[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 28, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45353-45355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16207]



[[Page 45353]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0712; Product Identifier 2019-CE-013-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Model PA-34-220T airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of damage to the rudder flight 
control cables and the emergency power supply (EPS) system wiring due 
to inadequate clearance from the EPS wiring harness. This proposed AD 
would require inspecting the rudder flight control cables and the EPS 
wiring for damage, replacing damaged cables and wires if necessary, and 
re-routing the EPS wiring harness to ensure proper clearance between 
the EPS and the rudder flight control cables. The FAA is issuing this 
proposed AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 
11, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc. 2916 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; telephone 
(772) 567-4361; email: customer.service@piper.com; internet: https://www.piper.com. You may view this referenced service information at the 
FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0712; 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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Long, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 
30337; phone: (404) 474-5578; fax: (404) 474-5606; email: 
bryan.long@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0712; 
Product Identifier 2019-CE-013-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
https://regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive 
verbal contact it receives about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial 
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by 
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), 
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to 
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is 
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and 
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you 
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page 
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat 
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will 
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing 
CBI should be sent to Bryan Long, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO 
Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

    The FAA received a report from Piper Aircraft, Inc., that the 
emergency power supply (EPS) system wiring on Model PA-34-220T 
airplanes is installed in a way that may cause the wires to chafe 
against the rudder flight control cable. Use of the rudder flight 
control cable and the motion of the cable rubbing against the EPS 
wiring can wear through the rudder flight control cable insulation and 
cause an electrical path to ground. The flow of the electrical current 
can burn (arch) through the rudder flight control cable strands, 
eventually severing the rudder flight control cable.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in electrical arcing 
between the EPS and the rudder flight control cables with consequent 
failure of the rudder flight control system. This failure could cause 
loss of yaw control and lead to loss of control of the airplane during 
an engine out condition/operation.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Piper Aircraft, Inc., Service Bulletin No. 1337, 
dated February 15, 2019. The service bulletin contains procedures for 
inspecting the rudder flight control cables and the EPS wiring for 
damage, replacing damaged cables and wires, and re-routing the EPS 
wiring harness to the opposite side of the EPS bracket to improve 
clearance from the rudder flight control cable. 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 the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this AD because it evaluated all relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

[[Page 45354]]

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 25 airplanes 
of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
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Inspect the rudder flight control       1 work-hour x $85 per     Not Applicable             $85          $2,125
 cables and the EPS wiring.              hour = $85.
Re-routing the EPS wiring harness.....  2 work-hours x $85 per              $100             270           6,750
                                         hour = $170.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
airplanes that might need actions:

                                               On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace damaged rudder flight control cable...  8 work-hours x $85 per hour =               $157            $837
                                                 $680.
Replace damaged EPS wiring....................  10 work-hours x $85 per hour =             2,770           3,620
                                                 $850.
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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 determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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 Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0712; Product Identifier 
2019-CE-013-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by September 11, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Piper Aircraft, Inc., Model PA-34-220T 
airplanes, serial numbers 3449459 and 3449467 through 3449508, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 27. Flight Controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of damage to the rudder flight 
control cables and the emergency power supply (EPS) system wiring 
due to inadequate clearance from the EPS wiring harness. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to detect, correct, and prevent damaged rudder 
flight control cables and EPS system wiring. The unsafe condition, 
if not addressed, could result in electrical arcing between the EPS 
and the rudder flight control cables with consequent failure of the 
rudder flight control system. This failure could cause loss of yaw 
control and lead to loss of control of the airplane during an engine 
out condition/operation.

(f) Compliance

    Unless already done, comply with this AD within 50 hours time-
in-service after the effective date of this AD or within 6 months 
after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

(g) Inspect, Replace, and Relocate

    (1) Inspect the rudder flight control cables and the EPS wiring 
for chafing and damage by following step 3 of the Instructions in 
Piper Aircraft, Inc., Service Bulletin No. 1337, dated February 15, 
2019 (Piper SB No. 1337). If there is any chafing or damage, before 
further flight, replace the rudder flight control cable and EPS 
wiring.

[[Page 45355]]

    (2) Relocate the EPS wiring harness by following steps 4 through 
12 of the Instructions in Piper SB No. 1337.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.
    (3) For service information that contains steps that are labeled 
as Required for Compliance (RC), the provisions of paragraphs 
(h)(3)(i) and (ii) of this AD apply.
    (i) The steps labeled as RC, including substeps under an RC step 
and any figures identified in an RC step, must be done to comply 
with the AD. An AMOC is required for any deviations to RC steps, 
including substeps and identified figures.
    (ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be deviated from using accepted 
methods in accordance with the operator's maintenance or inspection 
program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the RC 
steps, including substeps and identified figures, can still be done 
as specified, and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy 
condition.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Bryan Long, 
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5578; fax: (404) 474-
5606; email: bryan.long@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Piper 
Aircraft, Inc., 2916 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 
telephone (772) 567-4361; email: customer.service@piper.com; 
internet: https://www.piper.com. You may view this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on July 22, 2020.
Lance T. Gant, Director,
Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-16207 Filed 7-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


