82 FR 51583 - Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 214 (November 7, 2017)

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, PA-28-180, PA-28-235, PA-32-260, and PA-32-300 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of corrosion found in an area of the main wing spar not easily accessible for inspection. This proposed AD would require installing an inspection access panel in the lower wing skin near the left and the right main wing spars if not already there, inspecting the left and the right main wing spars for corrosion, and taking all necessary corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 7, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51583-51585]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24083]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1059; Product Identifier 2017-CE-035-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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, 
PA-28-180, PA-28-235, PA-32-260, and PA-32-300 airplanes. This proposed 
AD was prompted by reports of corrosion found in an area of the main 
wing spar not easily accessible for inspection. This proposed AD would 
require installing an inspection access panel in the lower wing skin 
near the left and the right main wing spars if not already there, 
inspecting the left and the right main wing spars for corrosion, and 
taking all necessary corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 22, 
2017.

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 NPRM, contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; telephone: 
(772) 567-4361; Internet: www.piper.com. You may review this referenced 
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.

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-2017-
1059 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 NPRM, 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: Dan McCully, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; 
telephone: (404) 474-5548; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-1059; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-035-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM.

Discussion

    We received two reports of significant corrosion found on the main 
wing spars on certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, 
PA-28-160, PA-28-180, PA-28-235, PA-32-260, and PA-32-300 airplanes. 
The corrosion was found during maintenance in an area that is not 
easily accessible for inspection. This condition, if not detected and 
corrected, could cause the main wing spar to fail. This failure could 
result in loss of control.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1304, dated 
August 23, 2017. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
installing an inspection access panel in the lower wing skin near the 
left and the right main wing spars, if not already there, inspect for 
corrosion, and, if corrosion is found, taking all necessary corrective 
actions. 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 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 require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 11,476 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost             Parts cost           product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main wing spar inspection.........  2 work-hours x $85     Not Applicable.......            $170      $1,950,920
                                     per hour = $170 to
                                     inspect both wings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 51584]]


                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                 Action                           Labor cost                  Parts cost              product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Install inspection access panel in the    6 work-hours x $85 per      $175 for the kit that                 $685
 lower wing skin near the left and the     hour = $510 to install      contains provisions for
 right main wing spars.                    the inspection access       installing inspections
                                           panel on both wings.        access panels on both
                                                                       wings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The scope of damage found in the required inspection could vary 
significantly from airplane to airplane. We have no way of determining 
how much damage may be found on each airplane or the cost to repair 
damaged parts on each airplane or the number of airplanes that may 
require repair.

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 and domestic 
business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy and 
Innovation Division.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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) 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2017-1059; Product Identifier 
2017-CE-035-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 22, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following Piper Aircraft, Inc. model 
airplanes that are certificated in any category:

 Table 1 to Paragraph (c) of This AD--Affected Models and Serial Numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PA-28-140.........................  28-20001 through 28-26946, and 28-
                                     7125001 through 28-7725290.
PA-28-150 and PA-28-160...........  28-1 through 28-4377, and 28-1760A.
PA-28-180.........................  28-671 through 28-5859, 28-7105001
                                     through 28-7205318, and 28-7305001
                                     through 28-7505261.
PA-28-235.........................  28-10001 through 28-11378, 28-
                                     7110001 through 28-7710089, and 28E-
                                     11.
PA-32-260.........................  32-04, 32-1 through 32-1297, and 32-
                                     7100001 through 32-7800008.
PA-32-300.........................  32-15, 32-21, 32-40000 through 32-
                                     40974, and 32-7140001 through 32-
                                     7840222.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 5711, Wing Spar.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion found in an area of 
the main wing spar not easily accessible for inspection. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion in the wing root 
area of the left and the right main wing spars. The unsafe 
condition, if not detected and corrected, could cause the main wing 
spar to fail, which could result in loss of control.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Determine if Inspection Access Panels Are Already Present

    Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD or within the next 12 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect the lower 
wing skin near the main wing spar on both wings for the presence of 
an inspection access panel using Part I of the Instructions section 
of Piper Aircraft, Inc.

[[Page 51585]]

(Piper) Service Bulletin (SB) No. 1304, dated August 23, 2017.

(h) Install Inspection Access Panels

    If it is determined that no inspection access panels are present 
during the inspection required in paragraph (g) of this AD, within 
the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD or within 
the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs first install inspection access panels on the lower skin of 
the left wing and the right wing using Piper SB No. 1304, dated 
August 23, 2017.

(i) Inspect for Corrosion

    Within the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this 
AD or within the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first, inspect the left and the right main wing 
spar for any evidence of corrosion using Part I of the Instructions 
section of Piper SB No. 1304, dated August 23, 2017.

(j) Corrective Actions

    Before further flight after the inspection required in paragraph 
(i) of this AD, if evidence of corrosion is found, take all 
necessary corrective actions to remove the corrosion using Part I of 
the Instructions section of Piper SB No. 1304, dated August 23, 
2017, and/or make all necessary repairs using Part II of the 
Instructions section of Piper SB No. 1304, dated August 23, 2017.

(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 paragraph (l)(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.
    (3) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs (g) 
through (j) of this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(l) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Dan McCully, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; telephone: (404) 474-5548; fax: (404) 
474-5606; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 
telephone: (772) 567-4361; Internet: www.piper.com. You may review 
this referenced 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 30, 2017.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24083 Filed 11-6-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P