[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 181 (Monday, September 21, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48016-48018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22640]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0869; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-043-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Vulcanair S.p.A. Models P 68, P 68B, P 
68C, P 68C-TC, and P 68 ``OBSERVER'' Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 85-08-04, 
which applies to certain Vulcanair S.p.A. (Vulcanair) Models P 68, P 
68B, P 68C, P 68C-TC, and P 68 ``OBSERVER'' airplanes. AD 85-08-04 
currently requires you to repetitively visually inspect the front and 
rear wing spars for cracks. If cracks are found, AD 85-08-04 requires 
you to modify the wing spars. The wing spar modification terminates the 
repetitive inspection AD action and may be installed before cracks 
develop. Since we issued AD 85-08-04, the manufacturer revised the 
modification kit and identified additional airplane serial numbers that 
require the inspection and/or modification. Consequently, this proposed 
AD would retain the actions of AD 85-08-04, allow you to install the 
revised modification kit, and add additional serial numbers to the 
Applicability section. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct 
cracks in the front and rear wing spar, which could result in the wing 
separating from the airplane. This failure could lead to loss of 
control.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 5, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Vulcanair S.p.A., Via G. Pascoli, 7, Casoria (Naples) 80026 Italy; 
telephone: (+39)081.5918111; fax: (+39)081.5918172; e-mail: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.vulcanair.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace 
Engineer, ACE-112, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 
301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 
329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2009-0869; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-043-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    Reports of cracks in the front and rear wing spar on Vulcanair P 68 
series airplanes caused us to issue AD 85-08-04, Amendment 39-5037 (50 
FR 14370, April 12, 1985). AD 85-08-04 currently requires the following 
on certain Vulcanair Models P 68, P 68B, P 68C, P 68C-TC, and P 68 
``OBSERVER'' airplanes:
     Repetitively visually inspecting the front and rear wing 
spars;
     Repairing the front and rear wing spars if cracks are 
found; and

[[Page 48017]]

     Modifying the front and rear spar if cracks are found or 
as a terminating action to the repetitive inspections.
    Since we issued AD 85-08-04, the manufacturer revised the 
modification kit and identified additional airplane serial numbers that 
require the inspection and/or modification.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in the wing 
separating from the airplane. This failure could lead to loss of 
control.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Partenavia Costruzioni Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service 
Bulletin No. 65 Rev. 3, dated September 30, 1985.
    The service information describes procedures for:
     Inspecting the front and rear wing spars for cracks;
     Repairing the front and rear spars if cracks are found; 
and
     Installing a front and rear spar modification kit.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD 
would supersede AD 85-08-04 with a new AD that would retain the actions 
of AD 85-08-04, allow you to install the revised modification kit, and 
add additional serial numbers to the Applicability section. This 
proposed AD would require you to use the service information described 
previously to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 81 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:

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                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                               Parts cost                airplane     U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 work-hours x $80 per hour = $1,920.........  Not applicable..................          $1,920        $155,520
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     We estimate the following costs to do any necessary repair and 
modification 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 this repair/replacement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
100 work-hours x $80 per hour = $8,000..            $700          $8,700
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 85-08-04, Amendment 39-5037 (50 FR 14370, April 12, 1985), and 
adding the following new AD:

Vulcanair S.p.A.: Docket No. FAA-2009-0869; Directorate Identifier 
2009-CE-043-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by November 5, 2009.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 85-08-04, Amendment 39-5037.

[[Page 48018]]

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Models P 68, P 68B, P 68C, P 68C-TC, and 
P 68 ``OBSERVER'' airplanes, serial numbers 001 through 356, that 
are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of cracks in the front and rear 
wing spars. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in 
the front and rear wing spars, which could result in the wing 
separating from the airplane. This failure could lead to loss of 
control.

Compliance

    (e) For airplane serial numbers 001 through 328, to address this 
problem, you must do the following, unless already done:

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                 Actions                            Compliance                         Procedures
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(1) Visually inspect the front and rear    Initially inspect within     Follow Partenavia Costruzioni
 wing spars for cracks.                     the next 100 hours time-in-  Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
                                            service (TIS) after May      No. 65 Rev. 3, dated September 30,
                                            17, 1985 (the effective      1985; or Partenavia Costruzioni
                                            date of AD 85-08-04), or     Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
                                            upon reaching 2,100 hours    No. 65 Rev. 1, dated September 27,
                                            total TIS, whichever         1984.
                                            occurs later, and
                                            repetitively inspect
                                            thereafter at intervals
                                            not to exceed 500 hours
                                            TIS.
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(2) Repair all cracks found and modify     Before further flight after  Follow Partenavia Costruzioni
 the front and rear wing spars.             any inspection specified     Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
                                            in paragraph (e)(1) of       No. 65 Rev. 3, dated September 30,
                                            this AD where cracks are     1985; or Partenavia Costruzioni
                                            found.                       Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
                                                                         No. 65 Rev. 1, dated September 27,
                                                                         1984.
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(3) At any time after the effective date   Not applicable.............  Follow Partenavia Costruzioni
 of this AD, you may modify the front and                                Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
 rear wing spar to terminate the                                         No. 65 Rev. 3, dated September 30,
 repetitive inspection requirements of                                   1985; or Partenavia Costruzioni
 this AD.                                                                Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
                                                                         No. 65 Rev. 1, dated September 27,
                                                                         1984.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) For airplane serial numbers 329 through 356, to address this 
problem, you must do the following, unless already done:

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                 Actions                            Compliance                         Procedures
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(1) Visually inspect the front and rear    Initially within the next    Follow Partenavia Costruzioni
 wing spars for cracks.                     100 hours TIS after the      Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
                                            effective date of this AD,   No. 65 Rev. 3, dated September 30,
                                            or upon reaching 2,100       1985.
                                            total hours TIS, whichever
                                            occurs later and
                                            repetitively inspect
                                            thereafter at intervals
                                            not to exceed 500 hours
                                            TIS.
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(2) Repair all cracks found and modify     Before further flight after  Follow Partenavia Costruzioni
 the front and rear wing spars.             any inspection specified     Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
                                            in paragraph (f)(1) of       No. 65 Rev. 3, dated September 30,
                                            this AD where cracks are     1985.
                                            found.
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(3) At any time after the effective date   Not applicable.............  Follow Partenavia Costruzioni
 of this AD, you may modify the front and                                Aeronautiche S.p.A. Service Bulletin
 rear wing spar to terminate the                                         No. 65 Rev. 3, dated September 30,
 repetitive inspection requirements of                                   1985.
 this AD.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Sarjapur 
Nagarajan, Aerospace Engineer, ACE-112, FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 
telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 329-4090. Before using any 
approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards 
District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
    (h) AMOCs approved for AD 85-08-04 are approved for this AD.

Related Information

    (i) To get copies of the service information referenced in this 
AD, contact Vulcanair S.p.A., Via G. Pascoli, 7, Casoria (Naples) 
80026 Italy; telephone: (+39)081.5918111; fax: (+39)081.5918172; e-
mail: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.vulcanair.com. To view the AD docket, go to U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or 
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 15, 2009.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-22640 Filed 9-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P