Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-52-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche

Model Piaggio P-180 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This document withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)

(62 FR 48502, September 16, 1997) that would have applied to certain

Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche (I.A.M.) Model Piaggio P-180

airplanes. The proposed action would have required revising the FAA-

approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to specify procedures that would

prohibit flight in severe icing conditions (as determined by certain

visual cues), limit or prohibit the use of various flight control

devices while in severe icing conditions, and provide the flight crew

with recognition cues for, and procedures for exiting from, severe

icing conditions. During the comment period of this NPRM, the FAA was

notified that this airplane model does not have a pneumatic de-icing

system, therefore, the proposed action would not apply. With this in

mind, the FAA has determined that the proposed rule should be

withdrawn. This withdrawal does not prevent the FAA from initiating

future rulemaking on this subject.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dow, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,

Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1201

Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106; telephone: (816) 426-

6934; facsimile (816) 426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to This Action

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14

CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain I.A.M. Model

Piaggio P-180 airplanes of the same type design that are registered in

the United States was published in the Federal Register on September

16, 1997 (62 FR 48502). The action proposed to require revising the

Limitations Section of the FAA-approved AFM to specify procedures that

would:

require flight crews to immediately request priority

handling from Air Traffic Control to exit severe icing conditions (as

determined by certain visual cues);

prohibit use of the autopilot when ice is formed aft of

the protected surfaces of the wing, or when an unusual lateral trim

condition exists; and

require that all icing wing inspection lights be operative

prior to flight into known or forecast icing conditions at night.

This proposed AD would also require revising the Normal Procedures

Section of the FAA-approved AFM to specify procedures that would:

limit the use of the flaps and prohibit the use of the

autopilot when ice is observed forming aft of the protected surfaces of

the wing, or if unusual lateral trim requirements or autopilot trim

warnings are encountered; and

[[Page 30155]]

provide the flight crew with recognition cues for, and

procedures for exiting from, severe icing conditions.

In addition to the proposed rule described previously, in September

1997, the FAA issued 24 other similar proposals that address the

subject unsafe condition on various airplane models. These 24 proposals

also were published in the Federal Register on September 16, 1997.

Numerous comments were received on all 24 proposed actions.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate

in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to

the comment received for this AD. The comment received is from the

manufacturer and directly relates to the I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180

airplane. The manufacturer states that the I.A.M. Model Piaggio P-180

does not meet the criteria of the proposed action. This airplane has a

bleed air and electro-thermal wing anti-icing system, not a pneumatic

system. The FAA concurs and has decided to withdraw the NPRM.

Withdrawal of this NPRM constitutes only such action, and does not

preclude the agency from issuing future rulemaking on this issue, nor

does it commit the agency to any course of action in the future.

Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed

nor a final rule and therefore, is not covered under Executive Order

12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies and

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation Safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket No. 97-CE-

52-AD, published in the Federal Register on September 16, 1997 (62 FR

48502), is withdrawn.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 22, 1998.

Michael Gallagher,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98-14616 Filed 6-2-98; 8:45 am]

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