Document ID: FAA-2010-0124-0003
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Model PIAGGIO P-180 Airplanes
Posted Date: 2010-04-29T04:00Z

[Federal Register: April 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 82)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 22512-22514]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ap10-5]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0124 Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-002-AD; 
Amendment 39-16274; AD 2010-09-09]
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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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:

    A failure of fuel pump sealing, due to possible incorrect 
maintenance procedures and subsequent testing, caused a fuel leakage 
into the main landing gear bay. Presence of fuel vapours in that 
zone creates a risk of fire due to presence of potential ignition 
sources such as electrical equipment and connectors.

We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 3, 2010.
    On June 3, 2010, the Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 
20590.

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal

[[Page 22513]]

Register on February 19, 2010 (75 FR 7409). That NPRM proposed to 
correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI 
states:

    A failure of fuel pump sealing, due to possible incorrect 
maintenance procedures and subsequent testing, caused a fuel leakage 
into the main landing gear bay. Presence of fuel vapours in that 
zone creates a risk of fire due to presence of potential ignition 
sources such as electrical equipment and connectors.
    As a consequence, this new Airworthiness Directive (AD) requires 
a functional check of main and stand-by fuel pumps for absence of 
leakage and an update of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM).

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Differences Between This 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 these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have required 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 AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 63 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $10 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. 
operators to be $11,340 or $180 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 40 work-hours and require parts costing $7,349, for a total 
cost of $10,749 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 AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

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 the NPRM, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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:

2010-09-09 Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A.: Amendment 39-16274; 
Docket No. FAA-2010-0124; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-002-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 3, 
2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes, all serial 
numbers up to and including serial number 1192, certificated in any 
category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 28: Fuel.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    A failure of fuel pump sealing, due to possible incorrect 
maintenance procedures and subsequent testing, caused a fuel leakage 
into the main landing gear bay. Presence of fuel vapours in that 
zone creates a risk of fire due to presence of potential ignition 
sources such as electrical equipment and connectors.
    As a consequence, this new Airworthiness Directive (AD) requires 
a functional check of main and stand-by fuel pumps for absence of 
leakage and an update of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM).

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) For all airplanes, within 30 days after June 3, 2010 (the 
effective date of this AD), incorporate PIAGGIO P.180 AVANTI 
Maintenance Manual Temporary Revisions No. 33 and 34, both dated 
July 7, 2009; or PIAGGIO P.180 AVANTI II Maintenance Manual 
Temporary Revisions No. 31 and 41, both dated July 7, 2009, as 
applicable, in the approved operator's airplane maintenance program, 
e.g., aircraft maintenance manual (AMM).
    (2) For all airplanes equipped with any main or standby fuel 
pump part number

[[Page 22514]]

1C12-43 that has been replaced for any reason on or before doing the 
action in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, within 150 hours time-in-
service after June 3, 2010 (the effective date of this AD) do a 
functional inspection of the main and standby fuel pumps for leakage 
following steps 1 through 14 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Service Bulletin (Mandatory) N.: 80-
0278, dated July 15, 2009.
    (3) If any leakage is found during the inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, before further flight, replace the fuel 
pump with a serviceable unit following the Accomplishment 
Instructions in PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Service Bulletin 
(Mandatory) N.: 80-0278, dated July 15, 2009. For the purpose of 
this AD, a serviceable fuel pump is a pump where no leakage is found 
during the functional inspection as instructed in the Accomplishment 
Instructions of PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Service Bulletin 
(Mandatory) N.: 80-0278, dated July 15, 2009.

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. 
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 (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.: 2009-0228, dated October 26, 
2009; and PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Service Bulletin (Mandatory) 
N.: 80-0278, dated July 15, 2009, for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Service Bulletin 
(Mandatory) N.: 80-0278, dated July 15, 2009; PIAGGIO P.180 AVANTI 
Maintenance Manual Temporary Revisions No. 33 and 34, both dated 
July 7, 2009; and PIAGGIO P.180 AVANTI II Maintenance Manual 
Temporary Revisions No. 31 and 41, both dated July 7, 2009, to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.a., Via Cibrario, 4--16154 Genoa, Italy; 
fax: +39 010 6481 881; Internet: http://www.piaggioaero.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
Central Region, call (816) 329-3768.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information 
incorporated by reference for this AD at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://
www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/
ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 19, 2010.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-9609 Filed 4-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P