[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20790-20792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07455]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0397; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01354-A]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Piaggio Aero Industries 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 Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. (Piaggio) 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 identifies the unsafe condition as altimetry 
system errors in the air data computers (ADCs) and stand-by instrument 
systems. This proposed AD would require amending the existing airplane 
flight manual (AFM), installing improved ADCs and a detachable 
configuration module (DCM), and revising the existing instructions for 
continued airworthiness. 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 May 23, 
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 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Piaggio 
Aero Industries S.p.A., Dominico Noceti, Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia 
snc, Genoa, 16154, Italy; phone: +39 335 810 59 20; email: 
[email protected]; website: https://[email protected]. 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-2022-0397; 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: Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer,

[[Page 20791]]

General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 
FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-
4144; 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-2022-0397; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01354-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 NPRM 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 AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mike 
Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 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 2019-0269, dated October 29, 2019 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on Piaggio Model P.180 
Avanti II airplanes. The MCAI states:

    During monitoring of P.180 Avanti II fleet by EUROCONTROL 
(checks performed by Air Traffic Control stations) a mean altimetry 
system error and some singular measurement exceedances were reported 
being outside of limits defined by rules applicable to Reduced 
Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airworthiness standards. 
Subsequent investigation determined that the static source error 
correction curves embedded in the ADC of pilot and co-pilot, as well 
as in the stand-by instrument system, did not ensure the required 
RVSM performance of the aeroplane.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to delivery [of] 
erroneous air data information and consequent impairment of 
aeroplane altitude-keeping capability, possibly resulting in a mid-
air collision within RVSM airspace.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Piaggio issued the 
AFM TC [Temporary Change No. 107] introducing additional limitations 
for operation within RVSM airspace and issued the SB [Piaggio 
Aerospace Service Bulletin 80-0467] providing instructions to modify 
the aeroplane.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
amendment of the AFM and modification of the aeroplane by installing 
improved ADCs and DCM.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-
0397.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. A.S. Service 
Bulletin No. 80-0467, Revision 2, dated March 6, 2020, which specifies 
procedures for replacing the two ADCs and the DCM with improved parts.
    The FAA also reviewed Piaggio Aviation P.180 Avanti II/EVO 
Temporary Change No. 107, dated September 17, 2019, which updates the 
limitations section of the AFM by prohibiting operations in RVSM 
airspace if the ADCs and DCM have not been replaced.
    In addition, the FAA reviewed Piaggio Aviation P.180 Avanti EVO 
Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. 126, dated June 6, 2019, 
which updates and adds certain tasks for the navigation system.
    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.

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 in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information already described.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI requires informing all flight crews of the AFM revision 
and operating accordingly thereafter, and this proposed AD would not 
because those actions are already required by FAA operating 
regulations.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 101 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
             Action                     Labor cost              Parts cost           airplane        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revise AFM.....................  1 work-hour x $85 per    Not Applicable........             $85          $8,585
                                  hour = $85.
Update Maintenance Manual......  1 work-hour x $85 per    Not Applicable........              85           8,585
                                  hour = $85.
Replace two ADCs and one DCM...  16 work-hours x $85 per  $21,900...............          23,260       2,349,260
                                  hour = $1,360.
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[[Page 20792]]

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:

Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A.: Docket No. FAA-2022-0397; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2021-01354-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by May 23, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 
airplanes, serial number (S/N) 1002 and S/Ns 1105 through 3010 
inclusive, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3417, Air Data 
Computer.

(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 identifies the unsafe condition as altimetry 
system errors in the air data computers (ADCs) and stand-by 
instrument systems. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a mean 
altimetry system error measurement from exceeding the limits defined 
for operations within airspace designed as reduced vertical 
separation minimum (RVSM) airspace. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in a potential mid-air collision within RVSM 
airspace.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the Limitations section of the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) 
for your airplane by adding the information in Piaggio Aviation 
P.180 Avanti II/EVO Temporary Change No. 107, dated September 17, 
2019. Using a different document with language identical to that on 
page 2-33-bis or 2-33.C-bis (as applicable to the S/N of your 
airplane) of Piaggio Aviation P.180 Avanti II/EVO Temporary Change 
No. 107, dated September 17, 2019, is acceptable for compliance with 
this requirement.
    (2) Within 660 hours time-in-service after the effective date of 
this AD or 24 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs first, modify the airplane by replacing the ADCs and 
detachable configuration module (DCM) in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs (5) through (14), of Piaggio 
Aero Industries S.p.A. A.S. Service Bulletin No. 80-0467, Revision 
2, dated March 6, 2020, and revise the instructions for continued 
airworthiness for your airplane by incorporating the information in 
Piaggio Aviation P.180 Avanti EVO Maintenance Manual Temporary 
Revision No. 126, dated June 6, 2019.
    (3) The AFM revision required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, if 
included, may be removed after completing the actions required by 
paragraph (g)(2) of this AD.
    (4) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install on any 
airplane an ADC part number (P/N) 822-1109-018, DCM P/N 501-1870-31, 
or DCM P/N 501-1870-51.

(h) 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 certification office, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Mike Kiesov, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4144; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
AD 2019-0269, dated October 29, 2019, for related information. You 
may examine the EASA AD at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0397.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A., Dominico Noceti, Pionieri e Aviatori 
d'Italia snc, Genoa, 16154, Italy; phone: +39 335 810 59 20; email: 
[email protected]; website: https://[email protected]. You may review 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 April 4, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-07455 Filed 4-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P