[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]
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