[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 156 (Monday, August 12, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41753-41755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20395]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-CE-28-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche
Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Industrie Aeronautiche E Meccaniche
(I.A.M.) Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. The proposed action would
require replacing certain AlliedSignal Aerospace outflow/safety valves
in the pressurization system with new or serviceable valves. Reports of
cracking of the poppet within the primary and secondary outflow valves
on two of the affected airplanes prompted the proposed action.
Investigation has revealed problems during the manufacturing process of
certain AlliedSignal outflow/safety valves. The actions specified by
the proposed AD are intended to prevent outflow/safety valve cracking
and subsequent failure, which could result in rapid decompression of
the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 7, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-28-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 AlliedSignal Aerospace, Technical Publications, Department 65-70,
P.O. Box 52170, Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170. This information also may
be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 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) 513-2717; 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. 96-CE-28-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. 96-CE-28-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 I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. The RAI reports
cracking of the poppet within the primary and secondary outflow/safety
valves on two of the affected airplanes. Investigation has revealed
problems during the manufacturing process of certain AlliedSignal
Aerospace outflow/safety valves. The condition is traced to one of two
lots (batch-runs) of molded poppets installed in valves during 1991.
Research of these lots has revealed brittleness of these parts, which
is characteristic of improper processing during injection molding.
Tensile stress then develops upon installation of the poppet, which
leads to hairline cracks. Small cracks have no effect, but can develop
into larger cracks that cause an increase in the valve operating
pressure, which could result in cabin depressurization.
Applicable Service Information
AlliedSignal Aerospace has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 103742-21-
4059 and SB 103744-21-4060, both dated March 31, 1995. These service
bulletins specify procedures for determining whether an I.A.M. Model
Piaggio P-180 airplane has one of the affected outflow/safety valves
installed. The service bulletins also reference the applicable outflow/
safety valves as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB referenced in Valve model Valve serial Nos.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
103742-21-4059......................... 103742-ALL................ 21-121 through 21-131; 21-133 through 21-
136; 21-138 through 21-140; 59-105; 79-116
through 79-119; 95-101; and 95-102.
[[Page 41754]]
103744-21-4060......................... 103744-ALL................ 40-120; 40-126; 40-129; 40-131 through 40-
134; 41-136; 41-137; 41-139; 59-105; 59-
108; and 59-111.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio SB No. 80-0084, dated July 7, 1995, references
the above AlliedSignal Aerospace service bulletins.
The RAI classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued
RAI AD 95-224, dated August 22, 1995, in order to assure the continued
airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.
Evaluation of All Applicable Information
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. 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, including the service
information referenced above; and determined that AD action is
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes of the
same type design that are registered in the United States and have an
AlliedSignal Aerospace outflow/safety valve (referenced above in the
discussion of the service information) installed, the proposed AD would
require replacing outflow/safety valves with new or serviceable valves.
Accomplishment of the proposed replacement would be in accordance with
the applicable maintenance or service manual.
Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
The FAA has determined that an interval of three calendar months is
an appropriate compliance time to address the identified unsafe
condition in a timely manner. This compliance time was deemed
appropriate after considering the safety implications, the average
utilization rate of the affected fleet, and the availability of the
replacement parts.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 3 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 32
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. AlliedSignal will
provide parts at no cost to the owner/operator. Based on these figures,
the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated
to be $5,760 or $1,920 per airplane. The FAA knows of no affected
airplane owner/operator (of the 3 affected) that has already
accomplished the proposed action.
Regulatory Impact
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 ``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 USC 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:
Industrie Aeronautiche E Mecchaniche: Docket No. 96-CE-28-AD.
Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes (all serial
numbers), certificated in any category, that have one of the
following AlliedSignal Aerospace outflow safety valves installed, as
referenced in either AlliedSignal Aerospace Service Bulletin (SB)
103742-21-4059 or SB 103744-21-4060, both dated March 31, 1995:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB Referenced in Valve model Valve serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
103742-21-4059................ 103742-ALL....... 21-121 through 21-
131; 21-133 through
21-136; 21-138
through 21-140; 59-
105; 79-116 through
79-119; 95-101; and
95-102.
103744-21-4060................ 103744-ALL....... 40-120; 40-126; 40-
129; 40-131 through
40-134; 41-136 41-
137; 41-139; 59-105;
59-108; and 59-111.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1: The above AlliedSignal Aerospace service bulletins are
referenced in I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio SB No. 80-0084, dated July 7,
1995.
Note 2: 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 (d) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by
[[Page 41755]]
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 three calendar months
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent outflow/safety valve cracking and subsequent failure,
which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane,
accomplish the following:
(a) Replace (with a new or serviceable valve) any outflow/safety
valve that does not have one of the following:
(1) The valve identification plate MOD RECORD stamped ``PCA''
(Poppet Change Accomplished); or
(2) A valve with an inked ATD Quality Assurance ``Functional
Test (FT)'' stamp that is dated June 1992, or later.
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no outflow/safety valve
that is referenced in the ``Applicability'' section of this AD may
be installed on an affected airplane.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(d) 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
(ACO), 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 ACO.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Brussels ACO.
(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the documents referred to herein upon request to AlliedSignal
Aerospace, Technical Publications, Department 65-70, P.O. Box 52170,
Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2170; or may examine these documents 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 August 5, 1996.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-20395 Filed 8-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U