Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft Corporation PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 Series Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-01-AD]

Airworthiness Directives: Piper Aircraft Corporation PA28R,

PA28RT, and PA44 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper)

PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 series airplanes. The proposed action would

require installing a certain nose landing gear modification kit.

Several service difficulty reports of collapsed nosegear on the

affected airplanes prompted this action. In particular, these reports

reveal failure of the bolt (AN4-20) connecting the lower drag link of

the nosegear to the upper drag link. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent nose gear collapse because of AN4-

20 bolt failure, which could lead to airplane damage.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 2, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-01-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. 94-CE-01-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. 94-CE-01-AD, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The FAA has received several service difficulty reports of

collapsed nosegear on certain Piper PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 series

airplanes. In particular, these reports reveal failure of the bolt

(AN4-20) connecting the lower drag link of the nosegear to the upper

drag link.

For example, the nose landing gear of a Piper Model PA44-180

airplane collapsed during the landing roll. The accident occurred

during a normal touchdown and was a result of AN4-20 bolt failure. Both

the left and right propellers struck the ground and were damaged beyond

repair.

Piper Service Letter No. 988, dated July 29, 1986, references Nose

Landing Gear Modification Kit, Piper part number (P/N) 764-377 (for

PA28R and PA28RT series airplanes) and Piper P/N 764-378 (for PA44

series airplanes). The modification kits consist of a close tolerance

bolt (NAS464P4-27), four bearings, and all other associated hardware

for installation on the draglink assembly. This NAS464P4-27 bolt

replaces the AN4-20 bolt used to connect the upper and lower draglinks.

Instructions to these kits specify complete installation procedures for

these parts, including a check of the nosegear downlock hook to ensure

that it rotates freely.

After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available

information related to the accident and incidents described above, the

FAA has determined that AD action should be taken to prevent nose gear

collapse because of failure of the AN4-20 bolt, which could lead to

airplane damage.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to

exist or develop in other Piper PA28R, PA28RT, and PA44 series

airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require

installing Nose Landing Gear Modification Kit, Piper part number (P/N)

764-377 (for PA28R and PA28RT series airplanes) or Piper P/N 764-378

(for PA44 series airplanes). The proposed action would be accomplished

in accordance with the instructions included with the referenced kits.

The FAA estimates that 6,888 airplanes in the U.S. registry would

be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6

workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the

average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Parts cost

approximately $52 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$2,631,216. This figure is based on the assumption that none of the

affected airplane owners/operators have accomplished the proposed

modification.

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 adding the following new AD:

Piper Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-01-AD.

Applicability: The following model and serial number airplanes,

certificated in any category:

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Model Serial Nos.

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PA28R-180....... 28R-30004 through 28R-7130013.

PA28R-200....... 28R-35001 through 28R-7635545.

PA28R-201....... 28R-7737001 through 28R-7837317.

PA28R-201T...... 28R-7703001 through 28R-7803373.

PA28RT-201...... 28R-7918001 through 28R-8218003.

PA28RT-201T..... 28R-7931001 through 28R-8231009.

PA44-180........ 44-7995001 through 44-8195026.

PA44-180T....... 44-8107001 through 44-8207005.

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Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service

after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent nose gear collapse, which could lead to airplane

damage, accomplish the following:

(a) Incorporate Nose Landing Gear Modification Kit, Piper part

number (P/N) 764-377 (for PA28R and PA28RT series airplanes) or

Piper P/N 764-378 (for PA44 series airplanes). Accomplish this

action in accordance with the procedures and sketches included with

the instructions to the above referenced kits.

Note 1: The modification kits referenced in paragraph (a) of

this AD consist of a close tolerance bolt (NAS464P4-27), four

bearings, and all other associated hardware for installation on the

draglink assembly. This NAS464P4-27 bolt replaces the AN4-20 bolt

used to connect the upper and lower draglinks.

(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14

CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where

the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

(c) 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

(d) 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.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 15, 1994.

John R. Colomy,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-4126 Filed 2-23-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-U