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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69600-69602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27639]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0964; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-035-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A 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 
certain Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. 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 insufficient clearance between 
one of the horizontal stabilizer end ribs and the corresponding 
elevator horn. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 6, 2014.

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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A--Airworthiness Office, Via Luigi 
Cibrario, 4-16154 Genova-Italy; phone: +39 010 6481353; fax: +39 010 
6481881; email: airworthiness@piaggioaero.it; Internet: http://www.piaggioaero.com/#/en/aftersales/service-support. You may review 
this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

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: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

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-2013-0964; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-035-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://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 AD 
No. 2013-0239, dated September 30, 2013 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    Insufficient clearance between one of the horizontal stabilizer 
end rib and the corresponding elevator horn was found on an in-
service aeroplane.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
interference between the elevator and horizontal stabilizer 
surfaces, resulting in restricted elevator control and consequent 
reduced control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Piaggio Aero 
Industries (PAI) issued Service

[[Page 69601]]

Bulletin (SB) 80-0381 to provide inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires accomplishment 
of a one-time measurement of the actual clearance between the 
elevator horn and the horizontal stabilizer tip rib, and depending 
on findings, restoration of the required minimum clearance value. 
This AD also requires reporting of the inspection result to PAI.

You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-0964.

Relevant Service Information

    Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. has issued Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No.: 80-0381, Rev. 0, dated May 2, 2013. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 112 products of U. 
S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour 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 this proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $9,520, or $85 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 5 work-hours and require parts costing $50, for a cost of 
$475 per product. We have no way of determining the number of products 
that may need these actions.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a current valid OMB control number. The control 
number for the collection of information required by this AD is 2120-
0056. The paperwork cost associated with this AD has been detailed in 
the Costs of Compliance section of this document and includes time for 
reviewing instructions, as well as completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Therefore, all reporting associated with 
this AD is mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden 
and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA 
at 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591. ATTN: Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

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 proposed 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A: Docket No. FAA-2013-0964; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-CE-035-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 6, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A Model P-180 
airplanes, manufacturer serial numbers 1002 and 1004 through 1231, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight 
Controls.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by 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 
insufficient clearance between one of the horizontal stabilizer end 
ribs and the corresponding elevator horn. We are issuing this 
proposed AD to detect and correct insufficient clearance between one 
of the horizontal stabilizer end rib and the corresponding elevator 
horn, which could result in interference between the elevator and 
horizontal stabilizer surfaces, consequently resulting in restricted 
elevator control and reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions as specified in 
paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(3) of this AD:
    (1) Within 200 hours time-in service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD or 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first, measure the clearances between the horns of 
the elevator and the end ribs of the horizontal stabilizer (HS) on 
left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) sides following Part A of the 
Accomplishment Instructions section of

[[Page 69602]]

Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No.: 80-
0381, Rev. 0, dated May 2, 2013.
    (2) If the clearance is less than 5 mm on HS LH or RH side 
during the measurement as required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, 
before further flight, rework the affected elevator to restore the 
required minimum clearance between the horn of the elevator and the 
end rib of the horizontal stabilizer following Part B of the 
Accomplishment Instructions section of Piaggio Aero Industries 
S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No.: 80-0381, Rev. 0, dated May 2, 
2013.
    (3) Within 30 days after accomplishment of the measurement as 
required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, report the results to 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. following Part C of the 
Accomplishment Instructions section of Piaggio Aero Industries 
S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No.: 80-0381, Rev. 0, dated May 2, 
2013.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
mike.kiesov@faa.gov. 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, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2013-0239, dated September 30, 2013, for related information. You 
may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-0964. For 
service information related to this AD, contact Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A--Airworthiness Office, Via Luigi Cibrario, 4-16154 
Genova-Italy; phone: +39 010 6481353; fax: +39 010 6481881; email: 
Internet: http://www.piaggioaero.com/#/en/aftersales/service-support. You may review this referenced service information at the 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 5, 2013.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27639 Filed 11-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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