Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-6 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 203 (Monday, October 21, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64520-64522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26589]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-CE-08-AD; Amendment 39-12914; AD 2002-21-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-6 
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 certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-6 
airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect the aileron assembly for 
correct configuration and modify as necessary. 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 correct improper aileron assembly configuration, 
which could result in failure of the aileron mass balance weight. Such 
failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on December 6, 2002.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
December 6, 2002.

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 view this information at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-CE-08-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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; 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 FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Pilatus Model PC-6 airplanes. The 
FOCA reported an instance where unapproved mass balance weights and an 
improper aileron configuration were found on a Model PC-6 airplane. The 
FOCA determined the cause as improper configuration control and 
tracking.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
aileron mass

[[Page 64521]]

balance weights. Such failure could lead to loss of control of the 
airplane.

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 
certain Pilatus Model PC-6 airplanes. This proposal was published in 
the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on 
August 19, 2002 (67 FR 53761). The NPRM proposed to inspect the aileron 
assembly for correct configuration and modify as necessary.

Was the Public Invited to Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. We did not receive any comments on the proposed rule 
or on our determination of the cost to the public.

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 have determined that these minor 
corrections:
    [sbull] Provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for 
correcting the unsafe condition; and
    [sbull] Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 35 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 inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Total cost
              Labor cost                        Parts cost             per        Total cost on U.S. operators
                                                                     airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $60 per hour = $60.......  No parts required........          $60  $60 x 35 = $2,100.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
modifications that would be required based on the results of the 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that 
may need such modification:

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                   Labor cost                      Parts cost                Total cost per airplane
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16 workhours x $60 = $960......................            $419  $419 + $960 = $1,379.
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Compliance Time of This AD

What Will Be the Compliance Time of This AD?

    The compliance time of this AD is ``within the next 30 days after 
the effective date of this AD.''

Why Is the Compliance Time Presented in Calendar Time Instead of Hours 
Time-in-service (TIS)?

    This unsafe condition is not a result of the number of times the 
airplane is operated. 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. For this reason, the FAA has 
determined that a compliance based on calendar time should be utilized 
in this AD in order to 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:

2002-21-08 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-12914; Docket No.

    2002-CE-08-AD.(a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This 
AD affects Model PC-6 airplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers 
(MSN) up to and including 939, that are certificated in any 
category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to correct improper aileron assembly 
configuration, which could result in failure of the aileron mass 
balance weight. Such failure could lead to 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:

[[Page 64522]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the aileron       Within the next 30    In accordance with
 assembly for proper           days after December   Pilatus Service
 configuration.                6, 2002 (the          Bulletin No. 62B,
                               effective date of     dated May 1967, as
                               this AD), unless      in Pilatus PC-6
                               already               Service Bulletin
                               accomplished.         No. 57-001, dated
                                                     December 20, 2001.
-----------------------------
(2) If the aileron assembly   Prior to further      Modify in accordance
 configuration incorporates    flight after the      with Pilatus
 aileron part number (P/N)     inspection required   Service Bulletin
 6106.10.xxx or P/N            in paragraph (d)(1)   No. 62B, dated May
 6106.0010.xxx modifying the   of this AD, unless    1967. Install the
 assembly in accordance with   already               placard in
 Pilatus Service Bulletin      accomplished.         accordance with
 No. 62B, dated May 1967,                            Pilatus PC-6
 and install a placard.                              Service Bulletin
                                                     No. 57-001, dated
                                                     December 20, 2001.
-----------------------------
(3) If the aileron assembly   Prior to further      In accordance with
 configuration differs from    flight after the      Pilatus PC-6
 that specified in Pilatus     inspection required   Service Bulletin
 Service Bulletin No. 62B,     in paragraph (d)(1)   No. 57-001, dated
 dated May 1967, or if the     of this AD, unless    December 20, 2001.
 part numbers are missing      already accompished.
 and cannot be verified: (i)
 obtain a repair scheme from
 the manufacturer through
 the FAA at the address
 specified in paragraph (f)
 of this AD; and (ii)
 incorporate this repair
 scheme.
-----------------------------
(4) Do not install any        As of December 6,     In accordance with
 aileron assembly unless the   2002 (the effective   Pilatus PC-6
 inspection, modification,     date of this AD).     Service Bulletin
 placard, and repair                                 No. 57-001, dated
 requirements (as                                    December 20, 2001.
 applicable) of paragraphs
 (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3),
 (d)(3)(i), and (d)(3)(ii)
 of this AD are accomplished.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 Standards Office 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 Standards Office Manager.

    Note 1: 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 Doug Rudolph, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; 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. 62B, dated May 1967, and Pilatus 
PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-001, dated December 20, 2001. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved this incorporation by 
reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may get 
copies from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 
Stans, Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 6319; 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 view 
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.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Swiss AD HB 2002-
001, dated February 8, 2002.

    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on December 6, 2002.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 9, 2002.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-26589 Filed 10-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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