[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12627-12630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04638]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0151; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00521-A]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Model P2012 
Traveller 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 free play 
in the trim tab actuator and trim tab surface. This proposed AD would 
require repetitively inspecting the trim tab trailing edge to determine 
if free play exists and taking corrective actions as needed. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 21, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5

[[Page 12628]]

p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A., Airworthiness Office Via S. 
D'acquisto 62, Boscotrecase, 80042, Italy; phone: +39 0823 997538; 
email: [email protected]; website: https://www.Tecnam.com. 
You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 
MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0151; 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 NPRM, the MCAI, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: 
(816) 329-4165; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0151; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00521-A'' at the beginning of your 
comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the 
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include 
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jim 
Rutherford, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & 
Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 
301, Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which 
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public 
docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2021-0119, dated April 30, 2021 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on certain serial-
numbered Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Model P2012 Traveller 
airplanes. The MCAI states:

    Occurrences have been reported of vibration in the horizontal 
stabiliser control yoke and pedals, both sides. The subsequent 
investigation identified free play in the trim tab actuator and trim 
tab surface.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to a 
significant free play on the trim tab connection, with consequent 
increase in dynamic loads and vibrations, possibly resulting in 
reduced control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, TECNAM issued the 
[Service Bulletin] SB to provide inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
repetitive inspections of the trim tab trailing edge and, depending 
on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s).

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-
0151.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Tecnam Service Bulletin 398-CS-Edition 2, Rev. 1, 
dated August 17, 2020. The service information specifies procedures for 
inspecting the trim tab trailing edge to determine if free play exists 
and taking corrective actions as needed.
    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 also reviewed Tecnam Service Bulletin 398-CS-Edition 2, 
Rev. 0, dated August 5, 2020. The service information specifies 
procedures for inspecting the trim tab trailing edge to determine if 
free play exists and taking corrective actions as needed.
    In addition, the FAA reviewed Tecnam Job Card No. 1249 Ed.1, Rev.1, 
dated May 5, 2021. The service information specifies procedures for 
servicing free play of the mechanical trim actuator.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, 
it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
and service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM 
after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely 
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information already described.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 21 products of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

[[Page 12629]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
             Action                  Labor cost           Parts cost         Cost per product      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trim tab surface free play       1 work-hour x $85  Not applicable........  $85 per            $1,785 per
 inspection.                      per hour = $85.                            inspection cycle.  inspection
                                                                                                cycle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary actions 
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. 
The FAA has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might 
need these actions.

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                Action                            Labor cost                   Parts cost             product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trim actuator free play inspection....  2 work-hours x $85 per hour =   Not applicable..........            $170
                                         $170.
Trim actuator servicing...............  2 work-hours x $85 per hour =   $100....................             270
                                         $170.
Trim actuator replacement.............  1 work-hour x $85 per hour =    1,000...................           1,085
                                         $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    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) Would not be a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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 airworthiness 
directive:

Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A.: Docket No. FAA-2022-0151; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00521-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by April 21, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Model 
P2012 Traveller airplanes, serial numbers 002 through 030 inclusive, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2731: Elevator Tab 
Control System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    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 free play in the 
trim tab actuator and trim tab surface. The FAA is issuing this AD 
to detect and correct free play in the trim tab connection, which 
could lead to reduced airplane control.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Trim Tab Surface Free Play Inspection and Maintenance

    Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date 
of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, 
measure the trim tab surface for free play in accordance with 
Appendix A, Accomplishment Instructions, section 2 (Step 1--Trim Tab 
surface free play measurement) on pages 3 and 4 of Tecnam Service 
Bulletin 398-CS-Edition 2, Rev. 1, dated August 17, 2020 (Tecnam SB 
398-CS-Edition 2, Rev. 1). If there is free play that exceeds the 
allowable tolerance, before further flight, measure the trim tab 
actuator for free play and take any corrective actions in accordance 
with Appendix A, Accomplishment Instructions, section 3 (Step 2--
Trim Actuator free play measurement) on page 5 of Tecnam SB 398-CS-
Edition 2, Rev 1.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the initial inspection required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD if you performed that action before the 
effective date of this AD using Tecnam Service Bulletin 398-CS-
Edition 2, Rev. 0, dated August 5, 2020.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the International Validation

[[Page 12630]]

Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (j)(1) of this AD and email to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jim Rutherford, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4165; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2021-0119, dated April 30, 2021, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0151.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A., Airworthiness Office, Via S. 
D'acquisto 62, Boscotrecase, 80042, Italy; phone: +39 0823 997538; 
email: [email protected]; website: https://www.Tecnam.com. You may view this referenced service information at 
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

    Issued on February 25, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-04638 Filed 3-4-22; 8:45 am]
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