[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47734-47736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19551]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0778; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-034-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model
PIAGGIO P-180 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:
Some cases of corrosion were detected in the interface between
the elevator hinges fittings (metallic) and the horizontal
stabilizer (carbon fibre); investigation identified the cause in
galvanic corrosion between dissimilar materials.
If left uncorrected, this situation could lead to a structural
failure of the elevator, which could result in possible loss of
control of the aeroplane.
The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 23,
2010.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 329-4090;
e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0778;
Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-034-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD No.: 2010-0124 (Correction: June 22, 2010), dated June 22, 2010,
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe
condition for the specified products The MCAI states:
Some cases of corrosion were detected in the interface between
the elevator hinges fittings (metallic) and the horizontal
stabilizer (carbon fibre); investigation identified the cause in
galvanic corrosion between dissimilar materials.
If left uncorrected, this situation could lead to a structural
failure of the elevator, which could result in possible loss of
control of the aeroplane.
This AD requires:
(1) Inspection of the hinges fittings for corrosion and of the
stabilizer for delamination;
(2) Repair of the stabilizer, if necessary;
(3) Replacement of the fittings, if corroded;
(4) Improvement of fittings installation;
(5) Installation of aluminum strips in the stabilizer to improve
bonding, in accordance with Piaggio Aero Industries (PAI) Service
Bulletin (SB) 80-0262 Revision 2.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. has issued Service Bulletin
(MANDATORY) N.: SB-80-0262, Revision 2, dated March 17, 2010. The
actions described in this service information are intended to correct
the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making
[[Page 47735]]
these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the
information provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a Note within the proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 96 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 9 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $73,440, or $765 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 32 work-hours and require parts costing $11,000, for a cost
of $13,720 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
products that may need these actions.
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.
We are 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
We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A.: Docket No. FAA-2010-0778;
Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-034-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by September 23, 2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes, serial
numbers 1002 and 1004 through 1191, certificated in any category.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55:
Stabilizers.
Reason
(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
Some cases of corrosion were detected in the interface between
the elevator hinges fittings (metallic) and the horizontal
stabilizer (carbon fibre); investigation identified the cause in
galvanic corrosion between dissimilar materials.
If left uncorrected, this situation could lead to a structural
failure of the elevator, which could result in possible loss of
control of the aeroplane.
This AD requires:
(1) Inspection of the hinges fittings for corrosion and of the
stabilizer for delamination;
(2) repair of the stabilizer, if necessary;
(3) replacement of the fittings, if corroded;
(4) improvement of fittings installation;
(5) installation of aluminum strips in the stabilizer to improve
bonding, in accordance with Piaggio Aero Industries (PAI) Service
Bulletin (SB) 80-0262 Revision 2.
Actions and Compliance
(f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within the next 1,500 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD or within 4 years after the effective date
of this AD, whichever occurs first, do the following:
(i) Remove the left-hand (LH) and the right-hand (RH) elevators
and do all of the inspections and corrective actions following the
Accomplishment Instructions in Parts A, B, C, D, and E of PIAGGIO
AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Service Bulletin (MANDATORY) N.: SB-80-0262,
Revision 2, dated March 17, 2010.
(ii) Reinstall the LH and RH elevators and do the final checks
following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part F, of PIAGGIO AERO
INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Service Bulletin (MANDATORY) N.: SB-80-0262
Revision 2, dated March 17, 2010.
(2) We will allow ``unless already done'' credit for inspections
and corrective actions already done, before the effective date of
this AD, following PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Service Bulletins
(MANDATORY) N.: SB-80-0262, original issue dated September 24, 2009;
or Revision 1 dated December 23, 2009, for compliance with the
requirements of this AD.
FAA AD Differences
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send
information to ATTN: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 329-4090; e-
mail: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC on
any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office
(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act
[[Page 47736]]
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has approved the information collection requirements and has
assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.
Related Information
(h) Refer to MCAI EASA AD No.: 2010-0124 (Correction: June 22,
2010), dated June 22, 2010; and PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A.
Service Bulletin (MANDATORY) N.: SB-80-0262, Revision 2, dated March
17, 2010, for related information.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 2, 2010.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19551 Filed 8-6-10; 8:45 am]
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