AD 96-10-01

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, and PA-28-180 airplanes. This action requires a complete landing light support replacement. This AD action is prompted by reports of two accidents and two incidents resulting from the landing light retainer support seal breaking apart and entering the carburetor. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the landing light retainer support seal from being ingested by the updraft carburetor, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in rough engine operation or possible engine failure and loss of control of the airplane.

Final rule

96-10-01 THE NEW Piper Aircraft, inc. (formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation): Amendment No. 39-9606; Docket No. 95-CE-51-AD.

Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, certificated in any category:

Models
Serial Numbers
PA-28-140
28-20000 through 28-7725290
PA-28-150, PA-28-160, and PA-28-180
28-1 through 28-7505259, and 28-E13

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 (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, or upon replacement of the landing light, whichever occurs first, unless already accomplished.

NOTE 2: Early compliance is encouraged.

To prevent the landing light seal from lodging in the carburetor, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in rough engine operation or possible engine failure and possible loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:

(a) Replace landing light support and seal assembly in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 975, dated November 2, 1994.

(b) 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 ofthis 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, 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 send it to the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.

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

(d) The replacements required by this AD shall be done in accordance with The New Piper Aircraft Inc. Service Bulletin No. 975, dated November 2, 1994. 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 fromThe 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.

(e) This amendment (39-9606) becomes effective on June 10, 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 Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, and PA-28-180 airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 1995 (60 FR 52131). The action proposed replacing the landing light support and seal assembly. Accomplishment of this action will be in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin (SB) No. 975, dated November 2, 1994.

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 changethe meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

The FAA estimates that 16,440 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it would take approximately 2 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $140 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $4,274,400. This figure is based on the assumption that all of the affected airplanes have old landing light support and seal assemblies and that none of the owners/operators of the affected airplanes have replaced the landing light support and seal assemblies with parts of improved design.

Piper has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to equip approximately 850 airplanes. Assuming that these distributed parts are incorporated on the affected airplanes, the cost of this AD will be reduced by $221,000 from $4,274,400 to $4,053,400.

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.

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