[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11903-11905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05138]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0204; Product Identifier 2018-CE-003-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl 
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 
certain Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl Model P2006T airplanes. 
This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and address an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as an incorrect part 
number

[[Page 11904]]

for the rudder trim actuator is referenced in the Airworthiness 
Limitations section of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., 
maintenance manual) and the life limit for that part may not be 
properly applied in service. 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 May 3, 2018.

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 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl, Via Tasso, 478, 80127 Napoli, 
Italy, phone: +39 0823 620134, fax: +39 0823 622899, email: 
[email protected], internet: https://www.tecnam.com/us/support/. 
You may review this referenced service information at the FAA, Policy 
and Innovation Division, 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-2018-
0204; or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations (telephone 
(800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer 
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; 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-2018-0204; 
Product Identifier 2018-CE-003-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. 2018-0029, dated January 31, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    It was identified that the Part Number (P/N) of the rudder trim 
actuator mentioned in the P2006T Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) 
Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) document was erroneously 
mentioned. As a result, it cannot be excluded that the life limit 
applicable to this actuator is not being applied in service.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of the 
rudder control system, possibly resulting in reduced control of the 
aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, TECNAM published 
Service Bulletin (SB)-285-CS Ed. 1 Rev. 0 (later revised) to inform 
operators about this typographical error. It is expected that, 
during the next revision of the P2006T AMM ALS document, it will 
list the correct the P/N for that rudder trim actuator.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
implementation of a life limit for rudder trim actuator.

    You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0204.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl has issued Service Bulletin No. 
SB 285-CS-Ed 1, Revision 2, dated February 2, 2018. The service 
information describes procedures for correcting the part number of the 
rudder trim actuator in the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 
FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). This 
service information is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means 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 20 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per 
product to comply with the proposed requirement to incorporate a 
correction to the Airworthiness Limitations section of the FAA-approved 
maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $1,700, or $85 per product.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive

[[Page 11905]]

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by FAA Order 
8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is normally a 
function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but during this 
transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the authority 
to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders, balloons, 
airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and associated 
appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation Division.

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:

Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl: Docket No. FAA-2018-0204; 
Product Identifier 2018-CE-003-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 3, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl Model 
P2006T airplanes, all serial numbers that do not incorporate design 
change TECNAM modification (Mod) 2006/322 at production, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight 
Controls.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and address an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as an incorrect 
part number for the rudder trim actuator is referenced in the 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the FAA-approved maintenance 
program (e.g., maintenance manual) and the life limit for that part 
may not be properly applied in service. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the rudder trim actuator, which could cause the 
rudder control system to fail. This failure could result in reduced 
control of the airplane.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (3) of this AD. The hours time-in-service (TIS) 
specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD are those accumulated on 
the rudder trim actuator, P/N B6-7T, since first installed on an 
airplane. If the total hours TIS are unknown, the hours TIS on the 
airplane must be used.
    (1) Initially replace the rudder trim actuator, part number (P/
N) B6-7T, at the compliance time in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) or (ii) of 
this AD that occurs later:
    (i) Before accumulating 1,000 hours TIS; or
    (ii) Within the next 25 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD or within the next 30 days after the effective date of this 
AD, whichever occurs first.
    (2) After the initial replacement required in paragraph (f)(1) 
of this AD, repetitively thereafter replace the rudder trim 
actuator, P/N B6-7T at intervals not to exceed 1,000 hours TIS.
    (3) Within the next 12 months after the effective date of this 
AD, revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the FAA-approved 
maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual) incorporating the 
1,000-hour life limit for the rudder trim actuator, P/N B6-7T, as 
specified in Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl (TECNAM) Service 
Bulletin No. SB 285-CS-Ed 1, Revision 2, dated February 2, 2018.

(g) Credit for Actions Done Following Previous Service Information

    This AD allows credit for compliance with paragraph (f)(3) of 
this AD if done before the effective date of this AD using TECNAM 
Service Bulletin No. SB 285-CS-Ed 1, Revision 1, dated November 7, 
2017.

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-
4090; email: [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.

(i) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2018-0029, dated January 31, 2018; and Costruzioni Aeronautiche 
Tecnam srl Service Bulletin No. SB 285-CS-Ed 1, Revision 1, dated 
November 7, 2017, for related information. You may examine the MCAI 
on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0204. For service information related 
to this AD, contact Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl, Via Tasso, 
478, 80127 Napoli, Italy, phone: +39 0823 620134, fax: +39 0823 
622899, email: [email protected], internet: https://www.tecnam.com/us/support/. You may review this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 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 March 7, 2018.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-05138 Filed 3-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P