Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 11, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19305-19306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8512]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD; Amendment 39-11665; AD 2000-07-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche 
Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to all Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche (I.A.M.) Model 
Piaggio P-180 airplanes. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the 
brake assembly rods and tubings for wear or damage, and replacing any 
worn or damaged parts. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for Italy. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the 
brake hydraulic fluid from leaking because of the brake assembly rods 
contacting the brake valve tubing, which could result in the inability 
to adequately stop the airplane during ground operations.

DATES: Effective May 29, 2000.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of May 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy. 
This information may also be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Randy Griffith, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4126; facsimile: (816) 329-
4091.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to all I.A.M. Model 
Piaggio P-180 airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 22, 1999 (64 FR 
71694). The NPRM proposed to require repetitively inspecting the brake 
assembly rods and tubings for wear or damage, and replacing any worn or 
damaged parts.
    Accomplishment of the proposed inspections as specified in the NPRM 
would be required in accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin 
(Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999. 
Accomplishment of any necessary replacement as specified in the NPRM 
would be required in accordance with the maintenance manual.
    The NPRM was the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 4 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 3 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish the initial inspection, and that the average 
labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the initial inspection on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $720, or $180 per airplane.
    These figures only take into account the cost of the initial 
inspection and do not take into account the costs of any replacements 
necessary or repetitive inspections. The FAA has no way of determining 
the number of parts that will need replacement or the number of 
inspections each owner/operator of the affected airplanes will incur.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct 
effect on

[[Page 19306]]

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, it is determined that this 
final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132.
    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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:

2000-07-11 Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche: Amendment 39-11665; 
Docket No. 99-CE-65-AD.

    Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, all serial 
numbers, 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 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 (d) 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 the brake hydraulic fluid from leaking because of the 
brake assembly rods contacting the brake valve tubing, which could 
result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during 
ground operations, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 150 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
150 hours TIS, inspect the brake system assembly for wear or damage. 
Accomplish the inspection in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions in Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-
0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999.
    (b) If any worn or damaged parts are found during any inspection 
required by this AD, prior to further flight, replace the parts in 
accordance with the appropriate maintenance manual. The repetitive 
inspections required by paragraph (a) of this AD still apply after 
replacing any worn or damaged parts.
    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent 
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 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.

    (e) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio 
Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 
30, 1999, 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, 
901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (f) The inspections required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-
0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999. This incorporation by 
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be 
obtained from I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 
Genoa, Italy. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, 
Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 99-
219, dated June 22, 1999.

    (g) This amendment becomes effective on May 29, 2000.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 29, 2000.
Brian A. Hancock,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-8512 Filed 4-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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