DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0397; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01354-A]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. (Piaggio) 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 identifies the unsafe condition as altimetry
system errors in the air data computers (ADCs) and stand-by instrument
systems. This proposed AD would require amending the existing airplane
flight manual (AFM), installing improved ADCs and a detachable
configuration module (DCM), and revising the existing instructions for
continued airworthiness. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 23,
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Piaggio
Aero Industries S.p.A., Dominico Noceti, Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia
snc, Genoa, 16154, Italy; phone: +39 335 810 59 20; email:
DNoceti@piaggioaviation.it; website: https://www.technicalsupport@
piaggioaerospace.it. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0397; 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 NPRM, the MCAI,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer,
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch,
FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-
4144; email: mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0397;
Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01354-A'' at the beginning of your
comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this NPRM because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mike
Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301,
Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.

Background

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued
EASA AD 2019-0269, dated October 29, 2019 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on Piaggio Model P.180
Avanti II airplanes. The MCAI states:

During monitoring of P.180 Avanti II fleet by EUROCONTROL
(checks performed by Air Traffic Control stations) a mean altimetry
system error and some singular measurement exceedances were reported
being outside of limits defined by rules applicable to Reduced
Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airworthiness standards.
Subsequent investigation determined that the static source error
correction curves embedded in the ADC of pilot and co-pilot, as well
as in the stand-by instrument system, did not ensure the required
RVSM performance of the aeroplane.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to delivery [of]
erroneous air data information and consequent impairment of
aeroplane altitude-keeping capability, possibly resulting in a mid-
air collision within RVSM airspace.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Piaggio issued the
AFM TC [Temporary Change No. 107] introducing additional limitations
for operation within RVSM airspace and issued the SB [Piaggio
Aerospace Service Bulletin 80-0467] providing instructions to modify
the aeroplane.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
amendment of the AFM and modification of the aeroplane by installing
improved ADCs and DCM.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0397.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. A.S. Service
Bulletin No. 80-0467, Revision 2, dated March 6, 2020, which specifies
procedures for replacing the two ADCs and the DCM with improved parts.
The FAA also reviewed Piaggio Aviation P.180 Avanti II/EVO
Temporary Change No. 107, dated September 17, 2019, which updates the
limitations section of the AFM by prohibiting operations in RVSM
airspace if the ADCs and DCM have not been replaced.
In addition, the FAA reviewed Piaggio Aviation P.180 Avanti EVO
Maintenance Manual Temporary Revision No. 126, dated June 6, 2019,
which updates and adds certain tasks for the navigation system.
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

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM
after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

The MCAI requires informing all flight crews of the AFM revision
and operating accordingly thereafter, and this proposed AD would not
because those actions are already required by FAA operating
regulations.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 101 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:

Estimated Costs

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.

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) Would not be a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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: