[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 180 (Monday, September 16, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48613-48614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22952]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-78-AD; Amendment 39-9750; AD 96-19-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche 
Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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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. This action requires modifying the passenger seat 
cushion next to the emergency exit door handle. Reports of interference 
between the passenger seat cushion and the emergency exit door handle, 
preventing the door from opening from the outside, prompted this AD 
action. The actions specified by the AD are intended to prevent the 
possibility of not being able to open the emergency exit door during an 
emergency evacuation of the airplane, which could result in injury to 
the passengers.

DATES: Effective October 28, 1996.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of October 28, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD 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 Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-78-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tom Rodriguez, Program Manager, 
Brussels Aircraft Certification Division, FAA, Europe, Africa, and 
Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; 
telephone 32.2.508.27.17; facsimile 32.2.230.68.99; or Mr. Roman T. 
Gabrys, Project Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426-6934; facsimile (816) 426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply 
to Piaggio Model P-180 airplanes was published in the Federal Register 
on April 29, 1996 (61 FR 8696). The action proposed to require 
modifying the passenger seat cushion to prevent the seat cushion trim 
from interfering with the emergency exit door handle.
    Imterested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.
    The FAA discovered minor errors in the notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) after it was published. In the NPRM, the reference to 
the service bulletin (SB) that is applicable to this action contained 
the wrong issue date, September 30, 1993. The correct date for I.A.M. 
Rinaldo Piaggio SB 80-0043 is July 28, 1993, and is correctly reflected 
in the final rule AD. In addition, the FAA has changed the designation 
of the type certificate holder and the airplane model to reflect what 
is currently included in the type certificate data sheet.
    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
the above referenced changes and minor editorial corrections. The FAA 
has determined that these changes and minor corrections will not change 
the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the 
public than was already proposed.
    The FAA estimates that 4 airplanes of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 4 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish this action, and that the average labor rate is 
approximately $60 an hour. Parts will be furnished by the manufacturer 
at no cost to the owners/operators. Based on these figures, the total 
cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $960. This 
figure is based on the assumption that none of the owners/operators of 
the affected airplanes have modified the airplanes. I.A.M. has informed 
the FAA that all 4 of the Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes registered for 
operation in the United States had the passenger seat cushion modified. 
Consequently, there is no further cost to U.S. operators for this AD.
    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

[[Page 48614]]

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.
    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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 USC 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:

96-19-02. Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche: Amendment 39-9750; 
Docket No. 95-CE-78-AD.

    Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes (serial numbers 
1002, and 1004 through 1022), certificated in any category.

    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 (c) 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 the possibility of not being able to open the 
emergency exit door during an emergency evacuation of the airplane, 
which could result in injury to the passengers, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Modify the passenger seat cushion in accordance with I.A.M. 
Rinaldo Piaggio Service Bulletin SB-80-0043; Original Issue: July 
28, 1993.
    (b) 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.
    (c) 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 or the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64105. 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 or 
the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Brussels Aircraft Certification Division or the 
Small Airplane Directorate.

    (d) The modification required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with I.A.M Rinaldo Piaggio Service Bulletin SB-80-0043; 
Original Issue: July 28, 1993.
    This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of 
the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51. Copies may be obtained from I. A. M. Rinaldo Piaggio, 
S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy. Copies may be inspected 
at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 
700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment (39-9750) becomes effective on October 28, 
1996.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 30, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-22952 Filed 9-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U