DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0210; Product Identifier 2019-CE-004-AD; Amendment
39-19608; AD 2019-06-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Vulcanair S.p.A. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Vulcanair S.p.A. Model AP68TP-300 ``SPARTACUS'' and Model AP68TP-600
``VIATOR'' airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracks on
wing ribs, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the
wing assembly. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 29, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of April 29,
2019.
We must receive comments on this AD by May 24, 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 AD, contact Vulcanair
S.p.A., Via Giovanni Pascoli 80026 Casoria NA Italy; telephone: +39 081
5918111; fax: +39 081 5918172; internet: http://www.vulcanair.com;
email: office.oaw@vulcanair.com; or airworthiness@vulcanair.com. You
may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and
Innovation, 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 locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0210.

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-
0210; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations (telephone (800)
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD
No. 2018-0269, dated December 11, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:

An occurrence was reported of finding cracks in the affected
area [wing ribs #3 and #4] on an AP68TP-600 ``Viator'' aeroplane
during a scheduled inspection task. Prompted by post-analysis of the
occurrence, Vulcanair determined that some aeroplanes were
reinforced in the affected area, through a repair developed by
Partenavia. Vulcanair also determined that this repair would have
prevented the crack initiation. It was finally determined that
AP68TP-300 ``Spartacus'' aeroplanes are also affected by this
condition.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could affect the
structural integrity of the wing assembly of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Vulcanair issued the
[service bulletin] SB, embodying the repair designed by Partenavia,
providing instructions for one-time inspection of [left-hand/right-
hand] LH/RH wing ribs #3 and #4, and for modification (reinforcement
or embodiment of appropriate repair), as necessary.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-time
inspection of the affected area, and, depending on findings,
accomplishment of the applicable modification (repair or
reinforcement of the affected area) of the aeroplane.

You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0210.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Vulcanair Aircraft Service Bulletin No. TP-43, First
Issue, dated October 15, 2018. The service information contains
procedures for inspecting the left hand (LH) and right hand (RH) wing
ribs number 3 and number 4 and includes a table indicating the
necessary actions for installation of reinforcements and repair of
cracks. We also reviewed Vulcanair Aircraft Service Instruction No.
106, First Issue, dated October 15, 2018, which contains instructions
for installing reinforcement Kit SI106 on the LH and RH wing rib number
3; and Vulcanair Aircraft Service Instruction No. 107, First Issue,
dated October 15, 2018, which contains instructions for installing
reinforcement Kit SI107 on the LH and RH wing rib number 4. 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the 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. We are issuing this AD because we
evaluated all information provided by the State of Design Authority and
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.

FAA's 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
cracks in the wing ribs could result in reduced strength and stiffness
of the wing and lead to failure of the wing with consequent inflight
breakup of the airplane. Cracks in the ribs could also initiate
cracking in other adjacent structures, which would accelerate the
reduction in structural strength. Therefore, we find good cause that
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable. In
addition, for the reasons stated above, we find 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 precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-0210; Product
Identifier 2019-CE-004-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 will affect 2 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per product to
comply with the inspection requirements of this AD. The average labor
rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S.
operators to be $170, or $85 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary installation of the
reinforcement modification would take about 8 work-hours for rib number
3 on each wing; 8 work-hours for rib number 4 on each wing; and 12
work-hours for both ribs numbers 3 and 4 on each wing.
The following are a parts cost estimates per side:
1. Kit SI106 (if the required corrective action is the installation
of the reinforcement to LH or RH wing rib #3) $240.
2. Kit SI107/A (if the required corrective action is the
installation of upper and rear reinforcements to LH or RH wing rib
number 4 due to no reinforcements existing) $469.
3. Kit SI107/B (if the required corrective action is the
installation of rear reinforcements to LH or RH wing rib number 4 due
to only the upper reinforcement existing) $240.
4. Kit SI107/C (if the required corrective action is the
installation of upper reinforcement to LH or RH wing rib number 4 due
to only the rear reinforcement existing) $240.
Since installation of the reinforcement modification kits can only
be done on airplanes where cracks or corrosion was not found during the
required inspection, we have no way of knowing how many airplanes may
require the installation of the reinforcement modification kits.
Also, damage from cracks or corrosion found during the inspection
may vary from airplane to airplane and the cost to repair the damage
will vary from airplane to airplane. Therefore, we have no way of
knowing how many airplanes may require repair or the cost of that
repair.

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.
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

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 that 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.

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 airworthiness
directive (AD):