03-8048. Airworthiness Directives; Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN 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 Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to repetitively inspect the engine mount for cracks and modify or replace the engine mount if cracks are found. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect and correct cracks in the engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.

DATES:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any comments on this proposed rule on or before May 9, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also send comments electronically to the following address: [e-mail]. Comments sent electronically must contain “Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD” in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.

You may get service information that applies to this proposed AD from Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A., Corso Trieste, n. 150, 00198 Rome, Italy; telephone: [phone]; facsimile: 06 855.71.62. You may also view this information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; facsimile: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How Do I Comment on This Proposed AD?

The FAA invites comments on this proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and submit your comments to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received on or before the closing date. We may amend this proposed rule in light of comments received. Factual information that supports your ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of this proposed AD action and determining whether we need to take additional rulemaking action.

Are There Any Specific Portions of This Proposed AD I Should Pay Attention to?

The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed rule that might suggest a need to modify the proposed rule. You may view all comments we receive before and after the closing date of the proposed rule in the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that summarizes each contact we have with the public that concerns the substantive parts of this proposed AD.

How Can I Be Sure FAA Receives My Comment?

If you want FAA to acknowledge the receipt of your mailed comments, you must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write “Comments to Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD.” We will date stamp and mail the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This Proposed AD?

The Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile (ENAC), which is the airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on all Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. The ENAC reports that data collected on in-service airplanes shows that cracks have been detected on the engine mount of several airplanes with high operating time on grass airfields and at flight schools where activity of hard landings have occurred.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. has issued 3i Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01/02, dated October 15, 2002.

What Are the Provisions of This Service Information?

The service bulletin includes procedures for:

—Repetitively inspecting the engine mount for cracks; and

—Modifying the engine mount if cracks are found.

What Action Did the ENAC Take?

The ENAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued Italian AD Number 2002-590, dated November 29, 2002, in order to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.

Was This in Accordance With the Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement?

These airplane models are manufactured in Italy and are type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of § 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement.

Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the ENAC has kept FAA informed of the situation described above.

What Are the Differences Between This Proposed AD, the ENAC AD, and the Service Information?

The ENAC AD and the service information requires (on Italian-registered airplanes) inspection within the next 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of the AD. We propose a requirement that you inspect within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this proposed AD. We do not have justification to require this action within the next 10 hours TIS.

We use compliance times such as 10 hours TIS when we have identified an urgent safety of flight situation. We believe that 50 hours TIS will give the owners or operators of the affected airplanes enough time to have the proposed actions accomplished without compromising the safety of the airplanes.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of This Proposed AD

What Has FAA Decided?

The FAA has examined the findings of the ENAC; reviewed all available information, including the service information referenced above; and determined that:

—The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could develop on other Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes of the same type design that are on the U.S. registry;

—The actions specified in the previously-referenced service information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and

—AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

What Would This Proposed AD Require?

This proposed AD would require you to incorporate the actions in the previously-referenced service bulletin.

How Does the Revision to 14 CFR Part 39 Affect This Proposed AD?

On July 10, 2002, FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation now includes material that relates to special flight permits, alternative methods of compliance, and altered products. This material previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD actions.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Would This Proposed AD Impact?

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 10 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What Would Be the Cost Impact of This Proposed AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected Airplanes?

We estimate the following costs to accomplish the proposed inspection:

Labor cost	Parts cost	Total cost per airplane	Total cost on U.S. operators
1 workhour × $60 = $60	No parts required	$60	$60 × 10 = $600.

We estimate the following costs to accomplish the necessary modification:

Labor cost	Parts cost	Total cost per airplane
14 workhours × $60 = $840	$100	$940

We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need such replacement:

Labor cost	Parts cost	Total cost per airplane
11 workhours × $60 = $660	$500	$1,160

Regulatory Impact

Would This Proposed AD Impact Various Entities?

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.

Would This Proposed AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 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, under 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. FAA amends § 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows:

Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.P.A.: Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD.

(a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any category.

(b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must comply with this AD.

(c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct cracks in the engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.

(d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

Actions	Compliance	Procedures
(1) Inspect the engine mount for cracks	Initially inspect within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD. Repetitively inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS until the modification or replacement specified in paragraph (d)(2) or (d)(3) of this AD is incorporated	In accordance with Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 3i Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01-02, dated October 15, 2002.
(2) If cracks are found during any inspection required in paragraph (d)(1) of this AD and the cracks are 20 millimeters (mm) or less in size, modify the engine mount	Prior to further flight after the inspection in which the cracks are found. Incorporating the manufacturer's modification kit terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD	In accordance with Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 3i Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01-02, dated October 15, 2002.
(3) If cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (d)(1) of this AD and the cracks are more than 20 millimeters in length, the engine mount must be replaced with a new, already modified engine mount	Prior to further flight after the inspection in which the cracks are found. Replacing the engine mount with a new, already modified engine mount terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD	In accordance with Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 3i Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01-02, dated October 15, 2002.
(4) After any inspection required in paragraph (d)(1) of this AD, and no cracks are found, you may incorporate the modification or install a new, already modified engine mount as referenced in paragraph (d)(2) and (d)(3) of this AD. This modification terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD	N/A	In accordance with Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 3i Service Bulletin SB-C No. 01-02, dated October 15, 2002.
(5) Do not install any engine mount unless it has been modified as specified in paragraph (d)(2) of this AD	As of the effective date of this AD	Not applicable.

(e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? To use an alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Send these requests to the Manager, Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate. For information on any already approved alternative methods of compliance, contact Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; facsimile: [phone].

(f) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? You may get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A., Corso Trieste, n. 150, 00198 Rome, Italy; telephone: [phone]; facsimile: 06 855.71.62. You may view these documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Note:

The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD Number 2002-590, dated November 29, 2002.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 26, 2003.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.