[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26025-26027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11614]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0412; Product Identifier 2018-CE-030-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: The FAA proposes 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 insufficient sealing of a steering select/
bypass valve installed in the nose landing gear (NLG) manifold. The FAA 
is proposing this AD to require actions that address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 22, 
2019.

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 Pionieri e 
Aviatori d'Italia snc, 16154 Genova, Italy; phone: +39 010 0998046; 
email: [email protected]; and internet: http://www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-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-2019-
0412; 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 is listed 
above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2019-0412; 
Product Identifier 2018-CE-030-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of

[[Page 26026]]

this proposed AD. The FAA will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments the received, without change, to 
http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received 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. 2017-0229, dated November 21, 2017 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    An occurrence was reported of finding insufficient sealing of a 
Steering Select/Bypass Valve installed on the nose landing gear 
(NLG) Steering Manifold of a P.180 aeroplane.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
uncommanded deflection of the NLG wheel, possibly resulting in 
reduced control of the aeroplane on the ground, with consequent 
damage to the aeroplane and injury to occupants.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, PAI issued Service 
Bulletin (SB) 80-0325 to provide inspection and rectification 
instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a leak 
test of the NLG Steering Manifold and, depending on the finding(s), 
accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s). This [EASA] AD 
also requires amendment of the applicable Aircraft Flight Manual 
(AFM).

    The MCAI further notes that airplanes with NLG steering manifold 
part number 72608 installed are known to include manufacturing serial 
numbers 1001, 3001, 3003, 3004, 3006, 3007, and 3008, and also include 
airplanes that have incorporated Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 
80-0425, Revision 0, dated March 30, 2017, and Piaggio Aerospace 
Service Bulletin No. 80-0454, Revision 0, March 6, 2017. You may 
examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0412.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. has issued Piaggio Aerospace Service 
Bulletin No. 80-0325, Revision 0, dated August 10, 2017 (SB 80-0325), 
and Piaggio Aerospace P.180 AVANTI II/EVO Temporary Change No. 89, 
dated August 30, 2017 (Temporary Change 89), to the airplane flight 
manual (AFM). SB 80-0325 describes procedures for doing a NLG steering 
manifold leakage test. Temporary Change 89 contains emergency operating 
procedures for the pilot to follow if the NLG steering system fails. 
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.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 80-0425, 
Revision 0, dated March 30, 2017 (SB 80-0425); Piaggio Aerospace 
Service Bulletin No. 80-0454, Revision 0, March 6, 2017 (SB 80-0454); 
and Temporary Change No. 89 Errata Corrige, dated December 20, 2017 
(Temporary Change 89EC). SB 80-0425 and SB 80-0454 both contain 
procedures for replacing the main landing gear and the NLG steering 
system on the applicable airplanes. Temporary Change 89EC revises the 
cover page of Temporary Change 89 to clarify the applicability of the 
change.

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. The FAA is proposing this AD 
because the FAA 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

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD will affect 130 products of 
U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 2.5 
work-hours 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, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed 
AD on U.S. operators to be $27,625, or $212.50 per product.
    If necessary, the FAA estimates that replacing a NLG steering 
manifold would take about 10 work-hours and require parts costing 
$50,058, for a cost of $50,908 per product. The FAA has no way of 
determining the number of products that may need these actions.

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.
    The FAA is 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 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

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

[[Page 26027]]

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A.: Docket No. FAA-2019-0412; Product 
Identifier 2018-CE-030-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by July 22, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 
airplanes, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

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

(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 insufficient 
sealing of a steering select/bypass valve installed in the nose 
landing gear (NLG) manifold. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect 
and correct insufficient sealing of the steering select/bypass valve 
in the NLG steering manifold, which could lead to un-commanded NLG 
wheel turns with consequent lateral runway departure.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (3) of this AD.
    (1) For airplanes with NLG steering manifold part number (P/N) 
72608 installed: (i) Within 50 hours time-in service after the 
effective date of this AD, do a steering manifold pressure leakage 
test and, if there is steering actuator movement during the test, 
replace the NLG steering manifold and repeat the test by following 
the Accomplishment Instructions, procedure steps (1) through (24), 
in Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 80-0325, Revision 0, dated 
August 10, 2017.
    (ii) If steering actuator movement occurs during procedure step 
(9) or procedure step (15) of the leakage test required in paragraph 
(f)(1)(i) of this AD, replacing the NLG steering manifold and 
repeating the steering manifold pressure leakage test is required 
before further flight.
    (2) For all airplanes, after the effective date of this AD, do 
not install NLG steering manifold P/N 72608 on any airplane unless 
it has been inspected as specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD 
and no steering actuator movement occurred.
    (3) For all airplanes, within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD, revise the airplane flight manual (AFM) by replacing 
certain pages in the Emergency Procedures section of the AFM by 
following the Instructions in Piaggio Aerospace P.180 AVANTI II/EVO 
Temporary Change No. 89, dated August 30, 2017.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance

    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: Mike 
Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 
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 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) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2017-0229, dated November 21, 2017; 
Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 80-0425, Revision 0, dated 
March 30, 2017; and Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 80-0454, 
Revision 0, March 6, 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-2019-0412. For service information 
related to this AD, contact Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A, 
Airworthiness Office, Via Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia snc, 16154 
Genova, Italy; phone: +39 010 0998046; email: 
[email protected]. 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 May 23, 2019.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Aircraft Certification Service, Deputy Director, Policy and Innovation 
Division, AIR-601.
[FR Doc. 2019-11614 Filed 6-4-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P