DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0412; Product Identifier 2018-CE-030-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).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes 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 insufficient sealing of a steering select/
bypass valve installed in the nose landing gear (NLG) manifold. The FAA
is proposing this AD to require actions that address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 22, 2019.

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, Airworthiness Office, Via Pionieri e
Aviatori d'Italia snc, 16154 Genova, Italy; phone: +39 010 0998046;
email: airworthiness@piaggioaerospace.it; and internet: http://www.
piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support. You may review this
referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation
Division, 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-2019-0412;
or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations is listed
above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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

The FAA invites 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-2019-0412;
Product Identifier 2018-CE-030-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of
this proposed AD. The FAA will consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.

The FAA will post all comments the received, without change, to
http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received 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. 2017-0229, dated November 21, 2017 (referred to after this as
"the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe condition for Piaggio Aero
Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. The MCAI states:

An occurrence was reported of finding insufficient sealing of a
Steering Select/Bypass Valve installed on the nose landing gear
(NLG) Steering Manifold of a P.180 aeroplane.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
uncommanded deflection of the NLG wheel, possibly resulting in
reduced control of the aeroplane on the ground, with consequent
damage to the aeroplane and injury to occupants.

To address this potential unsafe condition, PAI issued Service
Bulletin (SB) 80-0325 to provide inspection and rectification
instructions.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a leak
test of the NLG Steering Manifold and, depending on the finding(s),
accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s). This [EASA] AD
also requires amendment of the applicable Aircraft Flight Manual
(AFM).

The MCAI further notes that airplanes with NLG steering manifold
part number 72608 installed are known to include manufacturing serial
numbers 1001, 3001, 3003, 3004, 3006, 3007, and 3008, and also include
airplanes that have incorporated Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin No.
80-0425, Revision 0, dated March 30, 2017, and Piaggio Aerospace
Service Bulletin No. 80-0454, Revision 0, March 6, 2017. You may
examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0412.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. has issued Piaggio Aerospace Service
Bulletin No. 80-0325, Revision 0, dated August 10, 2017 (SB 80-0325),
and Piaggio Aerospace P.180 AVANTI II/EVO Temporary Change No. 89,
dated August 30, 2017 (Temporary Change 89), to the airplane flight
manual (AFM). SB 80-0325 describes procedures for doing a NLG steering
manifold leakage test. Temporary Change 89 contains emergency operating
procedures for the pilot to follow if the NLG steering system fails.
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.

Other Related Service Information

The FAA reviewed Piaggio Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 80-0425,
Revision 0, dated March 30, 2017 (SB 80-0425); Piaggio Aerospace
Service Bulletin No. 80-0454, Revision 0, March 6, 2017 (SB 80-0454);
and Temporary Change No. 89 Errata Corrige, dated December 20, 2017
(Temporary Change 89EC). SB 80-0425 and SB 80-0454 both contain
procedures for replacing the main landing gear and the NLG steering
system on the applicable airplanes. Temporary Change 89EC revises the
cover page of Temporary Change 89 to clarify the applicability of the
change.

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. The FAA is proposing this AD
because the FAA 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

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD will affect 130 products of
U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 2.5
work-hours per product to comply with the basic requirements of this
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.

Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $27,625, or $212.50 per product.

If necessary, the FAA estimates that replacing a NLG steering
manifold would take about 10 work-hours and require parts costing
$50,058, for a cost of $50,908 per product. The FAA has no way of
determining the number of products that may need these actions.

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.

The FAA is 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.

This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders,
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation
Division.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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, the FAA proposes to amend 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 airworthiness
directive (AD):