Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes
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45979 Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 77, No. 149 Thursday, August 2, 2012 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER • Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail We will post all comments we contains notices to the public of the proposed address above between 9 a.m. and 5 receive, without change, to http:// issuance of rules and regulations. The p.m., Monday through Friday, except www.regulations.gov, including any purpose of these notices is to give interested Federal holidays. personal information you provide. We persons an opportunity to participate in the For service information identified in will also post a report summarizing each rule making prior to the adoption of the final this proposed AD, contact Piper rules. substantive verbal contact we receive Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero about this proposed AD. Beach, Florida 32960; telephone: (772) Discussion DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 567–4361; Internet: www.piper.com. You may review copies of the We received reports of control cable Federal Aviation Administration referenced service information at the assembly failures that may lead to FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 failure of the horizontal stabilator 14 CFR Part 39 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. control system on Piper PA–28, PA–32, For information on the availability of [Docket No. FAA–2012–0731; Directorate PA–34, and PA–44 airplanes. We have Identifier 2012–CE–020–AD] this material at the FAA, call (816) 329– had reports of cracks, corrosion, failure 4148. of the turnbuckle, control cable fraying, RIN 2120–AA64 Examining the AD Docket the cable swage end broken and the system being held together by Airworthiness Directives; Piper You may examine the AD docket on turnbuckle safety wire. In one report, an Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes the Internet at http:// elevator cable was found broken at the AGENCY: Federal Aviation www.regulations.gov; or in person at the terminal end near the turnbuckle, and, Administration (FAA), DOT. Docket Management Facility between 9 in another report, the elevator cable a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking failed at the fitting that treads into the (NPRM). Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD turnbuckle. This condition, if not docket contains this proposed AD, the corrected, could result in failure of the SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new regulatory evaluation, any comments horizontal stabilator control system with airworthiness directive (AD) for certain received, and other information. The subsequent loss of pitch control. Piper Aircraft, Inc. (type certificate street address for the Docket Office previously held by The New Piper (phone: 800–647–5527) is in the Relevant Service Information Aircraft Inc.) PA–28, PA–32, PA–34, ADDRESSES section. Comments will be We reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. and PA–44 airplanes. This proposed AD available in the AD docket shortly after Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1245, was prompted by reports of control receipt. dated May 3, 2012. That service cable assembly failures that may lead to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: information describes procedures for failure of the horizontal stabilator Hector Hernandez, Aerospace Engineer, inspections of the stabilator control control system and could result in loss FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification system. of pitch control. This proposed AD Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College would require inspections of the Park, Georgia 30337; telephone: (404) FAA’s Determination stabilator control system and 474–5587; fax: (404) 474–5606; email: We are proposing this AD because we replacement of parts as necessary. We [email protected]. evaluated all the relevant information are proposing this AD to correct the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: and determined the unsafe condition unsafe condition on these products. described previously is likely to exist or DATES: We must receive comments on Comments Invited develop in other products of the same this proposed AD by September 17, We invite you to send any written type design. 2012. relevant data, views, or arguments about Proposed AD Requirements ADDRESSES: You may send comments, this proposal. Send your comments to using the procedures found in 14 CFR an address listed under the ADDRESSES This proposed AD would require 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– inspections of the stabilator control methods: 2012–0731; Directorate Identifier 2012– system and replacement of parts as • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to CE–020–AD’’ at the beginning of your necessary. We are proposing this AD to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the comments. We specifically invite correct the unsafe condition on these instructions for submitting comments. comments on the overall regulatory, products. • Fax: 202–493–2251. economic, environmental, and energy Costs of Compliance • Mail: U.S. Department of aspects of this proposed AD. We will Transportation, Docket Operations, M– consider all comments received by the We estimate that this proposed AD 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room closing date and may amend this affects 34,013 airplanes of U.S. registry. W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., proposed AD because of those We estimate the following costs to Washington, DC 20590. comments. comply with this proposed AD: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:55 Aug 01, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\02AUP1.SGM 02AUP1 TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS 45980 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2012 / Proposed Rules ESTIMATED COSTS Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators Inspection of the horizontal stabilator con- 5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425 ......... Not applicable ........ $425 $14,455,525 trol system. We estimate the following costs to do be required based on the results of the determining the number of aircraft that any necessary replacements that would proposed inspection. We have no way of might need these replacements: ON-CONDITION COSTS Cost per Action Labor cost Parts cost product Replacement of all stabilator control cable system— 10 work-hours × $85 per hour = $850 ......................... $608 $1,458 per set of cables. Authority for This Rulemaking on a substantial number of small entities (d) Subject Title 49 of the United States Code under the criteria of the Regulatory Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/ specifies the FAA’s authority to issue Flexibility Act. Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 2740, Stabilizer Control System. rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 (e) Unsafe Condition section 106, describes the authority of Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: safety, Incorporation by reference, This AD was prompted by reports of control cable assembly failures that may lead Aviation Programs, describes in more Safety. detail the scope of the Agency’s to failure of the horizontal stabilator control authority. The Proposed Amendment system and could result in loss of pitch We are issuing this rulemaking under control. This proposed AD would require Accordingly, under the authority inspections of the stabilator control system the authority described in Subtitle VII, delegated to me by the Administrator, and replacement of parts as necessary. We Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe ‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that 39 as follows: condition on these products. section, Congress charges the FAA with (f) Compliance promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS air commerce by prescribing regulations DIRECTIVES Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already for practices, methods, and procedures done. the Administrator finds necessary for 1. The authority citation for part 39 safety in air commerce. This regulation continues to read as follows: (g) Inspection is within the scope of that authority Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. (1) As of the effective date of this AD, if the age of the airplane is at or exceeds 15 because it addresses an unsafe condition § 39.13 [Amended] that is likely to exist or develop on years, then at the next annual inspection or 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding products identified in this rulemaking within the next 12 months after the effective the following new airworthiness date of this AD, whichever occurs later, do action. directive (AD): an initial inspection of the stabilator control Regulatory Findings system following instructions 1 through 10 of Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA–2012– Piper Aircraft, Inc. Mandatory Service We determined that this proposed AD 0731; Directorate Identifier 2012–CE– Bulletin No. 1245, dated May 3, 2012. would not have federalism implications 020–AD. (2) As of the effective date of this AD, if under Executive Order 13132. This (a) Comments Due Date the age of the airplane is less than 15 years, then, upon the age of the airplane reaching proposed AD would not have a We must receive comments by September 15 years, at the next annual inspection or substantial direct effect on the States, on 17, 2012. the relationship between the national within the next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, do Government and the States, or on the (b) Affected ADs None. an initial inspection of the stabilator control distribution of power and system following instructions 1 through 10 of responsibilities among the various (c)