Airworthiness Directives; PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Model P-180 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19657-19659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9389]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-CE-02-AD; Amendment 39-12712; AD 2002-08-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Model 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 certain PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. (PIAGGIO) Model P-180 
airplanes. This AD requires you to replace the four defective 
horizontal stabilizer hinge bushings with replacement bushings. 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 replace defective bushings before they cause 
failure of the horizontal stabilizer. Such failure could lead to 
reduced or loss of control of the aircraft.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on June 10, 2002.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of June 
10, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A, Via Cibrario 4, 16154 Genoa, Italy; 
telephone: +39 010 6481 856; facsimile: +39 010 6481 374. You may view 
this information at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 
2002-CE-02-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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,

[[Page 19658]]

Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    The Ente Nazionale per l' Aviazione Civile (ENAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes. The ENAC 
reports that PIAGGIO has discovered four incidents of defective 
horizontal stabilizer hinge bushings being installed on 4 PIAGGIO Model 
P-180 airplanes. The defect is a missing thermal process during bushing 
manufacturing.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    Continued operation with defective bushings could result in failure 
of the horizontal stabilizer. Such failure could lead to reduced or 
loss of control of the aircraft.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to 
certain PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes. This proposal was published in 
the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on 
February 11, 2002 (67 FR 6205). The NPRM proposed to require you to 
replace the defective bushings, return the bushings to PIAGGIO, and 
report the return to FAA.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. We did not receive any comments on the proposed rule 
or on our determination of the cost to the public.

FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor 
corrections:

--Provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the 
unsafe condition; and
--Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 2 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the replacement:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Total cost per
            Labor cost                    Parts cost          airplane          Total cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50 workhours x $60 per hour=$3,000  $400 per aircraft....          $3,400  $3,400 x 2=$6,800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    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, under 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2002-08-04  PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A.: Amendment 39-12712; 
Docket No. 2002-CE-02-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model P-180 airplanes, serial numbers 1034, 1035, 1039, and 1045, 
that are certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to replace defective bushings before they cause 
failure of the horizontal stabilizer. Such failure could lead to 
reduced or loss of control of the aircraft.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
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(1) Replace the horizontal    Within the next 150   Follow the
 stabilizer hinge bushings     hours time-in-        ACCOMPLISHMENT
 with replacement bushings     service (TIS) after   INSTRUCTIONS
 (part number RDC. 19-09-167-  June 10, 2002 (the    section of PIAGGIO
 1/300) (or FAA-approved       effective date of     AERO INDUSTRIES
 equivalent part number).      this AD).             S.p.A Service
                                                     Bulletin (Mandatory
                                                     ) No. SB-80-0140,
                                                     dated October 15,
                                                     2001, and the
                                                     applicable service
                                                     manual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 19659]]

 
(2) Send the removed          Within 10 days after  Send the removed
 bushings to PIAGGIO AERO      removing the          bushings to PIAGGIO
 INDUSTRIES S.p.A. so the      bushings or within    AERO INDUSTRIES
 bushings cannot be reused     10 days after June    S.p.A, Via Cibrario
 and report the return to      10, 2002 (the         4, 16154 Genoa,
 FAA. The Office of            effective date of     Italy, and report
 Management and Budget (OMB)   this AD), whichever   the return to Doug
 approved the information      occurs later.         Rudolph, FAA, at
 collection requirements                             the address in
 contained in this                                   paragraph (f) of
 regulation under the                                this AD.
 provisions of the Paperwork
 Reduction Act of 1980 (44
 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and
 assigned OMB Control Number
 2120-0056.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate, 
approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Doug Rudolph, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Service Bulletin (Mandatory ) No. 
SB-80-0140, dated October 15, 2001. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved this incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may get copies from PIAGGIO AERO 
INDUSTRIES S.p.A, Via Cibrario 4, 16154 Genoa, Italy. You may view 
copies 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 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD Number 
2001-512, dated November 30, 2001.

    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on June 10, 2002.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 10, 2002.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-9389 Filed 4-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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