[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 64 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16222-16225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8048]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 
Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN 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 Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 
(3I) Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require you to repetitively inspect the engine mount for cracks 
and modify or replace the engine mount if cracks are found. This 
proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The 
actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect and 
correct cracks in the engine mount, which could result in failure of 
the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine 
from the airplane.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before May 9, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also send comments 
electronically to the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments sent electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD'' 
in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached 
electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for 
Windows or ASCII text.
    You may get service information that applies to this proposed AD 
from Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A., Corso Trieste, n. 150, 
00198 Rome, Italy; telephone: 06 84.15.821; facsimile: 06 855.71.62. 
You may also view this information at the Rules Docket at the address 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How Do I Comment on This Proposed AD?

    The FAA invites comments on this proposed rule. You may submit 
whatever written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to 
include the rule's docket number and submit your comments to the 
address

[[Page 16223]]

specified under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments 
received on or before the closing date. We may amend this proposed rule 
in light of comments received. Factual information that supports your 
ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the 
effectiveness of this proposed AD action and determining whether we 
need to take additional rulemaking action.

Are There Any Specific Portions of This Proposed AD I Should Pay 
Attention to?

    The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed rule that 
might suggest a need to modify the proposed rule. You may view all 
comments we receive before and after the closing date of the proposed 
rule in the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket 
that summarizes each contact we have with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of this proposed AD.

How Can I Be Sure FAA Receives My Comment?

    If you want FAA to acknowledge the receipt of your mailed comments, 
you must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, 
write ``Comments to Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD.'' We will date stamp and 
mail the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This Proposed AD?

    The Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile (ENAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on all Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) 
Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. The ENAC reports that 
data collected on in-service airplanes shows that cracks have been 
detected on the engine mount of several airplanes with high operating 
time on grass airfields and at flight schools where activity of hard 
landings have occurred.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of 
the engine from the airplane.

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

    Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. has issued 3i Service 
Bulletin SB-C No. 01/02, dated October 15, 2002.

What Are the Provisions of This Service Information?

    The service bulletin includes procedures for:

--Repetitively inspecting the engine mount for cracks; and
--Modifying the engine mount if cracks are found.

What Action Did the ENAC Take?

    The ENAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
Italian AD Number 2002-590, dated November 29, 2002, in order to ensure 
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.

Was This in Accordance With the Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement?

    These airplane models are manufactured in Italy and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
Sec.  21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the 
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement.
    Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the ENAC has 
kept FAA informed of the situation described above.

What Are the Differences Between This Proposed AD, the ENAC AD, and the 
Service Information?

    The ENAC AD and the service information requires (on Italian-
registered airplanes) inspection within the next 10 hours time-in-
service (TIS) after the effective date of the AD. We propose a 
requirement that you inspect within the next 50 hours TIS after the 
effective date of this proposed AD. We do not have justification to 
require this action within the next 10 hours TIS.
    We use compliance times such as 10 hours TIS when we have 
identified an urgent safety of flight situation. We believe that 50 
hours TIS will give the owners or operators of the affected airplanes 
enough time to have the proposed actions accomplished without 
compromising the safety of the airplanes.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of This 
Proposed AD

What Has FAA Decided?

    The FAA has examined the findings of the ENAC; reviewed all 
available information, including the service information referenced 
above; and determined that:

--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) Models Sky 
Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes of the same type design that are on 
the U.S. registry;
--The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

What Would This Proposed AD Require?

    This proposed AD would require you to incorporate the actions in 
the previously-referenced service bulletin.

How Does the Revision to 14 CFR Part 39 Affect This Proposed AD?

    On July 10, 2002, FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 
FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This 
regulation now includes material that relates to special flight 
permits, alternative methods of compliance, and altered products. This 
material previously was included in each individual AD. Since this 
material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in 
future AD actions.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Would This Proposed AD Impact?

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 10 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.

What Would Be the Cost Impact of This Proposed AD on Owners/Operators 
of the Affected Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the proposed 
inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Total cost per
             Labor cost                      Parts cost           airplane        Total cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $60 = $60..............  No parts required......             $60  $60 x 10 = $600.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the necessary 
modification:

[[Page 16224]]



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                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       airplane
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14 workhours x $60 = $840...............            $100            $940
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    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of 
airplanes that may need such replacement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 workhours x $60 = $660...............            $500          $1,160
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

Would This Proposed AD Impact Various Entities?

    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.

Would This Proposed AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
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, under 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. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.P.A.: Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes, all serial numbers, 
that are certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to detect and correct cracks in the engine 
mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. Such 
failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
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(1) Inspect the engine mount  Initially inspect     In accordance with
 for cracks.                   within the next 50    Iniziative
                               hours time-in-        Industriali
                               service (TIS) after   Italiane S.p.A. 3i
                               the effective date    Service Bulletin SB-
                               of this AD.           C No. 01-02, dated
                               Repetitively          October 15, 2002.
                               inspect thereafter
                               at intervals not to
                               exceed 100 hours
                               TIS until the
                               modification or
                               replacement
                               specified in
                               paragraph (d)(2) or
                               (d)(3) of this AD
                               is incorporated.
-----------------------------
(2) If cracks are found       Prior to further      In accordance with
 during any inspection         flight after the      Iniziative
 required in paragraph         inspection in which   Industriali
 (d)(1) of this AD and the     the cracks are        Italiane S.p.A. 3i
 cracks are 20 millimeters     found.                Service Bulletin SB-
 (mm) or less in size,         Incorporating the     C No. 01-02, dated
 modify the engine mount.      manufacturer's        October 15, 2002.
                               modification kit
                               terminates the
                               repetitive
                               inspection
                               requirements of
                               this AD.
-----------------------------
(3) If cracks are found       Prior to further      In accordance with
 during the inspection         flight after the      Iniziative
 required in paragraph         inspection in which   Industriali
 (d)(1) of this AD and the     the cracks are        Italiane S.p.A. 3i
 cracks are more than 20       found. Replacing      Service Bulletin SB-
 millimeters in length, the    the engine mount      C No. 01-02, dated
 engine mount must be          with a new, already   October 15, 2002.
 replaced with a new,          modified engine
 already modified engine       mount terminates
 mount.                        the repetitive
                               inspection
                               requirements of
                               this AD.
-----------------------------

[[Page 16225]]

 
(4) After any inspection      N/A.................  In accordance with
 required in paragraph                               Iniziative
 (d)(1) of this AD, and no                           Industriali
 cracks are found, you may                           Italiane S.p.A. 3i
 incorporate the                                     Service Bulletin SB-
 modification or install a                           C No. 01-02, dated
 new, already modified                               October 15, 2002.
 engine mount as referenced
 in paragraph (d)(2) and
 (d)(3) of this AD. This
 modification terminates the
 repetitive inspection
 requirements of this AD.
-----------------------------
(5) Do not install any        As of the effective   Not applicable.
 engine mount unless it has    date of this AD.
 been modified as specified
 in paragraph (d)(2) of this
 AD.
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    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? To use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time, 
follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Send these requests to the 
Manager, Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate. For 
information on any already approved alternative methods of 
compliance, contact Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
    (f) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A., Corso Trieste, n. 150, 00198 
Rome, Italy; telephone: 06 84.15.821; facsimile: 06 855.71.62. You 
may view these documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD Number 
2002-590, dated November 29, 2002.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 26, 2003.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-8048 Filed 4-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P