Document ID: FAA-2017-0648-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2017-06-29T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 124 (Thursday, June 29, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29445-29448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13498]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0648; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-012-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 
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 disbonding of the upper and lower metal skin 
from the honeycomb core on the elevator assembly and other flight 
control surfaces. 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 August 14, 2017.

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--Continued Airworthiness, Via Pionieri e 
Aviatori d'Italia snc--16154 Genova, Italy; Telephone: +39 010 0998046; 
Fax: None; email: airworthiness@piaggioaerospace.it; Internet: 
www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support#care. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0648; 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-2017-0648; 
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-012-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

[[Page 29446]]

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.: 2017-0045, dated March 9, 2017 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    During a post flight inspection of a right hand (RH) elevator 
assembly, disbonding was detected on the upper and lower metal skin 
from the honeycomb core. Subsequent investigation identified that a 
manufacturing deficiency caused the detected disbonding and that 
other flight control surfaces could potentially be affected by the 
same deficiency.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could reduce the 
structural stiffness of the flight control surface and downgrade its 
aerodynamic characteristics, possibly resulting in reduced control 
of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Piaggio Aero 
Industries (PAI) issued Service Bulletin (SB) 80-0455 to provide 
inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
repetitive inspections of the affected flight control assemblies 
and, depending on findings, repair or replacement. This [EASA] 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 Docket No. FAA-2017-
0648.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A has issued Piaggio Aero Industries 
S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin N.: 80-0455, dated: January 13, 2017. 
The service information describes procedures for repetitive inspections 
to verify the structural integrity of the flight control assemblies. 
This service information is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

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 103 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it will take 9 work-hours per product 
to comply with the basic requirements of the 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 $78,795, or $765 per product.
    The scope of damage found in the required inspections could vary 
significantly from airplane to airplane. We have no way of determining 
how much damage may be found on each airplane or the cost to repair 
damaged parts on each airplane.
    In addition, we have no way of knowing how many products may need 
replacement as a result of the required inspections. The following cost 
estimates were obtained directly from the manufacturer and we estimate 
that any necessary follow-on replacement actions would cost as follows:
    (i) Control surface repair: 10 work-hours for a cost of $850 per 
product.
    (ii) Left Hand (LH) Forward Wing Flap Replacement: 4 work-hours and 
require parts costing $30,079, for a total cost of $30,419.
    (iii) Right Hand (RH) Forward Wing Flap Replacement: 4 work-hours 
and require parts costing $30,079, for a total cost of $30,419.
    (iv) LH Aileron Assembly: 7 work-hours and require parts costing 
$40,715, for a total cost of $41,310.
    (v) RH Aileron Assembly: 7 work-hours and require parts costing 
$86,050, for a total cost of $86,645.
    (vi) Main Wing LH Inboard Flap Assembly: 4 work-hours and require 
parts costing $22,699, for a total cost of $23,039.
    (vii) Main Wing RH Inboard Flap Assembly: 4 work-hours and require 
parts costing $22,699, for a total cost of $23,039.
    (viii) LH Elevator Assembly: 8 work-hours and require parts costing 
$59,917, for a total cost of $60,597.
    (ix) RH Elevator Assembly: 8 work-hours and require parts costing 
$59,917, for a total cost of $60,597.
    There is an additional 10 work-hours that may be required for post-
repair or post-installation replacment of flight control surface 
adjustments and testing, for a total cost of $850.

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,

[[Page 29447]]

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-2017-0648; 
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-012-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 14, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. P-180 
airplanes, serial numbers 1002, 1004 through 1220, that are:
    (1) Equipped with flight control surfaces part numbers (P/Ns) 
and serial numbers (S/Ns) not listed in table 1 of Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin N.: 80-0455, dated: 
January 13, 2017; and
    (2) certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by 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 disbonding of 
the upper and lower metal skin from the honeycomb core on the 
elevator assembly and other flight control surfaces. We are issuing 
this proposed AD to prevent structural stiffness of the flight 
control surface and the downgrade of its aerodynamic 
characteristics, resulting in reduced control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) through 
(8) of this AD. The parts affected by this AD are all left hand (LH) 
forward flaps, right hand (RH) forward flaps, main wing LH inboard 
flaps, main wing RH inboard flaps, LH ailerons, RH ailerons, LH 
elevators, and RH elevators, hereafter referred to as ``affected 
control surface'' in this AD.
    (1) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD or within the next 200 hours TIS after the 
last coin tapping inspection of the affected control surface 
following PAI Non-Destructive Test Manual (NDTM) 180-MAN-0300-01107, 
Chapter 51-00-01; whichever occurs later, do a coin tapping 
inspection of each affected control surface. Repetitively thereafter 
inspect at the intervals specified in paragraphs (f)(3)(i) and (ii). 
Follow Part B of the Accomplishment Instructions in Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No.: 80-0455, dated 
January 13, 2017 (PAI SB No. 80-0455).
    (i) Do two repetitive inspections at intervals not to exceed 200 
hours TIS; and
    (ii) Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 
600 hours TIS.
    (2) If damage is found during any inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, repair or 
replace as necessary each damaged affected control surface following 
Part B and/or C of the Accomplishment Instructions in Piaggio Aero 
Industries S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) No.: 80-0455, 
dated January 13, 2017.
    (3) Within 50 hours TIS after the repair of an affected control 
surface as required by paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, do a coin 
tapping inspection of that repaired affected control surface. 
Repetitively thereafter inspect at the intervals specified in 
paragraphs (f)(3)(i) and (ii) of this AD. Follow the instructions in 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) No.: 
80-0455, dated January 13, 2017.
    (i) Do two repetitive inspections at intervals not to exceed 200 
hours TIS; and
    (ii) Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 
600 hours TIS.
    (4) If damage is found during any inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(3) of this AD, before further flight, repair or 
replace as necessary each damaged affected control surface following 
the instructions in Part B and/or C of the Accomplishment 
Instructions in Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (SB) No.: 80-0455, dated January 13, 2017.
    (5) Repair of an affected control surface, as required by 
paragraph (f)(2) or (4) of this AD, does not constitute terminating 
action for repetitive inspections as required by this AD for that 
affected control surface, unless the FAA-approved repair 
instructions specify otherwise.
    (6) Replacement of the affected part on an airplane with a part 
listed in Table 1 of Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Mandatory 
Service Bulletin (SB) No.: 80-0455, dated January 13, 2017, 
constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections 
required by this AD for that part.
    (7) You may incorporate the actions of Piaggio Aero Industries 
S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) No.: 80-0455, dated January 
13, 2017, into your FAA-approved Airplane Inspection Program (AIP) 
or maintenance program (instructions for continued airworthiness) to 
ensure the continuing airworthiness of each operated airplane.
    (8) After the effective date of this AD, you may install on an 
airplane an affected control surface not listed in table 1 of 
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin N.: 80-
0455, dated: January 13, 2017, provided that before further flight 
after installation, the affected control surface has been inspected 
as specified in this AD and found airworthy.

(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.: 
2017-0045, dated March 9, 2017; and Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. 
Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) No.: 80-0455, dated January 13, 
2017; for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2017-0648. For service information related to this 
AD, contact Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A--Continued Airworthiness, 
Via Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia snc--16154 Genova, Italy; 
Telephone: +39 010 0998046; Fax: None; email: 
airworthiness@piaggioaerospace.it; Internet: 
www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support#care. 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.

[[Page 29448]]

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 21, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13498 Filed 6-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P