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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0447; Product Identifier 2018-CE-055-AD; Amendment
39-19667; AD 2019-12-12]
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: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-46-600TP (M600)
airplanes. This AD requires inserting a ground operations limitation
into the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) and
installing a placard limiting ground operations. This AD also includes
optional actions to terminate the ground operating limitations. This AD
was prompted by a report of understrength rivets installed during
manufacture of the bulkhead assembly. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective July 12, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 12,
2019.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by August 12, 2019.
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-2018-0447.
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-2019-0447;
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 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
The FAA received a report from Piper that incorrect rivets were
installed in the bulkhead assembly at fuselage station (FS) 79.00
during the manufacture of certain serial-numbered Model PA-46-600TP
(M600) airplanes. The rivets were not in accordance with the type
design drawing, nor did they meet the strength requirements of the
aircraft design. This condition, if not corrected, could result in
failure of the rivets, which could lead to structural failure of the
bulkhead assembly and loss of control of the airplane. The FAA is
issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Piper Service Bulletin No. 1332A, dated January
29, 2019. The service bulletin contains procedures for inserting the
temporary ground operating limitation into the pilot's operating
handbook (POH) and installing a placard with the temporary ground
operating limitation, either a fabricated placard or placard part
number 46G110013-702, in the airplane cockpit. The service bulletin
also contains procedures for inspecting the FS 79.00 bulkhead assembly
for cracks, wrinkling, or missing rivets and for replacing the
understrength rivets with new 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
The FAA is issuing this AD because the FAA 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 a ground operating limitation into the
Limitations section of the AFM and installing a placard in the airplane
cockpit that limits ground operations. This AD also includes an
optional action to terminate the ground operating limitation by
replacing the rivets to reinforce the bulkhead assembly. Although
Piper's service information specifies inserting the operating
limitation into the POH, Piper's POH for the Model PA-46-600TP
constitutes its FAA-approved AFM.
Interim Action
The FAA considers this AD interim action. The FAA may require
replacement of the rivets to reinforce the bulkhead assembly. However,
the planned compliance time for the replacement of the rivets would
allow enough time to provide notice and opportunity for prior comment
on the merit of the replacement.
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 the required corrective actions must be accomplished before
further flight. Providing prior notice and comment would delay
implementing these safety actions needed to correct this known unsafe
condition, which could result in structural failure of the FS 79.00
bulkhead, resulting in loss of control of the airplane. Therefore, the
FAA finds good cause that notice and opportunity for prior public
comment are impracticable. In addition, for the reason stated above,
the FAA finds 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, the FAA invites 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-2019-
0447 and Product Identifier 2018-CE-055-AD at the beginning of your
comments. The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final
rule. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
The FAA will post all comments the FAA receives, without change, to
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact the FAA receives about this final rule.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 69 airplanes, of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Insert the ground operating limitation
into the AFM and install placard limiting ground operations. |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour
= $85 |
$6.00
|
$91
|
$6,279
|
Optional Terminating Action
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Optional terminating action to
replace rivets |
100 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $8,500 |
$200
|
$8,700
|
$600,300
|
According to the manufacturer, some
of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in their 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.
The FAA is 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 Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment,
RFA analysis is not required.
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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
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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