[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71799-71800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34581]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-97-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).
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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
inspecting the upper and lower engine nacelle inner panels for any
loose or partially detached inner film, and removing any loose or
partially detached inner film. 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 accumulation of loose particles
on the engine inlet screen caused by film delamination, which could
result in reduced engine power and possible loss of airplane control.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 1, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-97-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
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. David O. Keenan, Project Officer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-6934; facsimile: (816) 426-2169.
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 filed in 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. 98-CE-97-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. 98-CE-97-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 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 an incident where the inner film of the engine
nacelle panel partially detached.
This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result
in loose particles accumulating on the engine inlet screen with the
possibility of reduced engine power and loss of airplane control.
Relevant Service Information
I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-
0101, Original Issue: May 6, 1998, which specifies procedures for:
--inspecting the upper and lower engine nacelle inner panels for any
loose or partially detached inner film; and
--removing any loose or partially detached inner film.
The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
Italian AD 98-208, dated June 9, 1998, 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
[[Page 71800]]
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 inspecting the upper and lower
engine nacelle inner panels for any loose or partially detached inner
film, and removing any loose or partially detached inner film.
Accomplishment of the proposed inspection and possible removal would be
required in accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.:
SB-80-0101, Original Issue: May 6, 1998.
Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
Although the reduced engine power that would result if loose film
particles accumulated on the engine inlet screen would only be unsafe
during flight, this condition is not a result of the number of times
the airplane is operated. The loose film occurs over time because of
weather and climate conditions. For this reason, the FAA has determined
that a compliance based on calendar time should be utilized in this AD
in order to assure that the unsafe condition is addressed on all
airplanes in a reasonable time period.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 5 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 7
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection and film
removal, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour.
There are no parts required to accomplish the proposed AD. Based on
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.
operators is estimated to be $2,100, or $420 per airplane.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
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. 98-CE-97-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 (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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless
already accomplished.
To prevent the accumulation of loose particles on the engine
inlet screen caused by film delamination, which could result in
reduced engine power and possible loss of airplane control,
accomplish the following:
(a) Within the next 6 calendar months after the effective date
of this AD, inspect the upper and lower engine nacelle inner panels
for any loose or partially detached inner film, in accordance with
the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Piaggio Service Bulletin
(Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0101, Original Issue: May 6, 1998. Prior to
further flight after the inspection, remove any loose or partially
detached inner film in accordance with the service bulletin.
(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 times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut,
suite 900, 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.
(d) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio
Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0101, Original Issue: May 6,
1998, 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,
Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 98-
208, dated June 9, 1998.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 22, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34581 Filed 12-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
