[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6890-6892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3692]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-CE-62-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 certain Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche
(I.A.M.) Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes that are equipped with a certain
freon air conditioning system. The proposed action would require
inspecting the baggage compartment for stringer or air cycle machine
(ACM) by-pass duct damage, repairing any damage found, and modifying
the freon air inlet duct and electrical wiring. The proposed AD results
from trim system malfunction on one of the affected airplanes,
resulting from contact between the freon air inlet duct and the
electrical wiring. The actions specified by the proposed AD are
intended to prevent trim system malfunction caused by contact between
the freon air inlet duct and electrical wiring, which could result in
loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 25, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-62-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. Maurice Kuttler, Program Manager,
Brussels Aircraft Certification Division, FAA, Europe, Africa, and
Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium;
telephone 32 2 508 2715; facsimile 32 2 230 6899; or Mr. Roman T.
Gabrys, Project Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane
Certification Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426-6932; 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
[[Page 6891]]
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. 96-CE-62-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 Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-62-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Registro Aeronautico Italiano (RAI), which is the airworthiness
authority for Italy, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition
may exist on I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. The RAI reports trim
system malfunction on one of the affected airplanes, resulting from
contact between the freon air inlet duct and the electrical wiring. The
affected airplane was equipped with a freon air conditioning system
incorporated in accordance with I.A.M. Kit 80KS00004-* * *(801/803/805/
807). This same configuration exists on I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180
airplanes equipped with a Keith Freon Air Conditioning System installed
in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA2762CE. This
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in airplane
controllability problems if use of the trim system was lost or the
system malfunctioned.
Applicable Service Information
I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Avante P-180 Service Bulletin (SB) 80-
00083, Original Issue: December 7, 1994; Revision No. 1: December 5,
1995, which includes procedures for the following on Model Piaggio P-
180 airplanes:
--Inspecting the baggage compartment to verify if damage has occurred
to a stringer and to the Air Cycle Machine (ACM) by-pass duct because
of chafing with the freon air inlet duct; and
--Protecting the tubings/hoses in the electrical wiring (Modification
No. 80M000014).
I.A.M. started incorporating Modification No. 80M000014 on Model
Piaggio P-180 airplanes during manufacture, beginning with serial
number 1031.
The RAI classified Piaggio Avante P-180 SB 80-00083 as mandatory
and issued RAI AD 96-042, dated February 21, 1996, in order to assure
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.
Evaluation of all Applicable Information
This airplane model is manufactured in Italy and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the RAI has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above.
The FAA has examined the findings of the RAI; 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 that are registered in the United States and have
either a freon air conditioning system incorporated in accordance with
I.A.M. Kit 80KS00004-* * * (801/803/805/807) or a Keith Freon Air
Conditioning System installed in accordance with STC SA2762CE, the FAA
is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require inspecting the
baggage compartment for stringer or air cycle machine (ACM) by-pass
duct damage and repairing any damage found; and modifying the freon air
inlet duct and electrical wiring (Modification No. 80M000014).
Accomplishment of the proposed inspection and modification would be in
accordance with Piaggio Avante P-180 SB 80-00083, Original Issue:
December 7, 1994; Revision No. 1: December 5, 1995.
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 18
workhours (inspection: 2 workhours; modification: 16 workhours) per
airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts will cost approximately $100
per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the
proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $5,900 or $1,180 per
airplane.
The above figures only take into account the cost of the inspection
and modification, and do not account for the cost of replacing any
parts found damaged during the inspection. The FAA has no way of
determining how many airplanes may find damage during the inspections
(if mandated through final rule AD action).
The FAA knows of no affected airplane owner/operator (of the five
affected) that has already accomplished the proposed action.
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), 40101, 40113, 44701.
[[Page 6892]]
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Industrie Aeronautiche E Mecchaniche: Docket No. 96-CE-62-AD.
Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplane, serial numbers 1004
and 1006 through 1030, certificated in any category, that have
either a freon air conditioning system incorporated in accordance
with I.A.M. Kit 80KS00004-*** (801/803/805/807) or a Keith Freon Air
Conditioning System installed in accordance with Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC) SA2762CE.
Note 1: The modification required by this AD is incorporated at
manufacture on Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, beginning with serial
number 1031. Airplanes with this modification are not affected by
this AD.
Note 2: 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 within the next 100 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent trim system malfunction caused by contact between the
freon air inlet duct and electrical wiring, which could result in
loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Inspect the baggage compartment for stringer or air cycle
machine (ACM) by-pass duct damage (cracks, frays, nicks, dents,
etc.) in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of
Piaggio Avante P-180 Service Bulletin (SB) 80-00083, Original Issue:
December 7, 1994; Revision No. 1: December 5, 1995. If any parts are
damaged, prior to further flight, repair or replace the damaged part
in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.
(b) Modify the freon air inlet duct and electrical wiring
(Modification No. 80M000014) in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT
INSTRUCTIONS section of Piaggio Avante P-180 SB 80-00083, Original
Issue: December 7, 1994; Revision No. 1: December 5, 1995.
(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
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division,
FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy,
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. The request shall be forwarded through an
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then
send it to the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Brussels Aircraft Certification Division.
(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the documents referred to herein upon request to I.A.M. Rinaldo
Piaggio, S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154, Genoa, Italy; or may examine
these documents at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant
Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 7, 1997.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3692 Filed 2-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
