[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67764-67767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27051]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1181; Directorate Identifier 2003-CE-030-AD;
Amendment 39-17249; AD 2003-17-03 R1]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. That AD
currently requires replacement of any firewall shutoff or crossfeed
valve with a serial number in a certain range even if it has been
previously modified. The way the applicability was written includes
valves that should not be affected and are not included in the
referenced service information. This AD requires
[[Page 67765]]
the same actions as the current AD, but only affects those firewall
shutoff valves referenced in the referenced service information. We are
issuing this AD to clarify the affected parts required to correct the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective November 14, 2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of
September 3, 2003 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003).
We must receive any comments on this AD by December 31, 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 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:
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.piaggioaero.com/#/en/aftersales/service-support. 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Office (phone: 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:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On August 12, 2003, we issued AD 2003-17-03, amendment 39-13277 (68
FR 50693, August 22, 2003), for certain Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A.
Model P-180 airplanes. That AD requires inspection and determination of
whether any firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve with a serial number in
a certain range is installed and requires replacement or modifications
of any valve that has a serial number within this range. This AD allows
the pilot to check the logbook and does not require the inspection and
replacement requirement if the check shows that one of these valves is
definitely not installed.
That AD resulted from a ground fire on the left-hand engine nacelle
of one of the affected airplanes caused by a cracked firewall crossfeed
valve that had leaked fuel. 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.
The Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile (ENAC), which is the
airworthiness authority for Italy, issued Italian RAI-AD 2003-119,
dated April 3, 2003, in order to ensure the continued airworthiness of
these airplanes in Italy.
We issued that AD to prevent a faulty firewall shutoff or crossfeed
valve from developing cracks and leaking fuel, which could result in an
engine fire.
Actions Since AD Was Issued
Since we issued AD 2003-17-03 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003), we
learned that the way the applicability was written includes valves that
should not be affected and are not included in PIAGGIO Aero Industries
S.p.A. Service Bulletin No. ASB80-0191, dated February 27, 2003.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed PIAGGIO Aero Industries S.p.A. Service Bulletin (SB)
No. ASB80-0191, dated February 27, 2003; and Electromech Technologies
SB 484-3 AB, dated February 18, 2003. The service information describes
procedures for replacing/modifying the firewall and crossfeed valves.
FAA's Determination
We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires the same actions as AD 2003-17-03 (68 FR 50693,
August 22, 2003), but only affects those firewall shutoff and crossfeed
valves referenced in PIAGGIO Aero Industries S.p.A. SB No. ASB80-0191,
dated February 27, 2003.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the
current AD includes firewall shutoff and crossfeed valves that should
not be affected by the required actions. Therefore, we find that notice
and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and that good
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include
the docket number FAA-2012-1181 and directorate identifier 2003-CE-030-
AD at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments
on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects
of this AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date
and may amend this AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 102 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
[[Page 67766]]
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Determination/Inspection............ .5 work-hours x $85 per N/A................... $42.50 $4,335
hour = $42.50.
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We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements/
modifications that would be required based on the results of the
determination. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
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Cost per
Action Labor cost Parts cost product
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Replacement of affected firewall shutoff 29 work-hours x $85 per hour $4,482...................... $6,947
and crossfeed valves. = $2,465.
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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
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 that 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),
(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.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (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 removing airworthiness directive (AD)
2003-17-03, Amendment 39-13277 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003), and
adding the following new AD:
2003-17-03 R1 PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A: Amendment 39-17249;
Docket No. FAA-2012-1181; Directorate Identifier 2003-CE-030-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective November 14, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD revises AD 2003-17-03, Amendment 39-13277 (68 FR 50693,
August 22, 2003).
(c) Applicability
(1) This AD applies to PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A Model P-180
airplanes, all serial numbers, that are:
(i) certificated in any category; and
(ii) equipped with a firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve that is
identified in the Effectivity table of PIAGGIO Aero Industries
S.p.A. Service Bulletin (SB) No. ASB80-0191, dated February 27,
2003.
(2) The only difference between the applicability of this AD and
AD 2003-17-03 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003), is that AD 2003-17-03
applied to firewall shutoff and crossfeed valves that should not
have been included.
(i) No further action is necessary if the actions of this AD
were done in compliance with AD 2003-17-03, Amendment 39-13277 (68
FR 50693, August 22, 2003).
(ii) Any firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve that was modified
per AD 2003-17-03 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003), and re-identified
with an ``A'' at the end of the serial number and is not identified
in the Effectivity table of PIAGGIO Aero Industries S.p.A. SB No.
ASB80-0191, dated February 27, 2003, is an airworthy part and is not
affected by this AD.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 28: Fuel.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of a ground fire on the left-
hand engine nacelle of one of the affected airplanes caused by a
cracked firewall crossfeed valve that had leaked fuel. We are
issuing this AD to clarify the affected parts required to correct
the unsafe condition on these products.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Records Check
(1) Within 5 days after September 3, 2003 (the effective date of
AD 2003-17-03 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003)), check the maintenance
records to determine whether a firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve
that is affected by this AD is installed. The owner/operator holding
at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7
of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) may perform this
check.
(2) If, by checking the maintenance records, the owner/operator
can definitely
[[Page 67767]]
show that no affected firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve is
installed, then the inspection requirement of paragraph (h) of this
AD and the replacement requirement of paragraph (i) of this AD do
not apply. You must make an entry into the aircraft records that
shows compliance with these portions of the AD in accordance with
section 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
(h) Inspection
Within 5 days after September 3, 2003 (the effective date of AD
2003-17-03 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003)), inspect the three
firewall shutoff and crossfeed valves to determine whether they
incorporate a serial number as referenced in the Effectivity table
of PIAGGIO Aero Industries S.p.A. SB No. ASB80-0191, dated February
27, 2003.
(i) Replacement/Modification
If any of the firewall shutoff or crossfeed valves that are
referenced in the Effectivity table of PIAGGIO Aero Industries
S.p.A. SB No. ASB80-0191, dated February 27, 2003, are found, before
further flight, replace or modify each affected valve following
PIAGGIO Aero Industries S.p.A. Service Bulletin (SB) No. ASB80-0191,
dated February 27, 2003; and Electromech Technologies SB 484-3 AB,
dated February 18, 2003.
(j) Spares
As of 5 days after September 3, 2003 (the effective date of AD
2003-17-03 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003)), do not install, on any
airplane, a firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve that is referenced
in the Effectivity table of PIAGGIO Aero Industries S.p.A. SB No.
ASB80-0191, dated February 27, 2003, unless it has been modified per
paragraph (i) of this AD.
(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) 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: [email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(3) The following service information was approved for IBR on
September 3, 2003 (68 FR 50693, August 22, 2003):
(i) PIAGGIO Aero Industries S.p.A. Service Bulletin (SB) No.
ASB80-0191, dated February 27, 2003; and
(ii) Electromech Technologies SB 484-3 AB, dated February 18,
2003.
(4) For service information identified in 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: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.piaggioaero.com/#/en/aftersales/service-support.
(5) You may view this service information at 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.
(6) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 31, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-27051 Filed 11-13-12; 8:45 am]
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