[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14049-14051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7523]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-121-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 AD would require 
accomplishing a leakage check of all lavatory water tube/hose 
connections, and correcting the installation of these connections if 
leakage 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 water leakage from the lavatory water duct system, which could 
collect in the fuselage, freeze in cold weather conditions, and cause 
the rudder control system to jam.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-121-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 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

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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-121-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-121-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 I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 
airplanes. The R.A.I. reports an incident where water leakage from the 
lavatory system collected in the bottom of the fuselage between frames 
5792 and 6000. This water then rose up to the height of the rudder 
control cable and froze during flight, which caused the rudder control 
system to jam.

Relevant Service Information

    I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Service Bulletin No. SB-80-0096, dated 
January 31, 1997, which specifies procedures for accomplishing a 
leakage check of all lavatory water tube/hose connections, and 
correcting the installation of these connections if leakage is found.
    The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
Italian AD No. 97-022, dated March 2, 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, 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 I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes of the 
same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing 
AD action. The proposed AD would require accomplishing a leakage check 
of all lavatory water tube/hose connections, and correcting the 
installation of these connections if leakage is found. Accomplishment 
of the proposed installation would be in accordance with the previously 
referenced service information.

Compliance Time of the Proposed AD

    Although the potential of the rudder control system to jam because 
of water freezing will only be unsafe 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 500 hours TIS. For this reason, the FAA has determined 
that a compliance based on calendar time should be utilized in the 
proposed Ad in order to assure that the unsafe condition is addressed 
on all airplanes in a reasonable time period.

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 2 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, 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 $600, or $120 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 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:

Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche: Docket No. 98-CE-21-AD.

    Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, serial numbers 
1002, 1004, 1006 through 1017, 1019, and 1021 through 1030, 
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

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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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent water leakage from the lavatory water duct system, 
which could collect in the fuselage, freeze in cold weather 
conditions, and cause the rudder control system to jam, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Within the next 3 calendar months after the effective date 
of this AD, accomplish a leakage check of all lavatory water tube/
hose connections in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS 
section of Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No. SB-80-0096, 
dated January 31, 1997. If leakage is found, prior to further 
flight, correct the installation of these connections in accordance 
with the above-referenced service bulletin.
    (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, 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.

    (d) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio 
Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No. SB-80-0096, dated January 31, 1997, 
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 97-
022, dated March 2, 1997.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 17, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7523 Filed 3-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M