[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 1, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-2090] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: February 1, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 93-CE-60-AD] Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft Corporation PA24, PA30, and PA39 Series Airplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede AD 74-13-01, which currently requires inspecting (one-time) the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings for looseness on certain Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper) PA24, PA30, and PA39 series airplanes, and, if looseness is found, incorporating Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement). The proposed action would retain the initial inspection of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, and would make these inspections repetitive unless the above referenced service kit is incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings. Incidents of looseness of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings on several of the affected airplanes in compliance with the current AD prompted this action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of pitch control because of looseness of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 8, 1994. ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-CE-60-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained from the Piper Aircraft Corporation, Customer Services, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Marsh, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1669 Phoenix Parkway, suite 210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (404) 991-2910; facsimile (404) 991-3606. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments received. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. 93-CE-60-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter. Availability of NPRMs Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 93-CE-60-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Discussion AD 74-13-01, Amendment 39-1870, currently requires inspecting (one- time) the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings for looseness on Piper PA24, PA30, and PA39 series airplanes, and, if looseness is found, incorporating Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement). The FAA has received reports of incidents where looseness of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings was discovered on several Piper PA24, PA30, and PA39 airplanes. All of these airplanes were in compliance with the one-time inspection requirement of AD 74- 13-01, but did not have Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings. After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has determined that (1) The one-time inspection of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings on the referenced airplanes that is currently required by AD 74-13-01 should be accomplished repetitively unless Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) is incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings; and (2) AD action should be taken to prevent loss of pitch control because of looseness of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop in other Piper PA24, PA30, and PA39 series airplanes of the same type design that have not incorporated Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, the proposed AD would supersede AD 74-13-01 with a new AD that would retain the initial inspection of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, and would make these inspections repetitive unless the above referenced service kit is incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings. The FAA estimates that 4,409 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed initial inspection, and that the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $242,495. This figure does not account for any repetitive inspections that would be required by the proposed AD. However, incorporating Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings eliminates the need for the repetitive inspection requirement of this AD. In addition, this kit may have been incorporated through compliance with AD 75-27-08, Amendment 39-2624. This AD requires inspecting the rivets of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, and the modification for any misaligned rivets is the incorporation of the referenced kit. The cost figure presented above is based on the assumption that none of the owners/operators that would be affected by the proposed AD have incorporated Piper Kit No. 760 835. The FAA anticipates that numerous owners/operators have incorporated this kit, thereby reducing the cost impact of the proposed action. The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ``ADDRESSES''. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety. The Proposed Amendment Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows: PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89. Sec. 39.13 [Amended] 2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing AD 74-13-01, Amendment 39- 1870, and by adding the following new airworthiness directive to read as follows: Piper Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 93-CE-60-AD; Supersedes AD 74-13-01, Amendment 39-1870. Applicability: The following model and serial number airplanes, certificated in any category, that have not incorporated Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Model Serial Nos. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PA24-180, PA24-250 and PA24-260.. 24-1 through 24-5047. PA24-400......................... 26-2 through 26-148. PA30............................. 30-1 through 30-2000. PA39............................. 39-1 through 39-155. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1: Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement), may have been incorporated through compliance with AD 75-27-08, Amendment 39-2624. This AD requires inspecting the rivets of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, and the modification for any misaligned rivets is the incorporation of the referenced kit. Airplanes incorporating this kit on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings are not affected by this AD. Compliance: Required within the next 100 hour time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished, and thereafter as indicated. To prevent loss of pitch control because of looseness of the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings, which could result in loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following: (a) Inspect the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings for looseness by accomplishing the following: (1) Remove the tail cone and right rear aft fuselage access door. (2) Grasp the stabilator tip and shake the tip from left to right and up and down. Note 2: Piper Service Bulletin 411A, dated April 10, 1974, specifies these same procedures for inspecting the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings. (b) If looseness is found during the inspection specified in paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further flight, incorporate Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) on the affected fitting, and reinstall the tail cone and right rear aft fuselage access door. (c) If looseness is not found during the inspection specified in paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further flight, reinstall the tail cone and right rear aft fuselage access door, and reinspect the stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings for looseness at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS until Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) is incorporated on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings. (d) Incorporating Piper Kit No. 760 835 (Hi-Shear Rivet Replacement) on all four stabilator torque tube bearing support fittings is considered terminating action for the inspection requirement of this AD. (e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. (f) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Suite 210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Atlanta ACO. Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Atlanta ACO. (g) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of the document referred to herein upon request to the Piper Aircraft Corporation, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; or may examine this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. (h) This amendment supersedes AD 74-13-01, Amendment 39-1870. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 24, 1994. Bobby W. Sexton, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 94-2090 Filed 1-31-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-U