2021-18253. Airworthiness Directives; Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Model P2006T airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a manufacturing defect in the nose landing gear (NLG) piston tube. This proposed AD would require replacing the NLG piston tube. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 12, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A, Via S. D'acquisto 62, 80042 Boscotrecase (NA), Italy; phone: + 39 0823 620134; fax: + 39 0823 622899; email: [e-mail]; website: https://www.tecnam.com/​us/​support/​. You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call [phone].

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0700; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the MCAI, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Rutherford, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2021-0700; Project Identifier 2019-CE-017-AD” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jim Rutherford, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0043, dated March 6, 2019 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition on Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Model P2006T airplanes. The MCAI states:

Failures of NLG piston tubes P/N 26-8-1408-1 were reported during ground operations. Subsequent investigation determined a deficiency in NLG piston tube manufacturing process. It was also determined that only a specific batch is affected by this defect.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of the NLG, possibly resulting in loss of control on the ground, during or after landing, with consequent damage to the aeroplane and injury to occupants.

To address this potential unsafe condition, TECNAM issued the [service bulletin] SB to provide instructions for the replacement of each affected part with a part that was manufactured by an improved process.

For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires removal from service of the affected parts.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0700.

Related Service Information

Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Service Bulletin No. SB 288-CS-Ed 1, Revision 1, dated December 22, 2017, is related to this NPRM and provides information about installing nose landing gear (NLG) piston tube kit number SB 288-1.

FAA's Determination

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require replacing NLG piston tubes that are not P/N 26-8-1408-1 and marked “rev F00.”

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 59 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 4 work-hours per airplane to comply with the replacement required by this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $1,200 per airplane.

Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $90,860, or $1,540 per airplane.

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.

Authority for This Rulemaking

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed regulation:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A.: Docket No. FAA-2021-0700; Project Identifier 2019-CE-017-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by October 12, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Model P2006T airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in an category.

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3220, Nose/Tail Landing Gear.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and address an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a manufacturing defect in the nose landing gear (NLG) piston tube. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the NLG upon or after landing.

(f) Compliance

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

(1) For airplanes with an NLG piston tube part number (P/N) 26-8-1408-1 installed and not marked “rev. F00”: Within 50 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD or within 2 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace any P/N 26-8-1408-1 NLG piston tube with an improved part by installing NLG piston tube kit number SB 288-1.

(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install an NLG piston tube P/N 26-8-1408-1 on any airplane unless it is marked “rev. F00.”

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the person identified in Related Information or email: [e-mail].

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(i) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD contact Jim Rutherford, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

(2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019-0043, dated March 6, 2019, for more information. You may examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0700.

(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A, Via S. D'acquisto 62, 80042 Boscotrecase (NA), Italy; phone: + 39 0823 620134; fax: + 39 0823 622899; email: [e-mail]; website: https://www.tecnam.com/​us/​support/​. You may review this referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call [phone].

Issued on August 19, 2021.

Gaetano A. Sciortino,

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.