[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 22, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71694-71696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33170]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-65-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).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
repetitively inspecting the brake assembly rods and tubings for wear or 
damage, and replacing any worn or damaged parts. 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 the brake hydraulic fluid from 
leaking because of the brake assembly rods contacting the brake valve 
tubing, which could result in the inability to adequately stop the 
airplane during ground operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, 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. Randy Griffith, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4126; facsimile: (816) 329-
4091.

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. 99-CE-65-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. 99-CE-65-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, 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 that the brake assembly rods may interfere with and 
rub on the tubings connected to the brake valves. This could cause wear 
and

[[Page 71695]]

damage to the tubing, which could result in brake fluid leakage.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected in a timely manner, 
could result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during 
ground operations.

Relevant Service Information

    I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-
0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999, which specifies procedures for 
inspecting the brake system assembly for wear or damage.
    The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
Italian AD 99-219, dated June 22, 1999, 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 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 repetitively inspecting the 
brake assembly rods and tubings for wear or damage, and replacing any 
worn or damaged parts.
    Accomplishment of the proposed inspections would be required in 
accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, 
Original Issue: April 30, 1999. Accomplishment of any necessary 
replacement would be required in accordance with the maintenance 
manual.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 4 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 3 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed initial inspection, 
and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on 
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed initial inspection 
on U.S. operators is estimated to be $720, or $180 per airplane.
    These figures only take into account the cost of the initial 
inspection and do not take into account the costs of any replacements 
necessary or repetitive inspections. The FAA has no way of determining 
the number of parts that would need replacement or the number of 
inspections each owner/operator of the affected airplanes would incur.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have a substantial direct 
effect 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, it 
is determined that this proposed rule would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    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. 99-CE-65-AD.

    Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, all serial 
numbers, 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 the brake hydraulic fluid from leaking because of the 
brake assembly rods contacting the brake valve tubing, which could 
result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during 
ground operations, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 150 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
150 hours TIS, inspect the brake system assembly for wear or damage. 
Accomplish the inspection in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions in Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-
0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999.
    (b) If any worn or damaged parts are found during any inspection 
required by this AD, prior to further flight, replace the parts in 
accordance with the appropriate maintenance manual. The repetitive 
inspections required by paragraph (a) of this AD still apply after 
replacing any worn or damaged parts.
    (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 
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent 
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 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.


[[Page 71696]]


    (e) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio 
Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 
30, 1999, 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, 
901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 99-
219, dated June 22, 1999.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 16, 1999.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-33170 Filed 12-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U