DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2466; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-018-AD;
Amendment 39-18273; AD 2015-19-11]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A.
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 Piaggio
Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. 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 the need to restore the safe fatigue life of the bulkhead
structure. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 3, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publication listed in the AD as of November 3,
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
2466; 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 service information identified in this AD, contact PIAGGIO AERO
INDUSTRIES S.p.A, Airworthiness Office, Viale Generale Disegna, 1 -
17038 Villanova d'Albenga, Savona, Italy; telephone: +39 010 6481800;
fax: +39 010 6481374; email: technicalsupport@piaggioaerospace.it;
Internet: www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support#care. You may
view 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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2015-2466.

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:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to add an AD that would apply to certain Piaggio Aero
Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on July 6, 2015 (80 FR 38406). The NPRM proposed to
correct an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based on
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an
aviation authority of another country. The MCAI states:

In 1997, Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A (PAI) developed a
modification of the forward pressurized bulkhead, published through
PAI Service Bulletin (SB) 80-0081, aiming to restore the safe
fatigue life of the bulkhead structure.
Consequently, ENAC Italy (formerly RAI) issued Prescrizione di
Aeronavigabilita (PA) 97-148 to require compliance with this SB.
After RAI PA 97-148 was issued, PAI issued SB 80-0081 Revision 2
to provide improved instructions for specific serial numbers.
Prompted by this development, EASA issued AD 2010-0146 superseding
PA 97-148 and requiring accomplishment of instruction of PAI issued
SB 80-0081 Revision 2.
After that AD was issued, PAI issued SB 80-0081 Revision 3 to
make the instructions for inspection (and, depending on findings,
rework/reinforcement) applicable to all aeroplanes.
For the reasons described above, this AD retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2010-0146, which is superseded, requires
inspection and, depending on findings, reinforcement of the
pressurized bulkhead structure on extended population of aeroplanes.
This AD also specifies that certain aeroplanes modified in
accordance with SB 80-0081 up to Revision 2 need to be inspected
and, depending on findings, reinforced as required by this AD.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-2466-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 38406, July 6,
2015) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (80 FR 38406, July 6, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 38406, July 6, 2015).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Service Bulletin 80-
0081, Revision No. 3, dated: January 20, 2015. The service information
describes procedures for inspection and, depending on findings, rework/
reinforcement of the bulkhead. 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 the AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 28 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $2,380, or $85 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions will
take about 88 work-hours and require parts costing $30,000, for a cost
of $37,480 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
products that may need these actions.
According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.

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 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.

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-2015-
2466; 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

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

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD: