DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0606; Product Identifier 2018-CE-018-AD; Amendment
39-19321; AD 2018-14-01]
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. (Piper) Models PA-46-600TP (M600) airplanes. This
AD requires inserting temporary airspeed limitations into the pilot's
operating handbook, installing a temporary placard, inspecting rivets
on the cockpit canopy above the left and right cockpit side windows,
and installing a repair kit based on the findings of the rivet
inspection. This AD was prompted by a report of undersized fasteners
installed during manufacturing. We are issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective July 25, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 25,
2018.
We must receive comments on this AD by August 24, 2018.
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: 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, Florida 32960;
telephone: (772) 567-4361; internet: www.piper.com. 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-2018-0606.
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-
0606; or in person at 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 Docket Operations (phone:
800-647-5527) is listed above. 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:
william.mccully@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We received a report from Piper that some rivets installed through
the fuselage skin at the cockpit area during manufacture are below the
minimum required strength on certain Model PA-46-600TP (M600)
airplanes. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of
the skin joint resulting in loss of pressurization or fuselage
structural failure. 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. 1318B, dated
June 7, 2018. The service bulletin describes procedures for
incorporating temporary airspeed limitations into the pilot's operating
handbook (POH) and fabricating and installing an airspeed limitations
placard on the airplane until an inspection is completed and a minimum
of 16 specific rivets are replaced. The service bulletin also describes
procedures for the inspection of the rivets on the cockpit canopy above
the left and right cockpit side window and the replacement of the
rivets. 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 inserting temporary airspeed limitations into the
POH, installing a temporary placard with the airspeed limitations in
the cockpit, inspecting the rivets on the cockpit canopy above the left
and right cockpit side windows, and installing a repair kit based on
the findings of the inspection.
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 undersized and understrength rivets through the fuselage skin
at the cockpit area could result in failure of the skin joint, which
could result in loss of pressurization or fuselage structural failure.
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-
0606 and product identifier 2018-CE-018-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 31 airplanes, of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
Insert airspeed limitations into
the POH and install an airspeed temporary placard. |
.5 work-hour x $85
per hour = $42.50
|
Not applicable |
$42.50 |
$1,317.50 |
Inspect the size of the cockpit
side window rivets. |
2 work-hours (1 work-hour
on each side)
x $85 per hour
= $170 |
Not applicable |
170 |
5,270 |
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. Each
airplane would require one of the kits on each side based on the
inspection. We have presented what the cost on U.S. operators would be
for each kit on both sides even though each airplane would have one of
the two kits on each side and could have different kits on each side.
This would make the total cost on U.S. operators significantly less,
but we have no way of determining how many would require each kit.
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per
product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
Replace rivets using Rivet Replacement
Kit, Piper part number P/N 88623-701. |
16 work-hours (8 work-hours
each side) x $85 per hour
= $1,360 |
$6 ($3 each side) |
$1,366 |
$42,346 |
Replace rivets using Rivet Replacement
Kit, Piper part number P/N 88624-701. |
60 work-hours (30 work-hours
each side) x $85 per hour =
$5,100 |
244 ($122 each side) |
5,344 |
165,664 |
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, balloons, airships, 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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
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