[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11823-11824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6199]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-18-AD; Amendment 39-10382; AD 98-06-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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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 that are equipped with a Rockwell Collins APS-65 
autopilot system that incorporates an APC-65A autopilot computer. This 
AD requires incorporating airplane flight manual (AFM) and pilot's 
operating handbook (POH) supplements that include revised autopilot 
emergency disengagement procedures. This AD is the result of mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 
authority for Italy. The actions specified by this AD are intended to 
prevent pilot difficulty in disengaging the autopilot during flight, 
which could result in the pilot's lack of proper attention to critical 
flight tasks due to the increased pilot workload with possible 
consequent loss of airplane controllability.

DATES: Effective April 2, 1998.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before May 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket 98-CE-18-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    Service information that relates to this AD, including the AFM/POH 
supplements, 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 Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-18-AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

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:

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 I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes that 
are equipped with a Rockwell Collins APS-65 autopilot system that 
incorporates an APC-65A autopilot computer. The R.A.I. reports two 
cases of flight crews having difficulty disengaging the autopilot 
during flight.
    This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result 
in the pilot's lack of proper attention to critical flight tasks due to 
the increased pilot workload with possible consequent loss of airplane 
controllability.

Relevant Service Information

    I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Alert Service Bulletin ASB-80-0100, dated 
September 25, 1997, which specifies the following AFM and POH 
supplements that include revised autopilot emergency disengagement 
procedures:

--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 5 of 30, Page 9-7, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 6 of 30, Page 9-8, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 7 of 30, Page 9-9, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 8 of 30, Page 9-10, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 9 of 30, Page 9-11, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992; and
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 10 of 30, Page 9-12, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992.

    The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
Italian AD No. 97-290, dated October 21, 1997, 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 AFM/POH supplements previously 
referenced; 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 This 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 for operation in the United States 
and are equipped with a Rockwell Collins APS-65 autopilot system that 
incorporates an APC-65A autopilot computer, the FAA is issuing an AD. 
This AD requires incorporating the AFM and POH supplements previously 
referenced that include revised autopilot emergency disengagement 
procedures.

Compliance Time of This AD

    Although difficulty for the flight crew to disengage the autopilot 
is only a safety problem while the airplane is in flight, this unsafe 
condition is not a result of the number of times the airplane is 
operated. The chance of this situation occurring is the same for an 
airplane with 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) as it is for an airplane 
with 5,000 hours TIS. In addition, the utilization of the affected 
airplanes varies from operator to operator. Some operators may utilize 
the affected airplanes in excess of 200 hours TIS in a month, while 
others may only log 20 hours TIS or less in a month. Based on the above 
information, the FAA has determined that the compliance time of this AD 
should be presented in both calendar time and hours TIS (with the 
prevalent one being that which occurs first) in order to assure that 
the unsafe condition is addressed on all of the affected airplanes in a 
reasonable time period.

Determination of the Effective Date of the AD

    Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for public 
prior comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

[[Page 11824]]

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not 
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 will be considered, 
and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual 
information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is 
extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and 
determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the 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 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 98-CE-18-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Regulatory Impact

    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 
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.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action 
involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that 
this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will 
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is 
not required). A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules 
Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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 U.S.C. 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:

98-06-05  Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche: Amendment 39-10382; 
Docket No. 98-CE-18-AD.

    Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, all serial 
numbers; certificated in any category, that are equipped with a 
Rockwell Collins APS-65 autopilot system that incorporates an APC-
65A autopilot computer.

    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 within the next 10 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD or within the next 30 
calendar days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
first, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent pilot difficulty in disengaging the autopilot during 
flight, which could result in the pilot's lack of proper attention 
to critical flight tasks due to the increased pilot workload with 
possible consequent loss of airplane controllability, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Incorporate the following airplane flight manual (AFM) and 
pilot's operating handbook (POH) supplements that include revised 
autopilot emergency disengagement procedures:

--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 5 of 30, Page 9-7, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 6 of 30, Page 9-8, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 7 of 30, Page 9-9, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 8 of 30, Page 9-10, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992;
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 9 of 30, Page 9-11, Reissued: 
June 19, 1992; and
--Section 9 Supplement 1, Report 6591, 10 of 30, Page 9-12, 
Reissued: June 19, 1992.

    Note 2: The actions required by this AD are also referenced in 
Piaggio Alert Service Bulletin ASB-80-0100, dated September 25, 
1997.

    (b) Amending the AFM and POH, as required by this AD, may be 
performed by the owner/operator holding at least a private pilot 
certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and must be entered into the aircraft 
records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with section 
43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
    (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 3: 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 the service 
information or the AFM and POH supplements referenced in this AD 
should be directed to I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 
16154 Genoa, Italy. This 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 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD No. 
97-290, dated October 21, 1997.

    (f) This amendment (39-10382) becomes effective on April 2, 
1998.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 4, 1998.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-6199 Filed 3-10-98; 8:45 am]
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