Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3064-3067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01059]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0015; Product Identifier 2017-CE-045-AD; Amendment 
39-19158; AD 2018-02-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc.

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-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-151, PA-28-160, 
PA-28-161, PA-28-180, PA-28-181,

[[Page 3065]]

PA-28-236, PA-28-201T, PA-28R-180, PA-28R-200, PA-28R-201, PA-28R-201T, 
PA-28RT-201, and PA-28RT-201T airplanes. This AD requires inspecting 
the fuel tank selector cover to verify the left and right fuel tank 
selector placards are located at the proper positions and replacing 
those that are improperly located with new placards. This AD was 
prompted by a quality control issue at the manufacturer that resulted 
in the installation of the fuel tank selector covers with the left and 
right fuel tank selector placards improperly located. We are issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 7, 2018.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 7, 
2018.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 9, 2018.

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 final rule, contact 
Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960; 
telephone: (772) 567-4361; internet: www.piper.com/technical-publications-documents/. You may view this 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. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0015.

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-2018-
0015; or in person at the Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for the Docket Operations (phone: 
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Segall, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 
30337; phone: (404) 474-5541; fax: (404) 474-5506; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We received a report from Piper Aircraft, Inc., that they had a 
quality control issue that resulted in the installation of fuel tank 
selector covers with the placement of the left and right fuel tank 
selector placards installed in reverse on certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. 
Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-151, PA-28-160, PA-28-161, PA-28-
180, PA-28-181, PA-28-236, PA-28-201T, PA-28R-180, PA-28R-200, PA-28R-
201, PA-28R-201T, PA-28RT-201, and PA-28RT-201T airplanes. This 
condition, if not addressed, could result in fuel management errors 
resulting in fuel starvation and loss of engine power in flight. We are 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1309, dated 
October 10, 2017. The service bulletin describes procedures for 
inspecting the fuel tank selector cover to verify the left and right 
fuel tank selector placards are located at the 12:00 and 3:00 clock 
positions, respectively, and replacing those that are improperly 
located with new placards. 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 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 without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule 
because improper fuel selection could result in fuel starvation and 
loss of engine power in flight. Therefore, we find good cause that 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable. In 
addition, for the reason stated above, we find 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 final rule. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2018-
0015 and Product Identifier 2017-CE-045-AD at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final rule. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
final rule 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 final rule.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 17,957 airplanes, of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 3066]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
             Action                  Labor cost               Parts cost              product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect the left and right fuel  .5 work-hour x $85  Not applicable.............          $42.50     $763,172.50
 tank selector placards for       per hour = $42.50.
 proper installation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have 
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this 
replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Install new fuel selector placards on the fuel  .5 work-hour x $85 per hour =              $9.26          $51.76
 selector cover.                                 $42.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.
    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, gliders, and 
domestic business jet transport airplanes and associated appliances to 
the Director of the Policy and Innovation Division.

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):

2018-02-05 Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Amendment 39-19158; Docket No. FAA-
2018-0015; Product Identifier 2017-CE-045-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective February 7, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following Piper Aircraft, Inc. airplane 
models and serial numbers (S/Ns) that are certificated in any 
category:

Table 1 to Paragraph (c) of This AD--Applicable Airplane Models and S/Ns
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Model                             Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PA-28-140...................  28-20001 through 28-26946; 28-7125001
                               through 28-7725290.
PA-28-150...................  28-03, 28-1 through 28-4377, and 28-1760A.
PA-28-151...................  28-741500l through 28-7715314.
PA-28-160...................  28-03, 28-1 through 28-4377, and 28-1760A.
PA-28-161...................  2841001 through 2841365, 28-7716001
                               through 28-8216300, 28-8316001 through 28-
                               8616057, 2816001 through 2816109, 2816110
                               through 2816119, and 2842001 through
                               2842420.
PA-28-180...................  28-03, 28-671 through 28-5859, 28-7105001
                               through 28-7205318, 28-E13, and 28-
                               7305001 through 28-7505261.

[[Page 3067]]

 
PA-28-181...................  28-769000l through 28-8690056, 28-8690061,
                               28-8690062, 289000l through 2890205,
                               2890206 through 2890231, and 2843001
                               through 2843879.
PA-28-236...................  28-7911001 through 28-8611008 and 2811001
                               through 2811050.
PA-28-201T..................  28-7921001 through 28-7921095.
PA-28R-180..................  28R-30002 through 28R-31270 and 28R-
                               7130001 through 28R-7130019.
PA-28R-200..................  28R-30482, 28R-35001 through 28R-35820,
                               28R-7135001 through 28R-7135238, and 28R-
                               7235001 through 28R-7635545.
PA-28R-201..................  28R-7737002 through 28R-7837317, 2837001
                               through 2837061, and 2844001 through
                               2844171.
PA-28R-201T.................  28R-7703001 through 28R-7803374 and
                               2803001 through 2803015.
PA-28RT-201.................  28R-7918001 through 28R-8218026.
PA-28RT-201T................  28R-7931001 through 28R-8631005, and
                               2831001 through 2831038.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 11, Placard and Markings.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a quality control issue at the 
manufacturer that resulted in the installation of fuel tank selector 
covers with the left and right fuel tank selector placards 
improperly located. We are issuing this AD to prevent fuel 
management error. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in fuel starvation and loss of engine power in flight.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspect Fuel Selector Cover

    Before further flight after February 7, 2018 (the effective date 
of this AD), inspect the left and right fuel selector cover placards 
for proper installation using Part I of Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 1309, dated October 10, 2017. If the fuel 
selectors placards are properly installed, no further action is 
required.

(h) Install Temporary Fuel Selector Placards

    If improper (reversed clock positions) installation of the left 
and right fuel selector placards is found during the inspection 
required in paragraph (g) of this AD, before further flight, 
fabricate and install temporary left and right fuel selector 
placards using Part II of Piper SB No. 1309, dated October 10, 2017. 
In lieu of installing the temporary placards required by this 
paragraph, you may install the permanent placards specified in 
paragraph (i) of this AD.

(i) Install Permanent Fuel Selector Placards

    Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after February 
7, 2018 (the effective date of this AD), replace the temporary 
placard installed in paragraph (h) of this AD with permanent left 
and right fuel selector placards using Part III of Piper SB No. 
1309, dated October 10, 2017, unless already done in lieu of 
installing the temporary placards specified in paragraph (h) of this 
AD.

(j) Special Flight Permit

    A special flight permit is allowed for this AD per 14 CFR 39.23 
with the following limitations: Flights are not to exceed a total of 
100 hours TIS with temporary placards installed.

(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 Related Information, paragraph (l), 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.

(l) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Ronald Segall, 
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5541; fax: (404) 474-
5506; email: [email protected].

 (m) 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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1309, dated 
October 10, 2017.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Piper Aircraft, Inc. service information identified in 
this AD, contact Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, 
FL 32960; telephone: (772) 567-4361; internet: www.piper.com/technical-publications-documents/.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (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 January 16, 2018.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-01059 Filed 1-22-18; 8:45 am]
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