DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0813; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01316-A]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Vulcanair 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 all Vulcanair S.p.A. Model P.68, P.68B, P.68C, P.68C-TC, P.68
"Observer," P.68TC "Observer," P.68 "Observer 2," and P.68R
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 corrosion
causing failure of the upper rudder hinge. This proposed AD would
require repetitively inspecting the upper and lower rudder hinges for
corrosion, cracking, or damage, and depending on the inspection
results, taking corrective action. 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 August 22, 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 Vulcanair
S.p.A., Fulvio Oloferni, via Giovanni Pascoli, 7, 80026 Naples, Italy;
phone: +39 081 5918 135; email: airworthiness@vulcanair.com; website:
https://www.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.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0813; 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: John DeLuca, Aviation Safety Engineer,
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516)
228-7369; email: john.p.deluca@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-2022-0813;
Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01316-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 proposal 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 John DeLuca, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation &
Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 1600 Stewart
Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590. 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 2021-0267, dated November 24, 2021 (referred to after this as
"the MCAI"), to address an unsafe condition on Vulcanair S.p.A.
(Vulcanair) (formerly Partenavia Costruzioni Aeronautiche S.p.A.) Model
P.68 "Victor," P.68B "Victor," P.68R "Victor," P.68C, P.68C-TC,
P.68 "Observer," P.68 "Observer 2," and P.68TC "Observer"
airplanes, all serial numbers. The MCAI states:

Occurrences were reported of failures of the upper rudder hinge
on P.68 aeroplanes due to corrosion, which can occur if the
aeroplane is operated in an environment which may favour the
formation of corrosion.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could interfere
with rudder movement and ultimately lead to failure, possibly
resulting in loss of control of the aeroplane.

To address this potential unsafe condition, Vulcanair issued the
SL [Vulcanair Aircraft Alert Service Letter No. 23, Revision 2,
dated September 29, 2021] and updated the applicable AMM [Aircraft
Maintenance Manual], as defined in this [EASA] AD, to provide
inspection instructions.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
repetitive inspections of the upper and lower rudder hinges and,
depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective
action(s).

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0813.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Vulcanair Aircraft Alert Service Letter No. 23,
Revision 2, dated September 29, 2021, which specifies procedures for
inspecting the upper and lower rudder hinges for corrosion, cracking,
and damage, and specifies contacting Vulcanair for instructions to
repair an affected rudder hinge. This service information also refers
to the applicable aircraft maintenance manuals for additional
inspection procedures.

The FAA also reviewed the following service information, which
specifies procedures for maintaining various structural parts. These
documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane models.

Section 6, Structures, of the Vulcanair Aircraft P.68C &
P.68C-TC Maintenance Manual, AMM10.702-1, Revision 7, dated May 11,
2021.

Section 6, Structures, of the Vulcanair Aircraft P.68
Observer 2 & P.68TC Observer Maintenance Manual, AMM10.702-2, Revision
8, dated November 11, 2021.

Section 6, Structures, of the Vulcanair Aircraft P.68R
Maintenance Manual, AMM10.702-3, Revision 12, dated December 12, 2019.

Section C, Airframe, of the Vulcanair Aircraft P68C
Maintenance Manual, NOR10.709-1B, Revision 9, dated August 30, 2017.

Section C, Airframe, of the Vulcanair Aircraft P68-TC
Observer Maintenance Manual, NOR10.709-4A, Revision 4, dated March 15,
2018.

Section B, Structure, of the Vulcanair Aircraft A/C P68B
Victor Maintenance Manual, NOR.10.709-9, Revision 16, dated September
22, 2017.

Section C, Airframe, of the Vulcanair Aircraft P68
Observer 2 Maintenance Manual, NOR10.709-10, Revision 5, dated October
23, 2017.

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, except as discussed under
"Differences Between this Proposed AD and the MCAI."

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

The MCAI applies to Model P.68 "Victor," P.68B "Victor," and
P.68R "Victor" airplanes, which are identified on the FAA type
certificate as Model P.68, P.68B, and P.68R airplanes, respectively.
The MCAI requires contacting Vulcanair for approved repair
instructions, while this proposed AD does not.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 14 airplanes of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary actions
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
The FAA has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might
need these actions.

On-Condition 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) Is 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: