[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 156 (Monday, August 12, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41753-41755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20395]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96-CE-28-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. The proposed action would 
require replacing certain AlliedSignal Aerospace outflow/safety valves 
in the pressurization system with new or serviceable valves. Reports of 
cracking of the poppet within the primary and secondary outflow valves 
on two of the affected airplanes prompted the proposed action. 
Investigation has revealed problems during the manufacturing process of 
certain AlliedSignal outflow/safety valves. The actions specified by 
the proposed AD are intended to prevent outflow/safety valve cracking 
and subsequent failure, which could result in rapid decompression of 
the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 7, 1996.

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-28-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 AlliedSignal Aerospace, Technical Publications, Department 65-70, 
P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170. This information also may 
be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Edward S. Chalpin, Program 
Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Europe, Africa, 
and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; 
telephone (322) 513-2717; facsimile (322) 230-6899; or Mr. Roman T. 
Gabrys, Project Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane 
Certification Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64105; 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 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-28-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-28-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 
cracking of the poppet within the primary and secondary outflow/safety 
valves on two of the affected airplanes. Investigation has revealed 
problems during the manufacturing process of certain AlliedSignal 
Aerospace outflow/safety valves. The condition is traced to one of two 
lots (batch-runs) of molded poppets installed in valves during 1991. 
Research of these lots has revealed brittleness of these parts, which 
is characteristic of improper processing during injection molding. 
Tensile stress then develops upon installation of the poppet, which 
leads to hairline cracks. Small cracks have no effect, but can develop 
into larger cracks that cause an increase in the valve operating 
pressure, which could result in cabin depressurization.

Applicable Service Information

    AlliedSignal Aerospace has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 103742-21-
4059 and SB 103744-21-4060, both dated March 31, 1995. These service 
bulletins specify procedures for determining whether an I.A.M. Model 
Piaggio P-180 airplane has one of the affected outflow/safety valves 
installed. The service bulletins also reference the applicable outflow/
safety valves as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            SB referenced in                     Valve model                      Valve serial Nos.             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
103742-21-4059.........................  103742-ALL................  21-121 through 21-131; 21-133 through 21-  
                                                                      136; 21-138 through 21-140; 59-105; 79-116
                                                                      through 79-119; 95-101; and 95-102.       

[[Page 41754]]

                                                                                                                
103744-21-4060.........................  103744-ALL................  40-120; 40-126; 40-129; 40-131 through 40- 
                                                                      134; 41-136; 41-137; 41-139; 59-105; 59-  
                                                                      108; and 59-111.                          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio SB No. 80-0084, dated July 7, 1995, references 
the above AlliedSignal Aerospace service bulletins.
    The RAI classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued 
RAI AD 95-224, dated August 22, 1995, 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 
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 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 an 
AlliedSignal Aerospace outflow/safety valve (referenced above in the 
discussion of the service information) installed, the proposed AD would 
require replacing outflow/safety valves with new or serviceable valves. 
Accomplishment of the proposed replacement would be in accordance with 
the applicable maintenance or service manual.

Compliance Time of the Proposed AD

    The FAA has determined that an interval of three calendar months is 
an appropriate compliance time to address the identified unsafe 
condition in a timely manner. This compliance time was deemed 
appropriate after considering the safety implications, the average 
utilization rate of the affected fleet, and the availability of the 
replacement parts.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 3 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 32 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. AlliedSignal will 
provide parts at no cost to the owner/operator. Based on these figures, 
the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated 
to be $5,760 or $1,920 per airplane. The FAA knows of no affected 
airplane owner/operator (of the 3 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 USC 106(g), 40101, 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 Mecchaniche: Docket No. 96-CE-28-AD.

    Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes (all serial 
numbers), certificated in any category, that have one of the 
following AlliedSignal Aerospace outflow safety valves installed, as 
referenced in either AlliedSignal Aerospace Service Bulletin (SB) 
103742-21-4059 or SB 103744-21-4060, both dated March 31, 1995:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       SB Referenced in            Valve model       Valve serial Nos.  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
103742-21-4059................  103742-ALL.......  21-121 through 21-   
                                                    131; 21-133 through 
                                                    21-136; 21-138      
                                                    through 21-140; 59- 
                                                    105; 79-116 through 
                                                    79-119; 95-101; and 
                                                    95-102.             
103744-21-4060................  103744-ALL.......  40-120; 40-126; 40-  
                                                    129; 40-131 through 
                                                    40-134; 41-136 41-  
                                                    137; 41-139; 59-105;
                                                    59-108; and 59-111. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1: The above AlliedSignal Aerospace service bulletins are 
referenced in I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio SB No. 80-0084, dated July 7, 
1995.
    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

[[Page 41755]]

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 three calendar months 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent outflow/safety valve cracking and subsequent failure, 
which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Replace (with a new or serviceable valve) any outflow/safety 
valve that does not have one of the following:
    (1) The valve identification plate MOD RECORD stamped ``PCA'' 
(Poppet Change Accomplished); or
    (2) A valve with an inked ATD Quality Assurance ``Functional 
Test (FT)'' stamp that is dated June 1992, or later.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no outflow/safety valve 
that is referenced in the ``Applicability'' section of this AD may 
be installed on an affected airplane.
    (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 Office 
(ACO), 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 ACO.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Brussels ACO.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the documents referred to herein upon request to AlliedSignal 
Aerospace, Technical Publications, Department 65-70, P.O. Box 52170, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170; 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 August 5, 1996.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-20395 Filed 8-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U