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

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche (I.A.M.) Model Piaggio P-180 airplanes that are equipped with a Rockwell Collins APS-65 autopilot system that incorporates an APC-65A autopilot computer. This AD requires incorporating airplane flight manual (AFM) and pilot's operating handbook (POH) supplements that include revised autopilot emergency disengagement procedures. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent pilot difficulty in disengaging the autopilot during flight, which could result in the pilot's lack of proper attention to critical flight tasks due to the increased pilot workload with possible consequent loss of airplane controllability.