[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60896-60898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21392]



[[Page 60896]]

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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; Amendment 
39-21253; AD 2020-19-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. This AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 3, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of November 3, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
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: 
https://www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support. You may review 
this referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0412.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://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 final rule, any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations is Docket Operations, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 
329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on June 5, 2019 (84 FR 26025). The NPRM proposed to 
correct an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based on 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by the 
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent 
for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD No. 2017-
0229, dated November 21, 2017 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), 
which 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 https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0412.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. No comments were received on the NPRM or on 
the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed 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 
contains 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 130 products of U.S. 
registry. The FAA also estimates that it will take about 2.5 work-hours 
per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this AD on 
U.S. operators to be $27,625, or $212.50 per product.

[[Page 60897]]

    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.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):

2020-19-10 Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A.: Amendment 39-21253; 
Docket No. FAA-2019-0412; Product Identifier 2018-CE-030-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective November 3, 2020.

(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, International Validation 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, General Aviation & Rotorcraft, 
International Validation 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.

(g) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 2017-0229, 
dated November 21, 2017, for related information. You may examine 
the MCAI on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0412.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 80-0325, Revision 0, 
dated August 10, 2017 (SB 80-0325).
    (ii) Piaggio Aerospace P.180 AVANTI II/EVO Temporary Change No. 
89, dated August 30, 2017 (Temporary Change 89).
    (3) For Piaggio Aerospace service information identified in 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]; and internet: 
https://www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 816-329-4148. In 
addition, you can access this service information on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0412.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.


[[Page 60898]]


    Issued on September 10, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-21392 Filed 9-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P