2026-19972: Airworthiness Directives; Vulcanair S.p.A. Airplanes

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 188 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 61797-61799] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-19972] ======================================================================== Proposed Rules Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 30, 2026 / Proposed Rules [[Page 61797]] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2026-11794; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00242-A] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Vulcanair S.p.A. Airplanes

Agency

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

Action

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Vulcanair S.p.A. Model P.68 and P.68B airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of fuel starvation that resulted in an uncommanded in-flight engine shutdown. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, modification of the fuel level indicator and, for all airplanes, calibration of the fuel level indicator, installation of new quantity and warning placards, and updating the aircraft flight manual (AFM) and the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Dates

The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by November 16, 2026.

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 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. AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-11794; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. Material Incorporated by Reference: For Vulcanair S.p.A. material identified in this proposed AD, contact Vulcanair S.p.A., via G. Pascoli, 7, 80026 Casoria (NA), Italy; phone: +39 081 5918135; email: [email protected]; website: support.vulcanair.com. You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 1100 Main, Kansas City, MO 64105. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

For Further Information Contact

Ari Tretiak, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (202) 267-7897; email: [email protected].

Supplementary Information

Comments Invited The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments using a method listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-11794; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00242-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 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Ari Tretiak, Aviation Safety Engineer, 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 2026-0051, dated March 12, 2026 (EASA AD 2026-0051) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on certain Vulcanair S.p.A. Model P.68 and P.68B airplanes. The MCAI states that an uncommanded in-flight engine shutdown was reported on a Vulcanair S.p.A. Model P.68 airplane and that, in each fuel tank, the fuel quantity was low, but above the unusable fuel quantity; consequently, fuel starvation occurred on one engine. The MCAI also states that Vulcanair issued a service bulletin to change the minimum fuel level quantity for flight operation with new fuel level indicator placards and new quantity and warning placards. This condition, if not corrected, could result in engine power loss, engine shutdown in flight, and reduced control of the airplane. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-11794. [[Page 61798]] Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51 The FAA reviewed the following service material: Vulcanair S.p.A. P.68 Variants Service Bulletin No. 133 Rev. 2, dated March 27, 2024. This material specifies procedures for modification of the airplane by replacing two analog resistive fuel level indicators with active digital fuel level indicators and one dual fuel level indicator with a new dual fuel level indicator. Vulcanair S.p.A. P.68 Variants Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 265 Rev. 0, dated January 8, 2026. This material specifies procedures for modification of the fuel level indicator, calibration of the fuel level indicator, installation of new quantity and warning placards, and updating the AFM and AMM. This material 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 These products have been approved by the civil 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, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and material referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that 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, for certain airplanes, modification of the fuel level indicator, and, for all airplanes, calibration of the fuel level indicator, installation of new quantity and warning placards, and updating the AFM and the AMM. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect four airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD: Estimated Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Modify and calibrate fuel level indicator 1 work-hours x $85 per hour $271 $356 $1,424 = $85. Calibrate fuel level indicator........... 5 work-hours x 85 per hour 0 425 1,700 = 425. Install quantity and warning placards.... 1 work-hour x 85 per hour = 157 242 968 85. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 0