THIS WAS SENT TO THE PIPER FLYER ASSOCIATION FROM THE FAA FOR FEEDBACK DIRECTLY TO THE FAA FROM PA46 OWNERS/OPERATORS AND MECHANICS.  Contact the FAA directly below with any feedback.

[b]Airworthiness
Concern Sheet[/b]Full Name Gregory K. (Keith) Noles
Title Engineer
Organization Atlanta Aircraft Certification
Department Airframe, ACE-117A
Address 1701 Columbia Ave.
City State ZIP College Park, GA 30337
Telephone Number 404-474-5551
E-mail gregory.noles@faa.gov
Date: October 23, 2009
Make, Model, Series, Serial No.:
[b]:[/b]Engine Mount failures at Nose Landing Gear attach point
FAA Description of Airworthiness Concern
In August 2009, a Piper PA-46-350P incurred a nose gear collapse during landing. The airplane did execute a successful landing, the pilot and passenger were not injured and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Investigation (NTSB #ERA09LA471) revealed a failure on the right side of the engine mount at the weld section for the nose gear actuator upper attaching point. The aircraft had accumulated just over 700 hours total time in service (TIS). A similar accident occurred on another PA-46 aircraft in 2008.
The FAA has previously issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-13 covering a design change from a two-piece welded foot to a one-piece machined foot on the engine mount. Piper issued related documents Service Letter (SL) 1001, Service Bulletin (SB) 1103 and SB 1154. These changes were expected to correct similar, previous engine mount failures. However, the two accidents occurred on aircraft that have the one-piece design change incorporated.
Request for Information (Proposed Alternate Inspection/Repair Procedures, Cost Impact, etc.):
The FAA is soliciting additional information from Associations and Type Clubs in accordance with the Small Airplane Directorate AD Manual Supplement. Any additional information such as service problems, proposed alternate inspection/repair procedures, cost impact, etc. should be returned in writing to the FAA (address listed above). In this instance we are particularly interested in all PA-46 engine mount service problems (cracks or failures), including whether the problem occurred on the new or old design. All comments or replies need to be as detailed as possible and include specific examples to illustrate the comments/concerns.
Attachments: *SDR(s) *A/IDS *SL(s) *SAIB *FAASR/*NTSBSR *AD *AMOC *RA
Notification: FAA *AOPA *EAA Type Club *TC Holder Other:
Response Requested 11/30/09: Emergency (10 days) Alert (30 days) Information (90 days)
(Space Bar Adds “X” to Check Boxes)
Revised 1/24/02
This Airworthiness Concern Sheet (ACS) is intended as a means for FAA Aviation Safety Engineers to coordinate airworthiness concerns with aircraft owner/operators through associations and type clubs. At this time, the FAA has not made a determination on what type of corrective action (if any) should be taken. The resolution of this airworthiness concern could involve an AD action or an SAIB, or the FAA could determine that no action is needed at this time. The initial Risk Assessment for this concern does not indicate that an Airworthiness Directive would be considered, however, the existing AD would require revision to ensure safety and proper compliance. The FAA's final determination will depend in part on the information received in response to this Airworthiness Concerns Sheet.
The FAA endorses dissemination of this technical information to all manufacturers and requests association and type club comments.
Attachments:
•
Risk Assessment
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SAIB CE-09-13 PA-46 Landing Gear: Engine Mount-Nose Landing Gear Attach Section Note: The SL and SBs are available with the SAIB at http://rgl.faa.gov
*Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs); Accident/Incident Data System (A/IDS); Service Letter (SL); Special Airworthiness
Information Bulletin (SAIB); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Safety
Recommendation (FAASR/NTSBSR); Airworthiness Directive (AD); Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC); Risk
Assessment (RA); Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA); Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA); Type
Certificate (TC)