Summary
This document proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 84-08-06, which currently requires the following on certain The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA31T, PA31T1, PA31T2, and PA31T3 airplanes: repetitively inspecting the fuselage station (FS) 332 bulkhead for cracks, and reinforcing or replacing the FS 332 bulkhead if cracks are found. The Federal Aviation Administration's policy on aging commuter-class aircraft is to eliminate or, in certain instances, reduce the number of certain repetitive short-interval inspections when improved parts or modifications are available. The proposed action would retain the current repetitive inspections contained in AD 84-08- 06, and would require incorporating a stabilizer forward spar attachment bulkhead reinforcement kit or installing a reinforced bulkhead assembly as terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirement. The actions specified in the proposed AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the horizontal stabilizer and the aft fuselage attachment caused by cracks in the FS 332 bulkhead, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane.