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

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33536-33537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15886]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-CE-21-AD; Amendment 39-10595; AD 98-13-07]
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 certain Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche (I.A.M.) Model 
Piaggio P-180 airplanes. This AD requires accomplishing a leakage check 
of all lavatory water tube/hose connections, and correcting the 
installation of these connections if leakage is found. 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 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: Effective August 1, 1998.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of August 1, 1998.

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. 98-CE-21-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
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. 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:

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 certain I.A.M. Model 
Piaggio P-180 airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on March 24, 1998 (63 FR 14049). 
The NPRM proposed to 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 action as specified in the NPRM would be in accordance with 
Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No. SB-80-0096, dated January 31, 
1997.
    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.

Compliance Time of This 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 this 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 will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 2 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish this action, and that the average labor rate is 
approximately $60 an hour. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $600, or $120 
per airplane.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism

[[Page 33537]]

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) 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:

98-13-07  Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche: Amendment 39-10595; 
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 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.

    Note 2: Although not required by this AD, the FAA recommends an 
inspection of the rudder cables for corrosion if any evidence of 
water is found on the cables.

    (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 times 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 3: 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.
    (e) The inspection and correction required by this AD shall be 
done in accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No. SB-
80-0096, dated January 31, 1997. 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, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 97-
022, dated March 2, 1997.

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on August 1, 1998.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 8, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-15886 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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