[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14049-14051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7523]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-121-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche
Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche
(I.A.M.) Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. The proposed AD would require
accomplishing a leakage check of all lavatory water tube/hose
connections, and correcting the installation of these connections if
leakage is found. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority
for Italy. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to
prevent water leakage from the lavatory water duct system, which could
collect in the fuselage, freeze in cold weather conditions, and cause
the rudder control system to jam.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 28, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-121-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this
location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays
excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from I.A. M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa,
Italy.This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the
address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David O. Keenan, Project Officer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1201
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-
6934; facsimile: (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such
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written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications
should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate
to the address specified above. All communications received on or
before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be
considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals
contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments
received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 97-CE-121-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-121-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Registro Aeronautico Italiano (R.A.I.), which is the
airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180
airplanes. The R.A.I. reports an incident where water leakage from the
lavatory system collected in the bottom of the fuselage between frames
5792 and 6000. This water then rose up to the height of the rudder
control cable and froze during flight, which caused the rudder control
system to jam.
Relevant Service Information
I.A.M. has issued Piaggio Service Bulletin No. SB-80-0096, dated
January 31, 1997, which specifies procedures for accomplishing a
leakage check of all lavatory water tube/hose connections, and
correcting the installation of these connections if leakage is found.
The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
Italian AD No. 97-022, dated March 2, 1997, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.
The FAA's Determination
This airplane model is manufactured in Italy and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, R.A.I. has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above.
The FAA has examined the findings of the R.A.I.; reviewed all
available information, including the service information referenced
above; and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this
type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes of the
same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing
AD action. The proposed AD would require accomplishing a leakage check
of all lavatory water tube/hose connections, and correcting the
installation of these connections if leakage is found. Accomplishment
of the proposed installation would be in accordance with the previously
referenced service information.
Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
Although the potential of the rudder control system to jam because
of water freezing will only be unsafe while the airplane is in flight,
this unsafe condition is not a result of the number of times the
airplane is operated. The chance of this situation occurring is the
same for an airplane with 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) as it is for
an airplane with 500 hours TIS. For this reason, the FAA has determined
that a compliance based on calendar time should be utilized in the
proposed Ad in order to assure that the unsafe condition is addressed
on all airplanes in a reasonable time period.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 5 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is
estimated to be $600, or $120 per airplane.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated,
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche: Docket No. 98-CE-21-AD.
Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, serial numbers
1002, 1004, 1006 through 1017, 1019, and 1021 through 1030,
certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or
[[Page 14051]]
repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is
affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless
already accomplished.
To prevent water leakage from the lavatory water duct system,
which could collect in the fuselage, freeze in cold weather
conditions, and cause the rudder control system to jam, accomplish
the following:
(a) Within the next 3 calendar months after the effective date
of this AD, accomplish a leakage check of all lavatory water tube/
hose connections in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS
section of Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No. SB-80-0096,
dated January 31, 1997. If leakage is found, prior to further
flight, correct the installation of these connections in accordance
with the above-referenced service bulletin.
(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut,
suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(d) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio
Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No. SB-80-0096, dated January 31, 1997,
should be directed to I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4
16154 Genoa, Italy. This service information may be examined at the
FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601
E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 97-
022, dated March 2, 1997.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 17, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7523 Filed 3-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M