Document ID: FAA-2012-1173-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl Airplanes
Posted Date: 2012-11-05T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66417-66419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26968]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1173; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-038-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl 
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 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl Model P2006T 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 multiple cracks found on the 
outboard aileron hinge support of a P2006T airplane during an 
inspection. 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 December 20, 
2012.

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 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM Airworthiness Office, Via Maiorise--
81043 Capua (CE) Italy; telephone: +39 0823 620134; fax: +39 0823 
622899; email: m.oliva@tecnam.com or g.paduano@tecnam.com; Internet: 
www.tecnam.com/it-IT/documenti/service-bulletins.aspx. You may review 
copies of the 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: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901

[[Page 66418]]

Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-
4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: albert.mercado@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-2012-1173; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-038-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 EASA 
AD No.: 2012-0146, dated August 6, 2012 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    During a 100 hour inspection of a P2006T aeroplane, multiple 
cracks were detected on the outboard aileron hinge support, part 
number (P/N) 26-1-1082-1/3.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could jeopardize 
the wing structural integrity.
    For the reason described above, this AD requires to inspect for 
crack detection all aileron hinge supports and to accomplish the 
applicable corrective actions.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl has issued Costruzioni 
Aeronautiche TECNAM Service Bulletin No. SB 102-CS-Rev2, dated July 3, 
2012. 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 will affect 7 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about .5 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 the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $297.50, or $42.50 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 3 work-hours and require parts costing $460, for a cost of 
$715 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),
    (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

    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:

Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl: Docket No. FAA-2012-1173; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-038-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 20, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl P2006T 
airplanes, serial numbers 001/US through 9999/US, certificated in 
any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 57, Wings.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by multiple cracks found on the outboard 
aileron hinge support of a P2006T airplane during an inspection. We 
are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions following 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM Service Bulletin No. SB 102-CS-Rev2, 
dated July 3, 2012:
    (1) At the compliance times below, inspect all aileron hinge 
supports part numbers (P/N) 26-1-1082-1/3, P/N 26-1-1081-1/3, P/N 
26-1-1081-2/4, and P/N 26-1-1082-2/4 for cracks:

[[Page 66419]]

    (i) For airplanes with 600 or more hours time-in-service (TIS) 
as of the effective date of this AD: Within 30 days after the 
effective date of this AD or within the next 25 hours time-in-
service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
first, and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 
hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first,
    (ii) For airplanes with less than 600 hours TIS as of the 
effective date of this AD: Within 30 days after accumulating 600 
hours TIS or within 25 hours TIS after accumulating 600 hours TIS, 
whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
100 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first.
    (2) If a crack is found during any inspection required by 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, replace the 
applicable hinge support(s) with an airworthy part.

(g) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    This AD provides credit for the actions required in this AD if 
already done before the effective date of this AD following 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM Service Bulletin No. SB 102-CS-Rev1, 
dated June 29, 2012; or Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM Service 
Bulletin No. SB 102-CS-Rev2, dated July 3, 2012.

(h) 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: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
albert.mercado@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.

(i) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2012-0146, dated August 6, 2012; and Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM 
Service Bulletin No. SB 102-CS-Rev2, dated July 3, 2012, for related 
information. For service information related to this AD, contact 
Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM Airworthiness Office, Via Maiorise--
81043 Capua (CE) Italy; telephone: +39 0823 620134; fax: +39 0823 
622899; email: m.oliva@tecnam.com or g.paduano@tecnam.com; Internet: 
www.tecnam.com/it-IT/documenti/service-bulletins.aspx. You may 
review copies of the 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 October 25, 2012.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26968 Filed 11-2-12; 8:45 am]
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