[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 128 (Monday, July 6, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38406-38408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16293]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 128 / Monday, July 6, 2015 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 38406]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2466; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-018-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A 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 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A Model P-180 airplanes. 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 the need to restore the safe fatigue life of 
the bulkhead structure. We are issuing this proposed AD to require 
actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 20, 2015.

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, Viale Generale 
Disegna, 1-17038 Villanova d'Albenga, Savona, Italy; telephone: +39 010 
6481800; fax: +39 010 6481374; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: 
www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support#care. You may review this 
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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
2466; 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; email: 
[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. FAA-2015-2466; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-018-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 AD 
No.: 2015-0071, dated: April 30, 2015 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    In 1997, Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A (PAI) developed a 
modification of the forward pressurized bulkhead, published through 
PAI Service Bulletin (SB) 80-0081, aiming to restore the safe 
fatigue life of the bulkhead structure.
    Consequently, ENAC Italy (formerly RAI) issued Prescrizione di 
Aeronavigabilita (PA) 97-148 to require compliance with this SB.
    After RAI PA 97-148 was issued, PAI issued SB 80-0081 Revision 2 
to provide improved instructions for specific serial numbers. 
Prompted by this development, EASA issued AD 2010-0146 superseding 
PA 97-148 and requiring accomplishment of instruction of PAI issued 
SB 80-0081 Revision 2.
    After that AD was issued, PAI issued SB 80-0081 Revision 3 to 
make the instructions for inspection (and, depending on findings, 
rework/reinforcement) applicable to all aeroplanes.
    For the reasons described above, this AD retains the 
requirements of EASA AD 2010-0146, which is superseded, requires 
inspection and, depending on findings, reinforcement of the 
pressurized bulkhead structure on extended population of aeroplanes. 
This AD also specifies that certain aeroplanes modified in 
accordance with SB 80-0081 up to Revision 2 need to be inspected 
and, depending on findings, reinforced as required by this AD.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
2466.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A has issued Piaggio Aero Industries 
S.p.A. Service Bulletin 80-0081, Revision No. 3, dated: January 20, 
2015. The service information describes procedures for inspection and, 
depending on findings, rework/reinforcement of the bulkhead. This 
service information is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means

[[Page 38407]]

identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 28 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $2,380, or $85 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 88 work-hours and require parts costing $30,000, for a cost 
of $37,480 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need 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.

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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A: Docket No. FAA-2015-2466; Directorate 
Identifier 2015-CE-018-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 20, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A P-180 Model P-
180 airplanes, serial numbers (S/N) 1004 through 1033, certificated 
in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 53: Fuselage.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by 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 the need to 
restore the safe fatigue life of the bulkhead structure. We are 
issuing this AD to correct the safe fatigue life of the airplane.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    (1) Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(2) 
through (f)(4) of this AD at whichever of the following compliance 
times occurs later:
    (i) Within 1,500 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, but not to exceed 6,000 hours total hours TIS on 
the airplane; or
    (ii) Within 200 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD or 
6 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
first.
    (2) Inspect (visually or using a standard endoscope) the forward 
pressurized bulkhead to verify presence of bulkhead reinforcement 
following Part A1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A. Service Bulletin 80-0081, Revision No. 3, dated: 
January 20, 2015.
    (i) If the inspection results indicate that the reinforcements 
are properly installed, ascertain (visually or by means of standard 
endoscope equipment) that there are no cracks or defects. If cracks 
or defects are identified, before further flight, repair using 
instructions from Piaggio Aero Industries as identified in Service 
Letter 80-0097.
    (ii) If the inspection results indicate that the reinforcements 
are not installed, reinforce the forward pressurized bulkhead 
following Part A2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A. Service Bulletin 80-0081, Revision No. 3, dated: 
January 20, 2015.
    (3) Modify the forward pressurized bulkhead following Part C of 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. 
Service Bulletin 80-0081, Revision No. 3, dated: January 20, 2015.
    (4) This AD allows credit for the actions required in paragraphs 
(f)(2)(ii) and (f)(3) of this AD if done before the effective date 
of this AD following the instructions of Piaggio Aero Industries 
S.p.A. Service Bulletin 80-0081, Original Issue, dated: April 28, 
1997; Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Service Bulletin 80-0081, 
Revision No. 1, dated: May 11, 2010; or Piaggio Aero Industries 
S.p.A. Service Bulletin 80-0081, Revision No. 2, dated: July 19, 
2010.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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; email: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane

[[Page 38408]]

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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2015-0071, dated April 30, 2015; Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. 
Service Bulletin 80-0081, Original Issue, dated: April 28, 1997; 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Service Bulletin 80-0081, Revision 
No. 1, dated: May 11, 2010; or Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. 
Service Bulletin 80-0081, Revision No. 2, dated: July 19, 2010, for 
related information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2015-2466. For service information related to this AD, contact 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A, Airworthiness Office, Viale Generale 
Disegna, 1-17038 Villanova d'Albenga, Savona, Italy; telephone: +39 
010 6481800; fax: +39 010 6481374; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: 
www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support#care. You may review 
this 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 June 25, 2015.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16293 Filed 7-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P