[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54403-54405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22387]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0954; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-028-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Model 
PIAGGIO P-180 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as:

    Some lock sleeves (part number (P/N) 114146681), which were 
installed in some Main Landing Gear (MLG) actuators, had been 
incorrectly manufactured.
    If left uncorrected, this condition could lead to failure to 
lock the MLG actuator or to its unlock from the correct position, 
with subsequent possible damage to the aeroplane and injuries to 
occupants during landing.

    The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address 
the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 17, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     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 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A Airworthiness Office; Via Luigi Cibrario, 
4-16154 Genova-Italy; telephone: +39 010 6481353; fax: +39 010 6481881; 
E-mail: [email protected]. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket 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 AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No.

[[Page 54404]]

FAA-2011-0954; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-028-AD'' at the beginning 
of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD No.: 2011-0133, dated July 12, 2011 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Some lock sleeves (part number (P/N) 114146681), which were 
installed in some Main Landing Gear (MLG) actuators, had been 
incorrectly manufactured.
    If left uncorrected, this condition could lead to failure to 
lock the MLG actuator or to its unlock from the correct position, 
with subsequent possible damage to the aeroplane and injuries to 
occupants during landing.
    This AD requires replacing defective MLG actuators with 
serviceable ones.
    Defective actuators can be repaired by the manufacturer and 
identified with the ``P180-32-29'' marking on the name plate.

Relevant Service Information

    Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. has issued Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 80-0304, dated July 9, 2010. The actions described in this 
service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition 
identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 102 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about .5 work-hour per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $0 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $4,335, or $42.50 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 7 work-hours and require parts costing $64,822, for a cost 
of $65,417 per product. There are a maximum of 17 actuators that are 
identified by the manufacturer that will be required to be replace. We 
have no way of determining the number of affected airplanes on the U.S. 
registry that may have these actuators that may have to be replaced by 
these actions.
    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.
    There is a warranty expiration date for the replacement of the 
actuators. The FAA recommends owners/operators that have affected main 
landing gear actuators contact the manufacturer immediately and replace 
the actuators under warranty.

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 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 this 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.

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 adding the following new AD:

Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A: Docket No. FAA-2011-0954; Directorate 
Identifier 2011-CE-028-AD.

[[Page 54405]]

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by October 17, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Model 
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes, all serial numbers, that are:
    (1) Certificated in any category; and
    (2) have installed any of the following main landing gear (MLG) 
actuators:
    (i) Messier-Dowty Part Number (P/N) 114346003 (left hand side): 
with serial number (S/N) SA0706275, SA0706276, SA0706726, SA0706727, 
SA0706728, SA0706729, SA0706738, SA0706739,SA0707243, SA0707864, or 
SA0708072; or
    (ii) Messier-Dowty P/N 114346004 (right hand side): with S/N 
SA0703800, SA0703801, SA0705520, SA0706219, SA0706960, or SA0706961.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing 
Gear.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    Some lock sleeves (part number (P/N) 114146681), which were 
installed in some Main Landing Gear (MLG) actuators, had been 
incorrectly manufactured.
    If left uncorrected, this condition could lead to failure to 
lock the MLG actuator or to its unlock from the correct position, 
with subsequent possible damage to the aeroplane and injuries to 
occupants during landing.
    This AD requires replacing defective MLG actuators with 
serviceable ones.
    Defective actuators can be repaired by the manufacturer and 
identified with the ``P180-32-29'' marking on the name plate.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, inspect both installed MLG actuators to determine 
if an affected P/N and S/N actuator is installed.
    (2) If any affected P/N and S/N actuator is identified with the 
``P180-32-29'' marking on the name plate, no further action is 
required by this AD on that actuator.
    (3) If one or both affected MLG actuators are not identified 
with the ``P180-32-29'' marking on the name plate, before reaching a 
total of 3,000 hours TIS on the actuator or within the next 150 
hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later, replace the affected actuator(s) with serviceable parts 
following Part B of the Accomplishment Instructions of Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 80-0304, dated July 
9, 2010.
    (4) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any MLG 
actuator having an affected P/N and S/N, unless it is identified 
with the ``P180-32-29'' marking on the name plate.

    Note 1: There is a warranty expiration date for the replacement 
of the actuators. The FAA recommends owners/operators that have 
affected main landing gear actuators contact the manufacturer 
immediately and replace the actuators under warranty.

FAA AD Differences

    Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: The compliance times of the MCAI are presented in flight 
cycles (landings). When doing the conversion for these airplanes 
from flight cycles to hours TIS, the FAA has estimated that 1 flight 
cycle is equal to 1 hour TIS based on the utility of this class of 
airplane. Since operators of aircraft of U.S. registry are required 
to keep track of hours TIS, the compliance time of this AD is in 
hours TIS.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, 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: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; e-mail: 
[email protected]. 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.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2011-0133, dated July 12, 2011; and Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. 
Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 80-0304, dated July 9, 2010, for 
related information. For service information related to this AD, 
contact Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A Airworthiness Office; Via 
Luigi Cibrario, 4-16154 Genova-Italy; telephone: +39 010 6481353; 
fax: +39 010 6481881; E-mail: [email protected]. You may 
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 26, 2011.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-22387 Filed 8-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P