Airworthiness directives: Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche,

[Federal Register: December 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 245)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 71694-71696]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22de99-34]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to all Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche (I.A.M.) Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. The proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the brake assembly rods and tubings for wear or damage, and replacing any worn or damaged parts. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the brake hydraulic fluid from leaking because of the brake assembly rods contacting the brake valve tubing, which could result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during ground operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained from I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Randy Griffith, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4126; facsimile: (816) 329- 4091.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filedin the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The Registro Aeronautico Italiano (R.A.I.), which is the airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on all I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. The R.A.I. reports that the brake assembly rods may interfere with and rub on the tubings connected to the brake valves. This could cause wear and

[[Page 71695]]

damage to the tubing, which could result in brake fluid leakage.

This condition, if not detected and corrected in a timely manner, could result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during ground operations.

Relevant Service Information

I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80- 0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999, which specifies procedures for inspecting the brake system assembly for wear or damage.

The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued Italian AD 99-219, dated June 22, 1999, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.

The FAA's Determination

This airplane model is manufactured in Italy and is type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the R.A.I. has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above.

The FAA has examined the findings of the R.A.I.; reviewed all available information, including the service information referenced above; and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop in other I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the brake assembly rods and tubings for wear or damage, and replacing any worn or damaged parts.

Accomplishment of the proposed inspections would be required in accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999. Accomplishment of any necessary replacement would be required in accordance with the maintenance manual.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 4 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 3 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed initial inspection, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed initial inspection on U.S. operators is estimated to be $720, or $180 per airplane.

These figures only take into account the cost of the initial inspection and do not take into account the costs of any replacements necessary or repetitive inspections. The FAA has no way of determining the number of parts that would need replacement or the number of inspections each owner/operator of the affected airplanes would incur.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it is determined that this proposed rule would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action: (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows:

   Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche: Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD.

   Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

   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 (d) 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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless already accomplished.

   To prevent the brake hydraulic fluid from leaking because of the brake assembly rods contacting the brake valve tubing, which could result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during ground operations, accomplish the following:

   (a) Within the next 150 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 150 hours TIS, inspect the brake system assembly for wear or damage. Accomplish the inspection in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions in Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80- 0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999.

   (b) If any worn or damaged parts are found during any inspection required by this AD, prior to further flight, replace the parts in accordance with the appropriate maintenance manual. The repetitive inspections required by paragraph (a) of this AD still apply after replacing any worn or damaged parts.

   (c) 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.

   (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

   Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

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   (e) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999, should be directed to I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy. This service information may be examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

   Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 99- 219, dated June 22, 1999.

   Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 16, 1999. James E. Jackson, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

   [FR Doc. 99-33170Filed12-21-99; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-U