AD 2020-19-10

This AD is effective November 3, 2020.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of November 3, 2020.

For service information identified in this final rule, 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: https://www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/customer-support. You may review this referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0412.

Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 5, 2019 (84 FR 26025). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD No. 2017-0229, dated November 21, 2017 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), which 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0412.

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this final rule. No comments were received on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed.

The FAA reviewed 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 contains 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.

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.

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

Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this 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.

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 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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):