Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1255-1257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-184]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-55-AD; Amendment 39-12067; AD 2000-26-17]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12 and 
PC-12/45 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 
airplanes that are equipped with a certain windshield configuration. 
This AD requires you to incorporate pilot's operating handbook (POH) 
information that prohibits the operation of the windshield heating 
system in the ``LIGHT'' mode, and requires you to modify the windshield 
deicing system wiring and circuit breakers. You can remove the POH 
information after accomplishing the modification. This AD is the result 
of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the 
airworthiness authority for Switzerland. The actions specified by this 
AD are intended to prevent loss of electrical power to the windshield 
deicing system due to operation in the ``LIGHT'' mode, which could 
result in icing of the windshield and loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on February 24, 2001.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
February 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 63 19; facsimile: +41 41 619 6224; 
or from Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd., Product Support Department, 
11755 Airport Way, Broomfield, Colorado 80021; telephone: (303) 465-
9099; facsimile: (303) 465-6040. You may examine this information at 
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-55-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the 
Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roman T. Gabrys, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4141; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    The Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Switzerland, recently notified the FAA that 
an unsafe condition may exist on certain Pilatus Models PC-12 and PC-
12/45 airplanes. The FOCA reports that the electrical load of the left 
hand (LH) and right hand (RH) windshields can become too high during 
flight at cruise altitudes when the ``LIGHT'' mode is selected on the 
windshield deicing system. The FOCA references eight instances where 
prolonged operation of the windshield deicing system in the ``LIGHT'' 
mode caused this system to temporarily shut down.
    The airplanes involved in the above instances were equipped with 
part number (P/N) 959.81.10.107 LH and P/N/ 959.81.10.108 RH 
windshields.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    Operation of the existing design windshield deicing system in the 
``LIGHT'' position can overload the electrical capacity of the wiring 
and circuit breakers. This could result in complete electrical power 
loss to the windshield and icing of the windshield.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to this Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to 
Pilatus Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes that are equipped with a 
certain windshield configuration. This proposal was published in the 
Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on October 
2, 2000 (65 FR 58675). The NPRM proposed to require you to incorporate 
POH information that would prohibit the operation of the windshield 
heating system in the ``LIGHT'' mode, and would require you to modify 
the windshield deicing system wiring and circuit breakers. You could 
remove the POH information after accomplishing the modification.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    Interested persons were afforded an opportunity to participate in 
the making of this amendment. No comments were

[[Page 1256]]

received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to 
the public.

The FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. We determined that these minor 
corrections:

--Will not change the meaning of the AD; and
--Will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 108 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                      Parts cost        Total cost per airplane         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 workhours x $60 per hour $1,080...  Pilatus will provide     $1,080 per airplane....  $116,640.
                                        free-of-charge..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Compliance Time of This AD

    What Is the Compliance Time of This AD?
    The compliance time of this AD is as follows:

--Incorporation of the POH temporary revision: ``Within the next 30 
days after the effective date of this AD;'' and
--Modification: ``Within the next 12 months after the effective date of 
this AD.''

Why Is the Compliance of This AD in Calendar Time Instead of Hours 
Time-in-Service (TIS)?

    Although loss of electrical power to the windshield deicing system 
due to operation in the ``LIGHT'' mode is unsafe during flight, the 
condition is not a direct result of airplane operation. The chance of 
this situation occurring is the same for an airplane with 10 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) as it would be for an airplane with 500 hours 
TIS. A calendar time for compliance will assure that the unsafe 
condition is addressed on all airplanes in a reasonable time period.

Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the 
caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

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

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2000-26-17  Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-12067; Docket No. 
2000-CE--55AD.
    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes, manufacturer serial number 
(MSN) 101 through MSN 320, that are:
    (1) certificated in any category; and
    (2) equipped with part number (P/N) 959.81.10.107 LH and P/N 
959.81.10.108 RH windshields (PPG P/N NP172121-5 LH and NP172121-6 
RH or FAA-approved equivalent part numbers).
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent loss of electrical power to the 
windshield deicing system due to operation in the ``LIGHT'' mode, 
which could result in icing of the windshield and loss of control of 
the airplane.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Action                 Compliance Time       Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Insert Temporary Revision     Within the next 30  Anyone who holds
 No. 21 to PC-12 Pilot's           days after          at least a
 Operating Handbook, Report No.    February 24, 2001   private pilot
 01973-001, Section 2,             (the effective      certificate, as
 Windshield Heater Operation 101-  date of this AD),   authorized by
 320, Issued: May 19, 2000..       unless already      section 43.7 of
                                   accomplished..      the Federal
                                                       Aviation
                                                       Regulations (14
                                                       CFR 43.7), may
                                                       incorporate the
                                                       pilot's operating
                                                       handbook (POH)
                                                       revision required
                                                       by this AD. You
                                                       must make an
                                                       entry into the
                                                       aircraft records
                                                       that shows
                                                       compliance with
                                                       this AD, in
                                                       accordance with
                                                       section 43.9 of
                                                       the Federal
                                                       Aviation
                                                       Regulations (14
                                                       CFR 43.9).

[[Page 1257]]

 
(2) Modify the windshield         Within the next 12  In accordance with
 deicing system wires and          months after        the modification
 circuit breakers. You may         February 24, 2001   procedures in the
 remove the POH temporary          (the effective      Accomplishment
 revision referenced in            date of this AD),   Instructions
 paragraph (d)(1) of this AD       unless already      section of
 after accomplishing this          accomplished..      Pilatus Service
 modification..                                        Bulletin No. 30-
                                                       006, dated May
                                                       22, 2000.
(3) Do not install, on any        As of February 24,  Not applicable.
 affected airplane, P/N            2001 (the
 959.81.10.107 LH and P/N          effective date of
 959.81.10.108 RH windshields      this AD.).
 (PPG P/N NP172121-5 LH and
 NP172121-6 RH or FAA-approved
 equivalent part numbers),
 without incorporating the
 modification required in
 paragraph (d)(2) of this AD..
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1: Temporary Revision No. 21 to PC-12 Pilot's Operating 
Handbook, Report No. 01973-001, Section 2, Windshield Heater 
Operation 101-320, Issued: May 19, 2000, eliminates the need for 
Temporary Revision No. 14 in the POH.

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way?  You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, approves your 
alternative. Submit your request through an FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

    Note 2: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, 
or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For 
airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the 
performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/
operator must request approval for an alternative method of 
compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of this AD. The request 
should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, 
alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; 
and, if you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Roman T. Gabrys, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, 
suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4141; 
facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 30-006, dated May 22, 2000. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved this incorporation by 
reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get 
copies from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 
Stans, Switzerland; or from Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd., Product 
Support Department, 11755 Airport Way, Broomfield, Colorado 80021. 
You can look at copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, 
suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective ? This amendment 
becomes effective on February 24, 2001.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Swiss AD HB 2000-
393, dated September 6, 2000.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 22, 2000.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-184 Filed 1-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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