Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19061-19063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6999]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0018; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-042-AD; 
Amendment 39-16997; AD 2012-06-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pilatus 
Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-
6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-
H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes. This AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an 
aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as loose elevator and rudder hinge bolts caused by incorrect 
torquing and locking of the bolts, which could lead to in-flight 
failure of the elevator or rudder attachment. We are issuing this AD to 
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 4, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of May 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact PILATUS 
AIRCRAFT LTD., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 STANS, Switzerland; 
telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 65 80; fax: +41 (0) 41 619 65 76; Internet: 
http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2012 (77 
FR 2238). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    A case of loss of elevator and rudder hinge bolts on a PC-6 
aeroplane has been reported.
    The results of the investigations indicate that the elevator and 
rudder hinge bolt loss are suspected to have been caused by an 
incorrect torque and locking of the bolts.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to in-
flight failure of the elevator or rudder attachment, possibly 
resulting in loss of control of the aeroplane.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires the 
installation of a new locking screw and the modification of the 
installation of the hinge bolt.


[[Page 19062]]


You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 2238, January 17, 
2012) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (77 FR 2238, January 17, 2012) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 2238, January 17, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 50 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 5 work-hours per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $100 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. 
operators to be $26,250, or $525 per product.

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.
    We are 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

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM (77 FR 2238, January 17, 
2012), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone (800) 
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in 
the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2012-06-16 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-16997; Docket No. 
FAA-2012-0018; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-042-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective May 4, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-6, PC-6-Hl, 
PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-Hl, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-Hl, PC-
6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/Bl-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, 
and PC-6/Cl-H2 airplanes, all Pilatus manufacturer serial numbers 
(MSN), and MSN 2001 through 2092, certificated in any category.

    Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: For MSN 2001-2092, these 
airplanes are also identified as Fairchild Republic Company PC-6 
airplanes, Fairchild Industries PC-6 airplanes, Fairchild Heli 
Porter PC-6 airplanes, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation PC-6 
airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55: Stabilizer.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as loose elevator 
and rudder hinge bolts caused by incorrect torquing and locking of 
the bolts. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight failure of 
the elevator or rudder attachment, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) For airplanes that have not been modified before May 4, 2012 
(the effective date of this AD) following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 
Service Bulletin No. 55-001 at initial issue, within 2 months after 
May 4, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), install new elevator 
and rudder hinge bolt locking screws and modify the installation of 
the hinge bolt following the Accomplishment Instructions in Pilatus 
Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 55-001, Rev. No. 1, dated 
November 25, 2011.
    (2) For airplanes that have been modified before May 4, 2012 
(the effective date of this AD) following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 
Service Bulletin No. 55-001 at initial issue, within 6 months after 
May 4, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), install new elevator 
and rudder hinge bolt locking screws following the Accomplishment 
Instruction of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 55-
001, Rev. No. 1, dated November 25, 2011.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected]. Before

[[Page 19063]]

using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, 
notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight 
Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2011-0230, dated December 9, 2011, and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 
Service Bulletin No. 55-001, Rev. No. 1, dated November 25, 2011, 
for related information.

 (i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 
55-001, Rev. No. 1, dated November 25, 2011, to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director 
of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference 
(IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 STANS, 
Switzerland; telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 65 80; fax: +41 (0) 41 619 65 
76; Internet: http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com.
    (3) You may review copies of the referenced service information 
at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 19, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6999 Filed 3-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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