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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1218; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01025-A;
Amendment 39-22536; AD 2023-17-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Vulcanair S.p.A. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Vulcanair S.p.A. Model V1.0 airplanes. This 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 corrosion on the lower fuselage truss. This AD requires a
detailed visual inspection of the right-hand (RH) and left-hand (LH)
lower rear attachments of the fuselage truss for
corrosion, a tactile inspection of the lower rear attachments for
missing sealant, and a general visual inspection of the lower fuselage
truss welded pipes for corrosion and the related rivets for missing
stems and, depending on findings, additional inspections and actions
(including a tap test) and applicable corrective actions. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective October 26, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 26,
2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1218; 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 final rule, the MCAI, any comments received, and
other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Vulcanair S.p.A., via G. Pascoli, 7, 80026 Casoria (NA), Italy;
phone: +39 081 5918111; email: info@vulcanair.com; website:
support.vulcanair.com.
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. It is also available at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1218.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John DeLuca, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516)
228-7369; email: john.p.deluca@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Vulcanair
S.p.A. Model V1.0 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register
on June 27, 2023 (88 FR 41510). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2022-0155,
dated August 1, 2022 (referred to after this as the MCAI), issued by
the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI
states that there have been reports of corrosion on the lower fuselage
truss on two Vulcanair Model V1.0 airplanes. Missing sealant or missing
rivet stems were determined to be the root cause of corrosion by
allowing water ingress into the lower fuselage truss. In both reported
cases, corrosion was externally visible, having penetrated the
thickness of the pipes. However, corrosion could be present inside the
pipes and remain undetected without proper inspection. This condition,
if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the
airplane.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a detailed visual
inspection of the RH and LH lower rear attachments of the fuselage
truss for corrosion, a tactile inspection of the lower rear attachments
for missing sealant, and a general visual inspection of the lower
fuselage truss welded pipes for corrosion and the related rivets for
missing stems and, depending on findings, additional inspections and
actions (including a tap test) and applicable corrective actions. The
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss
of control of the airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1218.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Conclusion
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are 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 referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and
determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed.
Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products. This AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Vulcanair S.p.A. Service Bulletin No. VA-22,
Revision 0, dated June 15, 2022 (Vulcanair SB VA-22). This service
information specifies procedures for inspections of the lower fuselage
truss for corrosion, missing sealant, and missing rivet stems; and, in
case of findings, additional inspections and actions to detect
corrosion, including a tap test and raising the airplane nose. This
service information specifies to contact Vulcanair for corrective
actions.
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 ADDRESSES.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI
Although Vulcanair SB VA-22, which is referenced in the MCAI,
specifies that ``in case of doubts, raise the aircraft nose and audibly
detect the presence of corrosion residues inside the fuselage truss,''
this AD does not require that action.
Paragraph (1) of the MCAI states to ``accomplish a general visual
and tactile inspection of the right-hand (RH) and left-hand (LH) lower
rear attachments of the fuselage truss'' in accordance with the
instructions of Part A of Vulcanair SB VA-22. However, step 14, Part A,
of Vulcanair SB VA-22 specifies to do a detailed visual inspection. In
email communication between EASA and the FAA, EASA clarified that this
should be a detailed visual inspection performed in accordance with the
procedures specified in Vulcanair SB VA-22; therefore, this AD requires
a detailed visual inspection of the RH and LH lower rear attachments of
the fuselage truss for corrosion.
The MCAI requires contacting the manufacturer for approved
corrective action instructions if any corrosion is found on the lower
fuselage truss. This AD requires contacting either the Manager,
International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Vulcanair's EASA
Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the
approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 17 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Detailed visual inspection and
tactile inspection of the RH and LH lower rear attachments, and a
general visual inspection of the pipes |
8 work-hours
x $85 per hour = $680
|
$0
|
$680
|
$11,560
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary actions
that would be required based on the results of the required
inspections.
On-Condition Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Remove sealant and detailed inspection
of inner face of longitudinal tubes connected to lower rear attachments |
4 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$340
|
$0
|
$340
|
| Detailed visual inspection and
tap test of the lower fuselage truss pipes |
4 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$340 |
0
|
340
|
| Installation of plug P/N 5034-011
on RH and LH lower rear attachments |
0.50 work-hour x $85 per hour
= $42.50 |
130
|
172.50
|
The corrective action instructions
that may be needed as a result
of these inspections could vary significantly from airplane to
airplane. The FAA has no data to determine the costs to accomplish
those corrective actions or the number of airplanes that might need
these corrective 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.
Regulatory Findings
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) 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 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:
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