Proposed Rule2022-02072
Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc., Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 3, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc., (Piper) Model PA-34-200 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the determination that the life limit for alternate bolts that attach the drag link to the nose gear were not listed as airworthiness limitations. This proposed AD would require establishing a life limit for these bolts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6089-6091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02072]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0222; Project Identifier AD-2020-01264-A]
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: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc., (Piper) Model PA-34-200 airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by the determination that the life limit
for alternate bolts that attach the drag link to the nose gear were not
listed as airworthiness limitations. This proposed AD would require
establishing a life limit for these bolts. The FAA is proposing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 21,
2022.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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 NPRM, contact Piper
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960; phone: (772)
299-2141; website: <a href="https://www.piper.com">https://www.piper.com</a>. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0222; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Marshall, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park,
GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5524; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1d77727573336f33707c6f6e757c71715d7b7c7c337a726b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9df7f2f5f3b3efb3f0fcefeef5fcf1f1ddfbfcfcb3faf2eb">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0222; Project Identifier
AD-2020-01264-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and
[[Page 6090]]
actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to John
Marshall, Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. Any commentary that the FAA
receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in
the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
Piper notified the FAA that prior revisions of the ALS for certain
Piper Model PA-34-200 airplanes did not contain a life limit for bolt
part number (P/N) 693-215 (standard P/N NAS6207-50D). Bolt P/N 693-215
(NAS6207-50D) is an alternate part for P/N 400-274 (standard P/N AN7-
35). These bolts attach the drag link to the nose gear trunnion on
Piper Model PA-34-200 airplanes. Piper did not include an ALS revision
for the P/N 693-215 (standard P/N NAS6207-50D) bolt to establish the
same life limit as the P/N 400-274 (AN7-35).
If bolt P/N 693-215 (standard P/N NAS6207-50D) that attaches the
drag link to the nose gear trunnion remains in service beyond its
fatigue life, failure of the nose landing gear could occur, which could
result in loss of airplane control during take-off, landing, or taxi
operations.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Related Service Information
The FAA reviewed Piper Seneca Service Manual, Airworthiness
Limitations, 753-817, page 1-1, dated November 30, 2019. This service
information specifies the life limits of the P/N 693-215 (standard P/N
NAS6207-50D) bolt that attaches the drag link to the nose gear
trunnion.
ADs Mandating Airworthiness Limitations
The FAA has previously mandated airworthiness limitations by
issuing ADs that require revising the ALS of the existing maintenance
manual or instructions for continued airworthiness to incorporate new
or revised inspections and life limits. This AD, however, requires
incorporating new or revised inspections and life limits into the
maintenance records required by 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2) or 135.439(a)(2)
for your airplane. The FAA does not intend this as a substantive
change. Requiring incorporation of the new ALS requirements into the
maintenance records, rather than requiring individual repetitive
inspections and replacements, allows operators to record AD compliance
once after updating the maintenance records, rather than recording
compliance after every inspection and part replacement.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require establishing a 500-hour life limit
for bolt P/N 693-215 and P/N NAS6207-50D.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 187 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates 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 airplane operators
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Revise the Airworthiness 1 work-hour x $85 Not Applicable............. $85 $15,895
Limitations. per hour = $85.
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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.
The FAA is 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
The FAA 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 this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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.
[[Page 6091]]
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2022-0222; Project Identifier
AD-2020-01264-A.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by March 21, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Piper Aircraft, Inc., Model PA-34-200
airplanes, serial numbers 34-7250001 through 34-7450220,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3220, Nose/Tail
Landing Gear.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the determination that the life limit
for alternate bolts that attach the drag link to the nose gear were
not included as airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this
AD to establish a life limit on bolt part numbers 693-215 and
NAS6207-50D that attach the drag link to the nose gear trunnion. The
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the
nose landing gear and lead to loss of airplane control during take-
off, landing, or taxi operations.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Actions
(1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD,
incorporate into the maintenance records required by 14 CFR
91.417(a)(2) or 135.439(a)(2) for your airplane a life limit of 500
hours for bolt part numbers 693-215 and NAS6207-50D.
Note to paragraph (g)(1): Piper Seneca Service Manual,
Airworthiness Limitations, 753-817, page 1-1, dated November 30,
2019, contains the life limit in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
(2) Thereafter, except as provided in paragraph (h)(1) of this
AD, no alternative replacement times may be approved for these
bolts.
(h) 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 paragraph (i)(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.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact John Marshall,
Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5524; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e882878086c69ac685899a9b80898484a88e8989c68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="22484d4a4c0c500c4f4350514a434e4e624443430c454d54">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Piper
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960; phone: (772)
299-2141; website: <a href="https://www.piper.com">https://www.piper.com</a>. You may view this
referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
Issued on January 27, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-02072 Filed 2-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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