[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 83 (Monday, April 29, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18695-18697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10453]



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[[Page 18696]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-78-AD]
[RIN 2120-AA64]


Airworthiness Directives; I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A. Model P-
180 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A. 
(Piaggio) Model P-180 airplanes. The proposed action would require 
modifying the passenger seat cushion next to the emergency exit door 
handle. Reports of interference with the passenger seat cushion and the 
emergency exit door handle preventing the door from opening from the 
outside prompted this proposed AD action. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent the possibility of not being able 
to open the emergency exit door during an emergency evacuation of the 
airplane, which could result in injury to the passengers.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-78-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at 
this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
holidays excepted.
    Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained 
from I. A. M. Rinaldo Piaggio, S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, 
Italy. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the 
address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward S. Chalpin, Program Manager, 
Brussels Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle 
East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; telephone 
(322) 513.3830, ext. 2716; facsimile (322) 230.6899; or Mr. Roman T. 
Gabrys, Project Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane 
Certification Service, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64105; telephone (816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned 
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 95-CE-78-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-78-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Registro Aeronautico Italiano (RAI), which is the airworthiness 
authority for Italy, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition 
may exist on certain Piaggio Model P-180 airplanes. The RAI has advised 
that the emergency exit door handle next to the passenger seat is 
getting caught on the passenger seat cushion when attempting to open 
the door from the outside. The outside door handle is connected to the 
inside door handle, which, if caught on the passenger seat cushion, 
prevents the door from opening.
    Piaggio has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 80-0043; Original Issue 
July 28, 1993, which specifies procedures for modifying the passenger 
seat cushion to keep the emergency exit door handle from interfering 
with the seat cushion. The RAI classified this service bulletin as 
mandatory and issued RAI AD 93-302, dated September 30, 1993, in order 
to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.
    This airplane model is manufactured in Italy and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement between Italy and the 
United States. Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the 
RAI has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA 
has examined the findings of the RAI, reviewed all available 
information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of 
this type design that are certificated for operation in the United 
States.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Piaggio Models P-180 airplanes of the same 
type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would 
require modifying the passenger seat cushion to keep the emergency exit 
door handle from interfering with the seat cushion in accordance with 
Piaggio SB 80-0043; Original Issue: September 30, 1993.
    The FAA estimates that 4 airplanes of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts will be 
furnished by the manufacturer at no cost to the owner/operators. Based 
on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $960. This figure is based on the 
assumption that none of the owner/operators of the affected airplanes 
have modified the airplanes. Piaggo has informed the FAA that all 4 of 
the Model P-180 airplanes registered for operation in the United States 
have performed this action, consequently, there is no further cost to 
U.S. operators for this proposed AD.
    The regulations proposed herein would 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 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a

[[Page 18697]]

``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) if promulgated, 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 draft regulatory evaluation prepared for 
this action has been placed 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
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), 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

I. A. M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.P.A: Docket No. 95-CE-78-AD.

    Applicability: Model P-180 (serial numbers 1002 and 1004 through 
1022), 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 within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
    To prevent the possibility of not getting the emergency exit 
door open during an emergency evacuation of the airplane, which, if 
not detected and corrected, could result in injury to the 
passengers., accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify the passenger seat cushion in accordance with Piaggio 
Service Bulletin (SB) 80-0043; Original Issue: September 30, 1993.
    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviations 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 time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Office, 
FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, 
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. The request shall be forwarded through an 
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then 
send it to the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Office.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Brussels Aircraft Certification Office.

    (d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to I. A. M. Rinaldo 
Piaggio, S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy; or may examine 
this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 19, 1996.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-10453 Filed 4-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P