AD 95-23-12

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-46-350P airplanes. This action requires installing a placard (to the right of the manifold pressure gauge in full view of the pilot) that specifies manifold pressure limits, and incorporating a revision into the Limitations section of the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue damage to the propeller caused by operating above certain manifold pressure limits.

Final rule.

95-23-12 THE NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC., (formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation): Amendment 39-9432; Docket No. 95-CE-29-AD.

Applicability: Model PA-46-350P airplanes, serial numbers 4622001 through 4622189, certificated in any category.

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 (e) 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 2 calendar months after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent fatigue damage to the propeller caused by operating above certain manifold pressure limits, accomplish the following:

(a) Install a placard (to the right of the manifold pressure gauge in full view of the pilot) that specifies the following manifold pressure limits:

DO NOT EXCEED
36" MP
BELOW 2400 RPM
32" MP
BELOW 2300 RPM

Accomplish this installation in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 982, dated April 3, 1995. This placard is included with the referenced service bulletin.

(b) Incorporate revised page 2-16 (dated March 29, 1995) of Revision 14 (PR950329) to Report: VB-1332 into the Limitations Section of the PA-46-350P Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). Piper SB No. 982, dated April 3, 1995, contains the instructions for incorporating this POH revision.

(c) Installing the placard and incorporating the POH revision as required by this AD may be performed by the owner/operator holding at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and must be entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with section 43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.11).

(d) Special flight permits 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.

(e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 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 sendit to the Manager, Atlanta ACO.

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

(f) The installation and incorporation required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 982, dated April 3, 1995. 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 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., 7th Floor, suite 700, Washington, DC.

(g) This amendment becomes effective on January 8, 1996.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to Piper Model PA-46-350P airplanes was published in the Federal Register on June 5, 1995 (60 FR 29511). The action proposed installing a placard (to the right of the manifold pressure gauge in full view of the pilot) that specifies manifold pressure limits. The proposed action would also require incorporating revised page 2-16 (dated March 29, 1995) of Revision 14 (PR950329) to Report: VB-1332 into the Limitations Section of the PA-46-350P POH. Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 982, dated April 3, 1995, contains the placard, and instructions on installing the placard and incorporating the POH revision. The proposed AD will allow an owner/operator who holds a private pilot's certificate as authorized by sections 43.7 and 43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7 and 43.11) to perform these actions.

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.

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.

The compliance time of this AD is presented in calendar time instead of hours time-in-service (TIS). Although the unsafe condition can develop as a result of airplane usage, it cannot develop unless the manifold pressure limits specified in the required action are exceeded. Therefore, to ensure that all owners/operators of the affected airplanes incorporate the manifold pressure limits in a reasonable amount of time, a compliance based on calendar time is utilized.

The FAA estimates that 189 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD and that it will take approximately 1 workhour per airplane to accomplish the required action. Since an owner/operator who holds a private pilot's certificate as authorized by sections 43.7 and 43.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7 and 43.11) can accomplish this action, the only impact this action would have upon the public is the time it takes each owner/operator to install the placard and incorporate the POH revision. Accomplishment of the required action would be in accordance with Piper SB No. 982, dated April 3, 1995, which contains the placard, and instructions on installing the placard and incorporating the POH revision.

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), 40101, 40113, 44701.

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