Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61725-61727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25723]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-4085; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-033-AD; 
Amendment 39-18292; AD 2015-20-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-28-161, PA-28-181, and PA-28R-201 
airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the right wing rib at wing 
station 140.09 for cracks and taking necessary corrective action. This 
AD was prompted by a report of cracks found in the wing rib bead radius 
that were formed during production. We are issuing this AD to correct 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 29, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 29, 
2015.
    We must receive comments on this AD by November 30, 2015.

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 http://www.regulations.gov. 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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc., Customer Service, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 
32960; telephone: (877) 879-0275; fax: none; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: www.piper.com. You may review the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is 
also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for locating Docket No. FAA-2015-4085.

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-2015-
4085; 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 AD, 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: Gregory ``Keith'' Noles, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5551; fax: (404) 
474-5606; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We received a report from Piper Aircraft, Inc. of a production 
quality control problem on certain Models PA-28-161, PA-28-181, and PA-
28R-201 airplanes. A change in production tooling and processes caused 
cracks to form along the edge of rib stiffening beads during 
manufacture. These cracks cause reduced structural integrity of the 
wing, which results in the inability of the wing rib to carry ultimate 
load.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced 
structural integrity of the wing with consequent loss of control. We 
are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1279, dated 
August 26, 2015. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
inspecting the right wing rib at wing station 140.09 for cracks and for 
obtaining an FAA-approved repair if cracks are found. 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 of this AD.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing 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.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information described previously.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because 
cracks in the wing rib, if not detected and corrected immediately,

[[Page 61726]]

could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing with 
consequent loss of control. Therefore, we find that notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public 
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2015-4085 and 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-033-AD at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
AD 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 AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 15 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                        Cost per    Cost on U.S.
               Action                       Labor cost              Parts cost           product      operators
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Inspect the right wing rib at wing    1 work-hour x $85 per   Not applicable........          $85        $1,275
 station 140.09 for cracks.            hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repairs that 
would be required based on the results of the inspection. This estimate 
is based on replacement of the rib. We have no way of determining the 
number of airplanes that might need these repairs:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Cost per
                     Action                                   Labor cost               Parts cost      product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repair of the of the wing rib...................  35 work-hours x $85 per hour =             $125        $3,100
                                                   $2,975.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
    (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),
    (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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):

2015-20-13 Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Amendment 39-18292; Docket No. FAA-
2015-4085; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-033-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 29, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-28-161 
airplanes, serial numbers 2842393 through 2842395; Model PA-28-181 
airplanes, serial numbers 2843769 through

[[Page 61727]]

2843775 and 2843779 through 2843791; and Model PA-28R-201 airplanes, 
serial number 2844152, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 5712, Wing Ribs/Bulkhead.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of cracks found in the wing rib 
bead radius that were formed during production. We are issuing this 
AD to detect and correct cracks in the wing rib, which if not 
corrected, could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing 
with consequent loss of control.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspect

    (1) Within the next 25 hours time-in-service after October 29, 
2015 (the effective date of this AD), inspect the right wing rib at 
wing station (WS) 140.09 for cracks following the INSTRUCTIONS 
section of Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1279, dated 
August 26, 2015.
    (2) If any crack is detected during the inspection required by 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before further flight, obtain and 
implement an FAA-approved repair scheme, approved specifically for 
this AD. At the operator's discretion, assistance may be provided by 
contacting Piper Aircraft, Inc. at the address identified in 
paragraph (k)(3) of this AD.

(h) Special Flight Permit

    A special flight permit is allowed without limitations for the 
inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD. If a crack is 
found during the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, 
a special flight permit is allowed with the following limitations:
    (1) Flight must be planned to the nearest location where repairs 
can be done;
    (2) Indicated airspeed must be 120 knots or less for the entire 
flight;
    (3) Bank angle is not to exceed 30 degrees for the entire 
flight;
    (4) Maximum load factors must be between +3.0 and -1.0 for the 
entire flight; and
    (5) Flight must be performed VFR, with no turbulence greater 
than ``light'' forecast for the planned flight route and altitude.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO, 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 
ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph 
(j) 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.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Gregory ``Keith'' 
Noles, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta ACO, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5551; fax: (404) 474-
5606; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1279, dated August 
26, 2015.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Piper Aircraft, Inc. service information identified in 
this AD, contact Piper Aircraft, Inc., Customer Service, 2926 Piper 
Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; telephone: (877) 879-0275; fax: 
none; email: [email protected]; Internet: www.piper.com.
    (4) You may review the referenced service information at the 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for locating Docket No. FAA-
2015-4085.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 2015.
Melvin Johnson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25723 Filed 10-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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