Summary
This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to certain I. A. M. Rinaldo Piaggio (Piaggio) Model P180 airplanes. The proposed action would require repetitively inspecting for cracks around the vertical pin and the torque tube bottom flange of the rudder and the fasteners that connect the torque tube to the bottom flange. If cracks are evident, the proposed action would require modifying the rudder torque tube bottom flange assembly by replacing the cracked part with a part of improved design which would terminate the repetitive inspection. The proposed AD is the result of several reports of fatigue cracks around the pin that vertically supports the rudder axle. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracks in the rudder torque tube bottom flange which could result in loss of rudder control and possible loss of the airplane.