AD 2000-07-11

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche (I.A.M.) Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the brake assembly rods and tubings for wear or damage, and replacing any worn or damaged parts. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the brake hydraulic fluid from leaking because of the brake assembly rods contacting the brake valve tubing, which could result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during ground operations.

Final rule

2000-07-11 INDUSTRIE AERONAUTICHE E MECCANICHE: Amendment 39-11665; Docket No. 99-CE 65 AD.

Applicability: Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

NOTE 1: 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 this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent the brake hydraulic fluid from leaking because of the brake assembly rods contacting the brake valve tubing, which could result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during ground operations, accomplish the following:

(a) Within the next 150 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 150 hours TIS, inspect the brake system assembly for wear or damage. Accomplish the inspection in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions in Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999.

(b) If any worn or damaged parts are found during any inspection required by this AD, prior to further flight, replace the parts in accordance with the appropriate maintenance manual. The repetitive inspections required by paragraph (a) of this AD still apply after replacing any worn or damaged parts.

(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 initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

NOTE 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

(e) Questions or technical information related to Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999, should be directed to I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A.,Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy. This service information may be examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

(f) The inspections required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from I.A.M. Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., Via Cibrario, 4 16154 Genoa, Italy. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

NOTE 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD 99-219, dated June 22, 1999.

(g) This amendment becomes effective on May 29, 2000.

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD
A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to all I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 22, 1999 (64 FR 71694). The NPRM proposed to require repetitively inspecting the brake assembly rods and tubings for wear or damage, and replacing any worn or damaged parts.

Accomplishment of the proposed inspections as specified in the NPRM would be required in accordance with Piaggio Service Bulletin (Mandatory) No.: SB-80-0107, Original Issue: April 30, 1999. Accomplishment of any necessary replacement as specified in the NPRM would be required in accordance with the maintenance manual.

The NPRM was the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination
After careful review of all available information related to the subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 4 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 3 workhours per airplane to accomplish the initial inspection, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the initial inspection on U.S. operators is estimated to be $720, or $180 per airplane.

These figures only take into account the cost of the initial inspection and do not take into account the costs of any replacements necessary or repetitive inspections. The FAA has no way of determining the number of parts that will need replacement or the number of inspections each owner/operator of the affected airplanes will incur.

Regulatory Impact
The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this action is contained 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, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows: