96-12-12: Fuselage Station Bulkhead

96-12-12 THE NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC. (formerly Piper Aircraft Corporation): Amendment 39-9654; Docket No. 90-CE-60-AD. Supersedes AD 80-22-04, Amendment 39- 3943. Applicability: The following model and serial number airplanes, certificated in any category, that do not have either Piper Kit 764-028 or Piper Kit 763-917 incorporated at the Fuselage Station (FS) 317.75 bulkhead area: Models Serial Numbers PA31, PA31-300, and PA31-325 31-2 through 31-7912039 PA31-350 31-5001 through 31-7952071 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 after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished. To prevent structural failure of the vertical fin forward spar caused by cracks in the FS 317.75 bulkhead, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following: (a) Inspect the upper section of the FS 317.75 bulkhead for cracks in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Piper Service Bulletin No. 636A, dated August 26, 1980. (1) If any crack is found, prior to further flight, incorporate Piper Kit 764- 028 in accordance with the instructions included with that kit, revised June 18, 1990. (2) If no crack is found, prior to further flight, incorporate Piper Kit 763-917 in accordance with the instructions included with that kit, revised June 18, 1990. (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 of this 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, 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 send it 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. NOTE 3: Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance with AD 80-22-04 (superseded by this action) are not considered approved as alternative methods of compliance with this AD. (d) The inspection required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Piper Service Bulletin No. 636A, dated August 26, 1980. The installation required by this AD shall be done in accordance with the instructions to Piper Kit 764-028, revised June 18, 1990, or Piper Kit 763-917, revised June 18, 1990, as applicable. 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., 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., suite 700, Washington, DC. (e) This amendment (39-9654) supersedes AD 80-22-04, Amendment 39-3943. (f) This amendment becomes effective on July 16, 1996.