[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1076-1078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00357]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-2272; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00818-A;
Amendment 39-23227; AD 2025-26-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Baykar Piaggio Aerospace S.p.A. (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Piaggio Aviation S.p.A.) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Baykar Piaggio Aerospace S.p.A. (type certificate previously
held by Piaggio Aviation S.p.A.) (Piaggio) Model P-180 airplanes. This
AD was prompted by a report of leakage from the flexible hydraulic
hoses connected to the hydraulic pump package (HPP). This AD requires
replacing the affected flexible hydraulic hoses. This AD also prohibits
installing the affected flexible hydraulic hoses on any airplane. The
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: This AD is effective February 17, 2026.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 17,
2026.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-2272; 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, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For Piaggio Aerospace material identified in this AD,
contact Piaggio, P180 Customer Support, via Pionieri e Aviatori
d'Italia, snc--16154 Genoa, Italy; phone: +39 331 679 74 93; email:
[email protected].
You may view this material 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Hein, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316)
946-4116; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Piaggio Model
P-180 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on
September 5, 2025 (90 FR 42862). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2025-0102,
dated May 5, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0102) (also referred to as the MCAI),
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union. The MCAI states that leakage from the flexible
hydraulic hoses was reported on a Model P-180 airplane. A subsequent
investigation revealed that the failure of the HPP electrical motor
caused an anomalous current to return through the HPP body, resulting
in electrical arcing. This arcing, which occurred as the HPP body was
in contact with a flexible steel braided hose, punctured the flexible
hydraulic hose. Additionally, the improper installation of the HPP,
specifically the incorrect routing of the hydraulic flexible lines
according to the airplane maintenance manual, contributed to the
incident. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
leaks developing in the flexible hydraulic hoses, which could result in
loss of the hydraulic system or fire in the HPP area.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing the affected
flexible hydraulic hoses. The FAA also proposed to prohibit the
installation of affected flexible hydraulic hoses on any airplane. The
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
Comments
The FAA received comments from two individual commenters who
supported the NPRM without change.
The FAA received an additional comment from an individual
commenter. The following presents the comment received on the NPRM and
the FAA's response to that comment.
Request To Revise Applicability
An individual commenter stated that select Piaggio airframes have
faulty flexible hydraulic hoses; therefore, the AD should be expanded
to include all airplanes with a similar hose design. The FAA infers
that the commenter requested that the proposed AD be revised to expand
the applicability to
[[Page 1077]]
include all Piaggio Model P-180 airplanes, regardless of serial number.
The FAA disagrees with the inferred request to expand the
applicability of this AD. This AD applies to airplanes known to have
affected parts installed and is being issued to correct a specific
known unsafe condition on the affected airplanes. The manufacturer has
provided the serial number ranges listed in paragraph (c) of this AD,
which account for all affected hydraulic flexible hoses in service.
The FAA has not changed this AD as a result of this comment.
Explanation of Change To Type Certificate Holder Name
The FAA has revised the applicability of this AD to identify the
type certificate holder's name as published in the most recent type
certificate data sheet for the affected models.
Conclusion
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant
data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin 80-0497,
Revision 0, dated March 5, 2025 (Piaggio SB 80-0497, Revision 0). This
material specifies procedures for replacing the affected flexible
hydraulic hoses with new flexible hydraulic hoses that have a non-
metallic and non-conductive abrasion sleeve covering the steel braid,
which will provide electrical insulation that can prevent arcing and
electrostatic discharge in case of accidental contact between the
flexible hydraulic hoses and HPP body. This material is reasonably
available because the interested parties have access to it through
their normal course of business or by means identified in the ADDRESSES
section.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 107 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Replace flexible hydraulic hoses......... 22 work-hours x $85 per $1,241 $3,111 $332,877
hour = $1,870.
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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.
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:
2025-26-05 Baykar Piaggio Aerospace S.p.A. (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Piaggio Aviation S.p.A.): Amendment 39-23227;
Docket No. FAA-2025-2272; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00818-A.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 17,
2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Baykar Piaggio Aerospace S.p.A. (type
certificate previously held by Piaggio Aviation S.p.A.) Model P-180
airplanes, manufacturer serial numbers 1002, 1004 through 1234, and
3001 through 3018, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2910, Hydraulic
System, Main.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of leakage from the flexible
hydraulic hoses connected to the hydraulic pump package (HPP). The
FAA is issuing this AD to prevent contact between the flexible
hydraulic hoses and the HPP body, which could result in leaks
developing in the flexible hydraulic hoses. The unsafe condition, if
not addressed, could result in loss of the hydraulic system or fire
in the HPP area.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Action
For airplanes with flexible hydraulic hoses part number (P/N)
AS117-04-0205 or P/N 98E0520FAMA000W (landing gear (LG) up and LG
down lines); or flexible hydraulic
[[Page 1078]]
hoses P/N MS8006G207AL or P/N 99G0530FDFD000W (return line)
installed: Within 660 hours time-in-service after the effective date
of this AD, replace the affected flexible hydraulic hoses in
accordance with part 2. B. and 2. C. of the Accomplishment
Instructions of Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin 80-0497, Revision
0, dated March 5, 2025.
(h) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install flexible
hydraulic hoses with P/N AS117-04-0205 or P/N 98E0520FAMA000W (LG up
and LG down lines); or flexible hydraulic hoses P/N MS8006G207AL or
P/N 99G0530FDFD000W (return line) on any airplane.
(i) 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. 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 Branch, send
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j) of
this AD and email to: [email protected]. 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) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Adam Hein, Aviation
Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; phone: (316) 946-4116; email: [email protected].
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin 80-0497, Revision 0,
dated March 5, 2025.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For Piaggio Aerospace material identified in this AD,
contact Baykar Piaggio Aerospace S.p.A., P180 Customer Support, via
Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia, snc--16154 Genoa, Italy; phone: +39
331 679 74 93; email: [email protected].
(4) You may view this material 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.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].
Issued on December 30, 2025.
Christopher R. Parker,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-00357 Filed 1-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P