[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8020-8022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3889]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-96-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 all Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche 
(I.A.M.) Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. The proposed AD would require 
inspecting both (left and right wing configurations) environmental 
control system bleed tubes for damage, leakage, and a correct gap 
between the tube and wing lower panel crossing area, inspecting the 
wiring and surrounding structures for damage, and correcting any 
discrepancies 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 thermal expansion from causing leakage of an 
environmental control system bleed tube because of improper 
installation, which could result in deterioration of the electrical 
wiring and the surrounding structure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-96-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. John R. Griffith, Project Officer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-6941; 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. 98-CE-96-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. 98-CE-96-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 all I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. 
The R.A.I. reports three instances where thermal expansion caused an 
environmental control system bleed tube to contact the wing skin where 
it crosses the lower wing panel.
    The damage that results from the above-referenced condition, if not 
detected and corrected, could result in a bleed tube leaking with 
deterioration of the electrical wiring and the surrounding structure.

Relevant Service Information

    I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-
0072, Revision No. 1, dated September 9, 1998, which specifies 
procedures for:

--Inspecting both (left and right wing configurations) environmental 
control system bleed tubes for damage (dents), leakage, and a correct 
gap between the tube and wing lower panel crossing area;
--If any damaged environmental control system bleed tube is found 
damaged beyond certain limits or an incorrect gap between the tube and 
wing lower panel crossing area is found, replacing the bleed tube and 
rotating the bleed tube to match the necessary gap, as applicable;
--Inspecting the wiring and surrounding structures for damage if any 
leakage is found; and
--Repairing any damaged wiring or surrounding structures.

    The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
Italian AD 98-329, dated September 18, 1998, 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

[[Page 8021]]

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 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 inspecting both (left and 
right wing configurations) environmental control system bleed tubes for 
damage (dents), leakage, and a correct gap between the tube and wing 
lower panel crossing area. If any environmental control system bleed 
tube is found damaged beyond certain limits or an incorrect gap between 
the tube and wing lower panel crossing area is found, the proposed AD 
would require replacing the bleed tube and rotating the bleed tube to 
match the necessary gap, as applicable. The proposed AD would also 
require inspecting the wiring and surrounding structures for damage if 
any leakage is found, and repairing any damaged wiring or surrounding 
structures.
    Accomplishment of the proposed actions would be required in 
accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0072, 
Revision No. 1, dated September 9, 1998.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 5 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed inspection, that it would take approximately 5 
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 inspection on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $1,500, or $300 per airplane. These 
figures only take into account the costs of the proposed inspection of 
the environmental control system bleed tubes and do not take into 
account the costs of any necessary follow-up action.
    If any damage is found during the above-referenced inspection, the 
costs to accomplish any follow-up actions (tube replacement/gap 
adjustment/follow-up inspections) would take approximately 8 workhours 
per airplane to accomplish at an average labor rate of approximately 
$60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $500. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of any necessary follow-up actions is estimated at 
$980 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-96-AD.

    Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, all serial numbers 
up to and including serial number 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 (f) 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 thermal expansion from causing leakage of the 
environmental control system bleed tube because of improper 
installation, which could result in deterioration of the electrical 
wiring and the surrounding structure, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect both (left and right wing 
configurations) environmental control system bleed tubes for damage 
(dents), leakage, and a correct gap between the tube and wing lower 
panel crossing area. Accomplish these actions in accordance with 
Part A of Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0072, 
Revision No. 1, dated September 9, 1998.
    (b) If any environmental control system bleed tube is found damaged 
during the inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to 
further flight, replace the damaged environmental control system bleed 
tube. Accomplish this action in accordance with Part B of Piaggio 
Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0072, Revision No. 1, dated 
September 9, 1998.
    (c) If any leakage is found during the inspection required by 
paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further flight, inspect the wiring 
and surrounding structures for damage, and repair any damaged wiring or 
surrounding structures. Accomplish the inspection in accordance with 
Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0072, Revision No. 1, 
dated September 9, 1998, and any repair in accordance with the 
applicable maintenance manual or other applicable FAA-approved 
document.
    (d) If any incorrect gap between the tube and wing lower panel 
crossing area is found during the inspection required by paragraph (a) 
of this AD, prior to further flight, rotate the bleed tube to match the 
necessary gap. Accomplish this action in accordance with Part B of

[[Page 8022]]

Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0072, Revision No. 1, 
dated September 9, 1998.

    Note 2: Part C of Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-
80-0072; Revision No. 1, dated September 9, 1998, includes 
procedures for accomplishing this AD for those airplanes where the 
Original Issue of the above-referenced service bulletin was already 
incorporated. For those owners/operators who have already 
accomplished the actions specified in Piaggio Service Bulletin 
(Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0072, Original Issue: June 5, 1998, only 
these procedures in Part C apply.

    (e) 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.
    (f) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance times 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.

    (g) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio 
Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0072, Original Issue: June 
5, 1998; Revision No. 1, dated September 9, 1998, 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 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 98-
329, dated September 18, 1998.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 9, 1999.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-3889 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
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