[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11823-11824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6199]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-18-AD; Amendment 39-10382; AD 98-06-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche
Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche (I.A.M.) Model Piaggio
P-180 airplanes that are equipped with a Rockwell Collins APS-65
autopilot system that incorporates an APC-65A autopilot computer. This
AD requires incorporating airplane flight manual (AFM) and pilot's
operating handbook (POH) supplements that include revised autopilot
emergency disengagement procedures. This AD is the result of mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness
authority for Italy. The actions specified by this AD are intended to
prevent pilot difficulty in disengaging the autopilot during flight,
which could result in the pilot's lack of proper attention to critical
flight tasks due to the increased pilot workload with possible
consequent loss of airplane controllability.
DATES: Effective April 2, 1998.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before May 11, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket 98-CE-18-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Service information that relates to this AD, including the AFM/POH
supplements, may be obtained from I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via
Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy. This information may also be examined
at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of
the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-18-AD, Room
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David O. Keenan, Project Officer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1201
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-
6934; facsimile: (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes that
are equipped with a Rockwell Collins APS-65 autopilot system that
incorporates an APC-65A autopilot computer. The R.A.I. reports two
cases of flight crews having difficulty disengaging the autopilot
during flight.
This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result
in the pilot's lack of proper attention to critical flight tasks due to
the increased pilot workload with possible consequent loss of airplane
controllability.
Relevant Service Information
I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Alert Service Bulletin ASB-80-0100, dated
September 25, 1997, which specifies the following AFM and POH
supplements that include revised autopilot emergency disengagement
procedures:
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 5 of 30, Page 9-7, Reissued:
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 6 of 30, Page 9-8, Reissued:
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 7 of 30, Page 9-9, Reissued:
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 8 of 30, Page 9-10, Reissued:
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 9 of 30, Page 9-11, Reissued:
June 19, 1992; and
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 10 of 30, Page 9-12, Reissued:
June 19, 1992.
The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
Italian AD No. 97-290, dated October 21, 1997, 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 AFM/POH supplements previously
referenced; 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 This 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 for operation in the United States
and are equipped with a Rockwell Collins APS-65 autopilot system that
incorporates an APC-65A autopilot computer, the FAA is issuing an AD.
This AD requires incorporating the AFM and POH supplements previously
referenced that include revised autopilot emergency disengagement
procedures.
Compliance Time of This AD
Although difficulty for the flight crew to disengage the autopilot
is only a safety problem while the airplane is in flight, this unsafe
condition is not a result of the number of times the airplane is
operated. The chance of this situation occurring is the same for an
airplane with 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) as it is for an airplane
with 5,000 hours TIS. In addition, the utilization of the affected
airplanes varies from operator to operator. Some operators may utilize
the affected airplanes in excess of 200 hours TIS in a month, while
others may only log 20 hours TIS or less in a month. Based on the above
information, the FAA has determined that the compliance time of this AD
should be presented in both calendar time and hours TIS (with the
prevalent one being that which occurs first) in order to assure that
the unsafe condition is addressed on all of the affected airplanes in a
reasonable time period.
Determination of the Effective Date of the AD
Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for public
prior comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
[[Page 11824]]
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 will be considered,
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual
information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is
extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and
determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might
suggest a need to modify the 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
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 98-CE-18-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations adopted herein will 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 final
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe
condition in aircraft, and is not a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action
involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that
this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is
not required). A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules
Docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:
98-06-05 Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche: Amendment 39-10382;
Docket No. 98-CE-18-AD.
Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, all serial
numbers; certificated in any category, that are equipped with a
Rockwell Collins APS-65 autopilot system that incorporates an APC-
65A autopilot computer.
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 within the next 10 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD or within the next 30
calendar days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
first, unless already accomplished.
To prevent pilot difficulty in disengaging the autopilot during
flight, which could result in the pilot's lack of proper attention
to critical flight tasks due to the increased pilot workload with
possible consequent loss of airplane controllability, accomplish the
following:
(a) Incorporate the following airplane flight manual (AFM) and
pilot's operating handbook (POH) supplements that include revised
autopilot emergency disengagement procedures:
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 5 of 30, Page 9-7, Reissued:
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 6 of 30, Page 9-8, Reissued:
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 7 of 30, Page 9-9, Reissued:
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 8 of 30, Page 9-10, Reissued:
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 9 of 30, Page 9-11, Reissued:
June 19, 1992; and
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 10 of 30, Page 9-12,
Reissued: June 19, 1992.
Note 2: The actions required by this AD are also referenced in
Piaggio Alert Service Bulletin ASB-80-0100, dated September 25,
1997.
(b) Amending the AFM and POH, as required by this AD, may be
performed by the owner/operator holding at least a private pilot
certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and must be entered into the aircraft
records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with section
43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
(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, 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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(e) Questions or technical information related to the service
information or the AFM and POH supplements referenced in this AD
should be directed to I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4
16154 Genoa, Italy. This 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 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD No.
97-290, dated October 21, 1997.
(f) This amendment (39-10382) becomes effective on April 2,
1998.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 4, 1998.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-6199 Filed 3-10-98; 8:45 am]
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