AD 97-07-03

This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 81-11-04 that applies to The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA31, PA31-300, PA31-325, and PA31-350 airplanes that have Cleveland nose wheel assembly part number (P/N) 40-76B installed. AD 81-11-04 currently requires inspecting the nose wheel flange for cracks. The repetitive inspections terminate by replacing the nose wheel assembly with Cleveland P/N 40-140, which is an improved design. This action is prompted by the lack of designation of Piper Model PA31P in the Applicability section of AD 81-11-04, and the subsequent failure of a nose wheel assembly on a Piper Model PA31P airplane during taxiing operations. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the failure of the nose wheel, which if not corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane during taxiing, take-off, or landing operations.

Final rule

97-07-03 THE NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC.: Amendment 39-9976; Docket No. 96-CE- 29-AD, Supersedes AD 81-11-04, Amendment 39-4114.

Applicability: The following Models and serial numbered airplanes equipped with Cleveland part number (P/N) 40-76B (Piper P/N 451 784) nose wheel assembly, certificated in any category.

Models
Serial Numbers
PA31, PA31-300, and PA31-325
31-2 through 31-8112038
PA31-350
31-5001 through 31-8152088
PA31P
31P-3 through 31P-7730012

NOTE 1: 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 (d) of this AD. The request should include an assessment ofthe 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 May 22, 1981 (effective date of AD 81-11-04); within the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD; or upon the accumulation of 2,000 hours TIS on the nose wheel assembly, whichever occurs later, unless already accomplished.

To prevent the failure of the nose wheel, which if not corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane during taxiing, take-off, or landing operations, accomplish the following:

(a) Inspect the nose wheel assembly, Cleveland part number (P/N) 40-76B (The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. P/N 451 784), for cracks in accordance with the "Instructions" section of Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper) Service Bulletin (SB) 700A, dated October 12, 1981.

(1) If cracked, prior to further flight, replace Cleveland P/N 40-76B (Piper P/N 451 784) with a new Cleveland P/N 40-76B (Piper P/N 451 784) nose wheel assembly. Upon the accumulation of 2,000 hours TIS, reinspect at 100 hour intervals or at each tire change, whichever occurs first; or,

(2) As an alternative to paragraph (a)(1), if cracked, replace Cleveland P/N 40-76B (Piper P/N 451 784) with a serviceable Cleveland P/N 40-140 (Piper P/N 551 791) nose wheel assembly of improved design in accordance with the "Instructions" section of Piper SB 700A, dated October 12, 1981.

(3) If no cracks are found and Cleveland P/N 40-140 (Piper P/N 551-791) is not installed, repetitively inspect at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS or at each tire change, whichever occurs first.

(b) The installation of Cleveland P/N 40-140 (Piper P/N 551 791) is considered terminating action for the inspection requirements of paragraph (a) and (a)(3) of this AD.

(c) Special flightpermits may be issued in accordance with sections 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.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Ave., suite 2-160, College Park, Georgia 30337-2748. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.

NOTE 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.

(e) The inspections and replacement required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Piper Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin No. 700A, dated October 12, 1981. 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., Attn: Customer Service, 2926 Piper Dr., Vero Beach, Florida, 32960. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 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.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on May 15, 1997.

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 PA31, PA31-325, PA31-350, and PA31P airplanes that have Cleveland nose wheel assembly part number (P/N) 40-76B installed was published in the Federal Register on October 10, 1996 (61 FR 53155). This action would supersede AD 81-11-04 with a new AD that retains the same action as AD 81-11-04 and include Piper Model PA31P airplanes in the applicability. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin (SB) 700A, dated October 12, 1981.

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, theFAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. One minor editorial correction is a missing model number that is affected by this AD. The FAA inadvertently omitted Model PA31-300 from the applicability listing in the NPRM, however the PA31-300 serial numbers were listed. Piper manufactured Models PA31, PA31-300, and PA31-325 airplanes simultaneously, so the serial number range listed for Models PA31 and PA31-325 airplanes in the NPRM applicability section also included the Model PA31-300 airplanes. The applicability section now contains Model PA31-300 with the appropriate serial numbers. 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 1,842 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 3 workhours per airplane to accomplish this action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. The improved parts cost approximately $450 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,160,460 or $630 per airplane. These figures only account for the replacement of the new part and do not take into account the cost for the repetitive inspections that would be incurred prior to installing the improved parts.

Piper has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to equip 8 airplanes in the United States which will reduce the total figure from $1,160,460 to $1,155,420.

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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.

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