2016-05-01: Fuselage

Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 96-12-12, Amendment 39-9654 (61 FR 28732, June 6, 1996), and adding the following new AD: 2016-05-01 Piper Aircraft, Inc.: Amendment 39-18419; Docket No. FAA- 2015-7205; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-025-AD. (a) Effective Date This AD is effective April 15, 2016. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces 96-12-12, Amendment 39-9654 (61 FR 28732, June 6, 1996) (``AD 96-12-12''). (c) Applicability This AD applies to the following Piper Aircraft, Inc. airplanes listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any category: (1) Models PA-31, PA-31-300, and PA-31-325: Serial numbers 31-2 through 31-900 and 31-7300901 through 31-8312019; and (2) Model PA-31-350: Serial numbers 31-5001 through 31-5004 and 31-7305005 through 31-8553002. Note 1 to paragraph (c)(1) of this AD: The Model PA-31 may also be identified as a PA-31-310, even though the PA-31-310 is not a model recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the type certificate data sheet. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 53, Fuselage. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by bulkhead cracks found on airplanes that had complied with AD 96-12-12 and on additional airplanes not affected by AD 96-12-12. We are issuing this AD to prevent structural failure of the vertical fin forward spar caused by cracks in the fuselage station (FS) at 317.75 upper bulkhead, which could lead to loss of control. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD withinthe compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Inspection/Repair (1) Before or upon accumulating 2,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) or within the next 100 hours TIS after April 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, inspect the bulkhead assembly at FS 317.75 for cracks following Part I of the Instructions in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273A, dated October 22, 2015. (2) If any cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before further flight, repair the cracks and install the reinforcement modification following Part I of the Instructions in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273A, dated October 22, 2015. This repair/modification terminates the requirements for the repetitive inspections required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD. (3) You may do the modification required in paragraph (h) of this AD to terminatethe repetitive inspections required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD. (h) Modification Unless already done as a repair for cracks found in the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before or upon accumulating 2,500 hours TIS or within the next 500 hours after April 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, install the reinforcement modification following Part II of the Instructions in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273A, dated October 22, 2015. This modification terminates the repetitive inspections required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD. (i) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service Information This AD allows credit for the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD and the repair required in paragraph (g)(2) of this AD, if done before April 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), following Part I of the Instructions in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273, dated June4, 2015. This AD also allows credit for the modification required in paragraph (h) of this AD, if done before April 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), following Part II of the Instructions in Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273, dated June 4, 2015. (j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 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 ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in Related Information, paragraph (j)(1) 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 districtoffice. (k) Related Information For more information about this AD, contact Gregory ``Keith'' Noles, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Atlanta ACO, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337; phone: (404) 474-5551; fax: (404) 474- 5606; email: gregory.noles@faa.gov. (l) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. [[Page 12799]] (i) Piper Aircraft, Inc. Service Bulletin No. 1273A, dated October 22, 2015. (ii) Reserved. (3) For Piper Aircraft, Inc. service information identified in this AD, contact Piper Aircraft, Inc. 2926 Piper Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960; telephone: (415) 330-9500; email: sales@atp.com; and Internet: http://www.piper.com/technical-publications/. (4) You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.