EAA, supporting the concerns raised by Piper Aircraft and many commenters, this week submitted comments asking the FAA to rescind two proposed airworthiness directives (AD) that would affect certain PA-28 and PA-32 series aircraft. If implemented, the two ADs would expand the main wing spar inspections already mandated by previous FAA action. EAA and others are concerned that the FAA has failed to properly consider the safety risk and financial burden of the proposed additional inspections.
EAA is concerned that neither proposed AD, as put forward by the FAA, addresses all technical aspects regarding the hazards of expanded inspections and that inspection data gained from AD FAA-2020-26-16 does not support the conclusions drawn by the FAA.
Proposed AD FAA-2024-2142 modifies the formula for calculating the applicable time for eddy current inspections of the lower main wing spar bolt holes, affecting 10,665 airplanes. Damaged wing spars would require repair or replacement. Proposed AD FAA-2024-2143 would require reviewing airplane maintenance records to determine if an eddy current inspection of the lower main wing spar bolt holes was completed. If no previous inspection has been completed, a one-time eddy current inspection of the lower wing spar bolt holes would be required at 12,000 hours. This second AD would affect an additional 10,927 airplanes.
These proposals arise from the findings of inspections required by AD 2020-26-16, which mandate wing spar inspections on some Piper aircraft models. Based on these findings, the FAA is proposing to expand the scope of aircraft needing inspections, modify the inspection intervals, and amend the formula used to calculate aircraft time triggering the inspections.
We also strongly urge the FAA to utilize the data and information provided in Piper’s comments to reconsider the proposed inspections and the scope of aircraft to which they apply.
