DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0881; Project Identifier 2018-CE-024-AD; Amendment
39-21578; AD 2021-11-16]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 79-01-03,
which applied to certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-36-285
airplanes, and AD 83-20-03, which applied to Piper Models PA-36-285,
PA-36-300, and PA-36-375 airplanes. AD 79-01-03 required repetitive
inspections of the spar carry through assembly until replaced with a
different part numbered spar carry through assembly. AD 83-20-03
established life limits for the wing spar structural components. This
AD retains the requirements in AD 79-01-03 and AD 83-20-03 and requires
the spar carry through assembly inspection from AD 79-01-03 for
additional airplanes and adds life limits for certain wing structural
components previously omitted from AD 83-20-03 for certain serial
numbered airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective July 15, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 15,
2021.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Piper Aircraft, Inc., 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960;
phone: (772) 567-4361; website: https://www.piper.com. You may view
this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816)
329-4148. It is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0881.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0881; 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, any
comments received, and other information. The address for Docket
Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan McCully, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337;
phone: (404) 474-5548; fax: (404) 474-5606; email:
william.mccully@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 79-01-03, Amendment 39-3383 (44 FR 36,
January 2, 1979), Docket No. 78-EA-69 (AD 79-01-03) and AD 83-20-03,
Amendment 39-4739 (48 FR 45535, October 6, 1983), Docket No. 83-CE-23-
AD (AD 83-20-03). AD 79-01-03 applied to certain Piper Model PA-36-285
airplanes and required repetitive inspections of spar carry through
assembly part number (P/N) 97370-00, with repair as necessary, until
the spar carry through assembly is replaced with P/N 76824-02. AD 83-
20-03 applied to Piper Models PA-36-285, PA-36-300, and PA-36-375
airplanes and established life limits for certain wing structural
components.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 23, 2021 (86 FR
15439). The NPRM was prompted by inconsistencies between the two ADs
and the airplanes' type certificate. The FAA determined that the life
limits for the spar carry through assembly, P/N 97370-00 or 76824-02,
were inadvertently omitted from AD 83-20-03 for certain airplanes. In
the NPRM, the FAA proposed to add the life limit for the spar carry
through assembly for Models PA-36-285 and PA-36-300 airplanes, serial
numbers 36-7660123 through 36-8160023; and Model PA-36-375 airplanes,
serial numbers 36-7802001 through 36-8302025. The FAA also determined
the repetitive inspections of the spar carry through assembly required
by AD 79-01-03 should apply to both Model PA-36-285 and Model PA-36-300
airplanes until the life limit replacement of the spar carry through
assembly with P/N 76824-02. In the NPRM, the FAA also proposed to
require adding the repetitive inspections for the Model PA-36-300
airplanes. After the initial life limit replacement of the wing spar
carry through assembly, P/N 97370-00 with P/N 76824-02, the repetitive
inspections will no longer be required.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
requires adoption of the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This
AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Piper Service Bulletin No. 552A, dated August 3,
2018 (Piper SB No. 552A); Piper Aircraft PA-36, Pawnee Brave Kit 764-
394, Right Wing Main Spar Caps Replacement, dated June 9, 2012 (Piper
Kit 764-394); and Piper Aircraft PA-36, Pawnee Brave
Kit 764-393, Left Wing Main Spar Caps Replacement, dated June 9, 2012
(Piper Kit 764-393). Piper SB No. 552A applies to Models PA-36-285 and
PA-36-300 airplanes and contains procedures for repetitively inspecting
wing spar carry through assembly P/N 97370-00. Piper Kit 764-394
identifies the applicable parts and specifies procedures for replacing
the right wing main spar caps, which includes the attachment bolts and
wing carry through spar fittings and assembly. Piper Kit 764-393
identifies the applicable parts and specifies procedures for replacing
the left wing main spar caps, which includes the attachment bolts and
wing carry through spar fittings and assembly. 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 ADDRESSES.
Other Related Service Information
The FAA also reviewed Piper Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin
No. 552, dated February 3, 1978 (Piper SB No. 552). Piper SB No. 552
contains the same procedures as Piper SB No. 552A, but Piper SB No. 552
only applies to Model PA-36-285 airplanes.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 123 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 |
Inspection of P/N 97370-00 wing
spar carry through assembly |
8 work-hours x $85
per hour = $680 |
Not applicable |
$680 |
$83,640 |
Replacement of the wing attachment
upper bolt and lower bolt |
10 work-hours x $85
per hour = $850 |
$1,310 (both bolts) |
2,160 |
265,680 |
Replacement of wing carry through
spar assembly * |
30 work-hours x $85
per hour = $2,550 |
$23,467 |
26,017 |
3,200,091 |
Replacement of Piper Kit 764-393
(Left) and Piper Kit 764-394 (Right) ** |
20 work-hours x $85
per hour = $1,700 |
$26,867 (both kits) |
28,567 |
3,513,741 |
* The wing carry through spar fitting,
P/N 97713-03, is included in the wing carry
through spar assembly, P/N 76824-02.
** The replacement for the wing spar fitting P/N 97712-00 and the replacement
for spar assembly P/Ns 97701-00 and 97701-01 are included in Piper Kit
764-393
and Piper Kit 764-394.
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.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA has determined that 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and
(3) 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.
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:
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 79-01-03, Amendment 39-3383 (44 FR
36, January 2, 1979), Docket No. 78-EA-69; and Airworthiness Directive
83-20-03, Amendment 39-4739 (48 FR 45535, October 6, 1983), Docket No.
83-CE-23-AD; and
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
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