AD 99-16-06

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-46-350P airplanes. This AD requires installing reinforcement plates to the wing forward and aft attach fittings. This AD is the result of a report that sheet steel material that is below design strength standards may have been utilized on the wing attach fittings on the Model PA-46-350P airplanes manufactured since January 1995. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the wing attach fittings caused by the utilization of substandard material, which could result in the wing separating from the airplane with consequent loss of control.

Final rule

99-16-06 THE NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC.: Amendment 39-11241; Docket No. 99-CE- 01-AD.

Applicability: Model PA-46-350P airplanes, serial numbers 4622191 through 4622200 and 4636001 through 4636175, certificated in any category.

NOTE 1: The affected serial numbers refer to airplanes that have been delivered since January 1995 and could have insufficient strength wing attach fittings installed. Airplanes manufactured after serial number 4636175 have this problem corrected prior to delivery.

NOTE 2: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent the potential for failure of the wing attach fittings caused by the utilization of substandard material, which could result in the wing separating from the airplane with consequent loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:

(a) Install reinforcement plates to the wing forward and aft attach fittings by incorporating the Wing to Fuselage Reinforcement Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656. Accomplishment of the installation is required in accordance with the instructions to the above- referenced kit, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 1027, dated November19, 1998.

(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Atlanta ACO.

NOTE 3: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

(d) The installation required by this AD shall be done in accordance with the instructions to the Wing to Fuselage Reinforcement Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 1027, dated November 19, 1998. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Customer Services, 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on September 24, 1999.

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Piper Model PA-46-350P airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on March 19, 1999 (64 FR 13530). The NPRM proposed to require installing reinforcement plates to the wing forward and aft attach fittings by incorporating the Wing to Fuselage Reinforcement Installation Kit, Piper part number 766-656. Accomplishment of the proposed action as specified in the NPRM would be required in accordance with the instructions to the above-referenced kit, as referenced in Piper Service Bulletin No. 1027, dated November 19, 1998.

The NPRM was the result of a report that sheet steel material that is below design strength standards may have been utilized on the wing attach fittings on the Model PA-46-350P airplanes manufactured since January 1995.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA s determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA s Determination
After careful review of all available information related to the subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 185 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 30 workhours per airplane to accomplish the installation, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Piper will give warranty credit for parts on all affected aircraft. Based on these figures, the totalcost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $333,000, or $1,800 per airplane.

Piper has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to accomplish the installation on 6 of the affected airplanes. Presuming that these parts were incorporated on 6 of the affected airplanes, this will reduce the cost impact of this AD by $10,800 from $333,000 to $322,200.

Regulatory Impact
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); 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. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption "ADDRESSES".

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.

39.13 [Amended]2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows: