[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5325-5327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2423]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-142-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche 
Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A. Model 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 
Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A. (Piaggio) Model P-180 airplanes. The proposed AD 
would require inspecting the main landing gear (MLG) for interference 
between the MLG drag brace link and the MLG retraction actuator, and 
modifying this area if interference is found. The proposed AD is the 
result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 
by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent MLG failure caused by interference 
between the MLG retraction actuator and the MLG drag brace link, which 
could result in loss of control of the airplane during landing 
operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-142-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this 
location

[[Page 5326]]

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 I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy. 
This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the 
address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David O. Keenan, Project Officer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1201 
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-
6934; 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. 97-CE-142-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 Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-142-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Registro Aeronautico Italiano (R.A.I.), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Piaggio Model P-180 airplanes. 
The R.A.I. reports that inspections of several of the above-referenced 
airplanes reveal interference between the main landing gear (MLG) 
retraction actuator and the MLG drag brace link. Some of these 
airplanes had interference sufficient enough to cause side loads on the 
MLG retraction actuator.
    These conditions, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result 
in MLG failure and possible loss of control of the airplane during 
landing operations.

Relevant Service Information

    Piaggio has issued Service Bulletin No. SB-80-0064, dated December 
5, 1994, which provides information on this issue and references Dowty 
Aerospace Landing Gear Service Bulletin P180-32-11, dated September 26, 
1994. Dowty Aerospace Landing Gear Service Bulletin P180-32-11 
specifies procedures for inspecting the MLG for interference between 
the MLG drag brace link and the MLG retraction actuator, and modifying 
this area if interference is found.
    The R.A.I. classified these service bulletins as mandatory and 
issued Italian AD No. 95-027, dated January 25, 1995, in order to 
assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.

The FAA's Determination

    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 R.A.I. has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above.
    The FAA has examined the findings of the R.A.I.; 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 Piaggio Model P-180 airplanes of the same 
type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing AD 
action. The proposed AD would require inspecting the MLG for 
interference between the MLG drag brace link and the MLG retraction 
actuator, and modifying this area if interference is found. 
Accomplishment of the proposed installation would be in accordance with 
the previously referenced service information.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 5 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that 
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $3,000, or $600 per airplane.

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), 40113, 44701.


[[Page 5327]]




Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche Rinaldo Piaggio S.P.A.: Docket 
No. 97-CE-142-AD.

    Applicability: Model P-180 airplanes, serial numbers 1001, 1002, 
1004 and 1006 through 1031, 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 (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 this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent main landing gear (MLG) failure caused by 
interference between the MLG retraction actuator and the MLG drag 
brace link, which could result in loss of control of the airplane 
during landing operations, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the MLG for interference between 
the MLG drag brace link and the MLG retraction actuator. Accomplish 
this inspection in accordance with both Piaggio Service Bulletin No. 
SB-80-0064, dated December 5, 1994, and Dowty Aerospace Landing Gear 
Service Bulletin P180-32-11, dated September 26, 1994.
    (b) If any interference is found between the MLG drag brace and 
the MLG retraction actuator during the inspection required by 
paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further flight, modify this area 
in accordance with both Piaggio Service Bulletin No. SB-80-0064, 
dated December 5, 1994, and Dowty Aerospace Landing Gear Service 
Bulletin P180-32-11, dated September 26, 1994.
    (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, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, 
suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be 
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may 
add comments and then send it to 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 Small Airplane Directorate.

    (e) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio 
Service Bulletin No. SB-80-0066, dated December 12, 1994, should be 
directed to I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 
Genoa, Italy. This service information may be examined at the FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 95-
027, dated January 25, 1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 26, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2423 Filed 1-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U