6097.
May I Get Copies of the Documents
Referenced in This AD?
(g) To get copies of the documents
referenced in this AD, contact The New Piper
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach,
Florida, 32960. To view the AD docket, go to
the Docket Management Facility; U.S.
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL–401,
Washington, DC, or on the Internet at
https://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is
FAA–2004–19960.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on
February 1, 2005.
Nancy C. Lane,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05–2374 Filed 2–8–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2004–19961; Directorate
Identifier 2004–CE–48–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor,
Inc. Models AT–502, AT–502A, AT–
502B, and AT–503A Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to
supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2002–26–05, which applies to certain
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Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models
AT–502, AT–502A, AT–502B, and AT–
503A airplanes. AD 2002–26–05 lowers
the safe life for the wing lower spar cap
for Models AT–502, AT–502A, AT–
502B, and AT–503A airplanes and those
that incorporate or have incorporated
Marburger Enterprises, Inc. winglets.
AD 2002–26–05 also requires you to
eddy-current inspect the wing lower
spar cap immediately prior to the
replacement/modification to detect and
correct any crack in a bolthole before it
extends to the modified center section
of the wing and report the results of this
inspection to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). Since we issued
AD 2002–26–05, we have determined
that additional airplanes should be
added to the applicability section. We
also developed an alternative method of
compliance (AMOC) to the requirements
of AD 2002–26–05. This proposed AD
retains the action required in AD 2002–
26–05, adds additional airplanes to the
applicability, and includes an AMOC.
We are issuing this proposed AD to
prevent fatigue cracks from occurring in
the wing lower spar cap before the
established safe life is reached. Fatigue
cracks in the wing lower spar cap could
result in the wing separating from the
airplane during flight.
DATES: We must receive any comments
on this proposed AD by April 5, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to
submit comments on this proposed AD:
• DOT Docket Web site: Go to
https://dms.dot.gov and follow the
instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–
001.
• Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on
the plaza level of the Nassif Building,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
To get the service information
identified in this proposed AD, contact
Air Tractor, Incorporated, P.O. Box 485,
Olney, Texas 76374; or Marburger
Enterprises, Inc., 1227 Hillcourt,
Williston, North Dakota 58801;
telephone: (800) 893–1420 or (701) 774–
0230; facsimile: (701) 572–2602.
To view the comments to this
proposed AD, go to https://dms.dot.gov.
The docket number is FAA–2004–
19961.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct all questions to:
—For the airplanes that do not
incorporate and never have
incorporated Marburger Enterprises,
Inc. winglets: Rob Romero, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Fort Worth Airplane
Certification Office, 2601 Meacham
Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193–
0150; telephone: (817) 222–5102;
facsimile: (817) 222–5960; and
—For airplanes that incorporate or have
incorporated Marburger Enterprises,
Inc. winglets: John Cecil, Aerospace
Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office, FAA, 3960
Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
California 90712; telephone: (562)
627–5228; facsimile: (562) 627–5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
How do I comment on this proposed
AD? We invite you to submit any
written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposal. Send
your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include the docket
number, ‘‘FAA–2004–19961; Directorate
Identifier 2004–CE–48–AD’’ at the
beginning of your comments. We will
post all comments we receive, without
change, to https://dms.dot.gov, including
any personal information you provide.
We will also post a report summarizing
each substantive verbal contact with
FAA personnel concerning this
proposed rulemaking. Using the search
function of our docket web site, anyone
can find and read the comments
received into any of our dockets,
including the name of the individual
who sent the comment (or signed the
comment on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). This is
docket number FAA–2004–19961. You
may review the DOT’s complete Privacy
Act Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477–78) or you may visit https://
dms.dot.gov.
Are there any specific portions of this
proposed AD I should pay attention to?
We specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
this proposed AD. If you contact us
through a nonwritten communication
and that contact relates to a substantive
part of this proposed AD, we will
summarize the contact and place the
summary in the docket. We will
consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this
proposed AD in light of those comments
and contacts.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6782-6786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2374]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 9, 2005 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 6782]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2004-19960; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-47-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-34
Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 93-
24-14, which applies to all The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA-34
series airplanes. AD 93-24-14 currently requires you to repetitively
replace the bolt and stack up that connect the upper drag link to the
nose gear trunnion. This proposed AD is the result of many service
difficulty reports related to the collapse or inadvertent retraction of
the nose landing gear (NLG). Consequently, this proposed AD would
retain the actions required in AD 93-24-14 until the actions of the
proposed AD would begin, require you to inspect the NLG and components
of the NLG using new procedures for rigging the nose gear installation,
and require you to replace unserviceable parts. We are also issuing
this proposed AD to detect, correct, and prevent future failure in
certain components of the NLG, lack of cleanliness of the NLG due to
inadequate maintenance, or lack of lubricant in the NLG or NLG
components. This failure of the NLG could lead to loss of control of
the airplane during take-off, landing, or taxiing operations.
DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by April 11,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to submit comments on this proposed
AD:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to https://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-001.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
To get the service information identified in this proposed AD,
contact The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach,
Florida, 32960.
To view the comments to this proposed AD, go to https://dms.dot.gov.
This is docket number FAA-2004-19960.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hassan Amini, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix
Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone: (770) 703-
6080; facsimile: (770) 703-6097.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite you to submit any
written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal.
Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include the
docket number, ``FAA-2004-19960; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-47-AD''
at the beginning of your comments. We will post all comments we
receive, without change, to https://dms.dot.gov, including any personal
information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed
rulemaking. Using the search function of our docket web site, anyone
can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets,
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
This is docket number FAA-2004-19960. You may review the DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov.
Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay
attention to? We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this
proposed AD. If you contact us through a nonwritten communication and
that contact relates to a substantive part of this proposed AD, we will
summarize the contact and place the summary in the docket. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
proposed AD in light of those comments and contacts.
Docket Information
Where can I go to view the docket information? You may view the AD
docket that contains the proposal, any comments received, and any final
disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m. (eastern standard time), Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5227) is located on
the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at
the street address stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view the AD docket
on the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov. The comments will be available
in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
Discussion
Has FAA taken any action to this point? Several incidents where the
nose landing gear (NLG) on The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) PA-34
series airplanes collapsed caused us to issue AD 93-24-14, Amendment
39-8762 (58 FR 65115, December 13, 1993). AD 93-24-14 currently
requires the repetitive replacement of the bolt and stack up that
connect the upper drag link to the nose gear trunnion on all Piper PA-
34 series airplanes.
What has happened since AD 93-24-14 to initiate this proposed
action? The FAA has received 188 service difficulty reports (SDRs)
related to the NLG on Piper PA-34 series airplanes. There are 72 SDRs
that describe the collapse or inadvertent retraction of the NLG.
A review of the SDRs related to the NLG and the collapse or
inadvertent retraction of the NLG found that one or more of the
following conditions could result in collapse of the NLG:
[[Page 6783]]
--nose gear steering control excessive travel and the disengagement of
the tiller roller;
--failure or out of tolerances of the retraction links and bolts;
--crack(s) in the nose gear trunnion;
--failure of the nose gear upper drag link attach bolt;
--failure of the nose gear retraction link retention spring;
--out of rig and failure of the nose gear down lock link assembly;
--failure of the nose gear actuator mounting bracket and its
attachments;
--failure of the attachment of the retraction link to the actuator
mounting bracket;
--lack of lubricant in the NLG or NLG components; or
--lack of cleanliness of the NLG or the NLG components.
The exact cause of the collapse or inadvertent retraction of the
NLG cannot be determined.
Consequently, Piper took the following actions to prevent future
failure of the NLG:
--modified certain components to improve their long-term service life;
--corrected and clarified the rigging procedures for the nose gear
installation; and
--revised the periodic inspection requirements of the applicable
maintenance manuals.
What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? Failure in
certain components of the NLG, a lack of cleanliness of the NLG, or a
lack of lubricant in the NLG or the NLG components could result in
failure of the NLG. This failure of the NLG could lead to loss of
control of the airplane during take-off, landing, or taxiing
operations.
Is there service information that applies to this subject? The New
Piper Aircraft, Inc. has issued Service Bulletin No. 1123A, dated
November 30, 2004.
What are the provisions of this service information? The service
bulletin includes procedures for:
--inspecting the NLG and the NLG components;
--rigging of the nose gear installation; and
--replacing older parts of the NLG with new modified parts having
improved service life.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
What has FAA decided? We have evaluated all pertinent information
and identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop
on other products of this same type design. For this reason, we are
proposing AD action.
What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would
supersede AD 93-24-14 with a new AD that would incorporate the actions
in Piper Service Bulletin No. 1123A, dated November 30, 2004.
How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this proposed AD? On
July 10, 2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR
47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation
now includes material that relates to altered products, special flight
permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This material
previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is
included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD
actions.
Costs of Compliance
How many airplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that
this proposed AD affects 2,047 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to
do the proposed inspections and the rigging of the nose gear
installation:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost per
Labor cost Parts cost airplane Total cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 workhours x $65 per hour = No cost for parts.. $585 2,047 x $585 = $1,197,495.
$585.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We estimate the following costs to do all the necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of this
proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of
airplanes that may need these replacements:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labor cost Parts cost Total cost per airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44 workhours x $65 per hour = $2,860. $920 (only if cracks or $2,860 + $920 = $3,780.
damage found in the NLG).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the difference between the cost impact of this proposed AD
and the cost impact of AD 93-24-14? The cost estimate in 1993 was for
approximately 1,893 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and the cost
estimate for the proposed AD is approximately 2,047 airplanes on the
U.S. Registry. Therefore, there is an initial cost difference of
$81,158 (154 airplanes x $527 per airplane) between that originally
calculated in 1993 and what is proposed now. The difference of 154
airplanes could be attributed to the following:
--additional airplanes manufactured since 1993;
--additional airplanes brought into the United States and added to the
U.S. Registry; and
--improved tools for calculating the number of U.S. registered aircraft
in 2004/2005 compared to 1993.
Additionally, there are the costs of doing any necessary
replacements based on the results of the proposed inspections.
Authority for This Rulemaking
What authority does FAA have for issuing this rulemaking action?
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 AD.
Regulatory Findings
Would this proposed AD impact various entities? We have determined
that this proposed AD would not have
[[Page 6784]]
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.
Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
AD:
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 summary of the costs to comply with this proposed AD
and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include
``AD Docket No. 2004-CE-47-AD'' in your request.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration 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) 93-24-14, Amendment 39-8762 (58 FR 65115, December 13, 1993), and
by adding a new AD to read as follows:
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2004-19960; Directorate
Identifier 2004-CE-47-AD.
When Is the Last Date I Can Submit Comments on This Proposed AD?
(a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness
directive (AD) by April 11, 2005.
What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?
(b) This AD supersedes AD 93-24-14, Amendment 39-8762.
What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?
(c) This AD affects Models PA-34-200, PA-34-200T, and PA-34-220T
airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any
category.
What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?
(d) This AD is the result of service difficulty reports related
to the collapse or inadvertent retraction of the nose landing gear
(NLG). The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect,
correct, and prevent future failure in certain components of the
NLG, lack of cleanliness of the NLG due to inadequate maintenance,
or lack of lubricant in the NLG or NLG components. This failure of
the NLG could lead to loss of control of the airplane during take-
off, landing, or taxiing operations.
What Must I Do To Address This Problem?
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actions Compliance Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Replace the bolt and Within the next 100 Follow Figure 1 of
stack up that connects the hours time-in- this AD.
upper drag link to the nose service (TIS) after
gear trunnion with new January 28, 1994
parts of the following: (the effective date
(i) Piper part number (P/N) of AD 93-24-14),
400 274 (AN7-35) bolt;. unless already done
(ii) Piper P/N 407 591 within the last 400
(AN960-716L) washer, as hours TIS before
applicable;. January 28, 1994
(iii) Piper P/N 407 568 (compliance with AD
(AN960-716);. 93-24-14).
(iv) Piper P/N 404 396 Repetitively
(AN320-7) nut; and. replace thereafter
(v) Piper P/N 424 085 cotter at intervals not to
pin.. exceed 500 hours
TIS. Continue to
repetitiveely
replace until the
actions in
paragraph (e)(2)
and (e)(3) of this
AD begin.
-----------------------------
(2) Do the inspections, Within the next 100 Follow The New Piper
replacements, and other hours TIS after the Aircraft, Inc.
corrective actions effective date of Service Bulletin
specified in Table 1 this AD, unless No. 1123A, dated
``Specified Maintenance'' already done, November 30, 2004.
of Piper Service Bulletin Repetitively
No. 1123A, dated November inspect thereafter
30, 2004. at the intervals
referenced in the
Inspection Time
column of the
INSTRUCTIONS
paragraph in Piper
Service Bulletin
No. 1123A, dated
November 30, 2004.
-----------------------------
(3) Do any necessary Before further Follow The New Piper
corrective actions as a flight after any Aircraft, Inc.
result of the actions action required by Service Bulletin
specified in Table 1 paragraph (e)(2) of No. 1123A, dated
``Specified Maintenance'' this AD. November 30, 2004.
of Piper Service Bulletin
No. 1123A, dated November
30, 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[[Page 6785]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP09FE05.012
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[[Page 6786]]
Note 1: Paragraph 2. Modified Components of the INSTRUCTIONS
section of The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1123A,
dated November 30, 2004, specifies modified parts that you may
install for improved service life.
Note 2: The Actions column of the table in paragraph (e) of this
AD may include one or a combination of these actions: replacement,
repair, adjustment, alignment, cleaning, lubricating, or other
action.
May I Request an Alternative Method of Compliance?
(f) You may request a different method of compliance or a
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in
14 CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, send your request to
your principal inspector. The principal inspector may add comments
and will send your request to the Manager, Aircraft Certification
Office (ACO), FAA. For information on any already approved
alternative methods of compliance, contact Hassan Amini, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Atlanta ACO, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix
Boulevard, Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone: (770) 703-
6080; facsimile: (770) 703-6097.
May I Get Copies of the Documents Referenced in This AD?
(g) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD,
contact The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach,
Florida, 32960. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC, or on the
Internet at https://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2004-19960.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 1, 2005.
Nancy C. Lane,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-2374 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
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