Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 3, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12877-12880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06284]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0205; Product Identifier 2019-CE-001-AD; Amendment 
39-19598; AD 2019-05-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 airplanes. This AD results from 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the 
aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as chafed and burned wires located under panel F5. We are 
issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 23, 2019.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 23, 
2019.
    We must receive comments on this AD by May 20, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

[[Page 12878]]

    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Pilatus 
Aircraft Ltd., Customer Technical Support (MCC), P.O. Box 992, CH-6371 
Stans, Switzerland; telephone: +41 (0)41 619 67 74; fax: +41 (0)41 619 
67 73; email: aircraft.com">Techsupport@pilatus-aircraft.com; internet: https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on the internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for locating Docket No. FAA-
2019-0205.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0205; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (telephone (800) 
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in 
the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Switzerland, has issued AD HB-2019-002, dated January 28, 
2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for certain serial-numbered Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 
airplanes. The MCAI states:

    During a scheduled inspection several chafed and burned wires 
located under panel F5 were found.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
smoke/fume in the cockpit and in a possible in-flight fire.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus Aircraft 
Ltd. issued the [service bulletin] SB to provide applicable 
inspection instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [FOCA] Airworthiness 
Directive (AD) requires a visual inspection of the wires below the 
panel F5 and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable 
corrective action(s).

    FOCA advises that although aircraft are manufactured with 
sufficient clearance between the wiring loom and the components 
installed below access panel F5, the wiring looms may be moved when 
components installed in the front instrument panel are removed and re-
installed during maintenance. As a result, the wiring looms can come 
into contact with other equipment, causing chafing damage. You may 
examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0205.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued Pilatus PC-7 Service Bulletin No. 
24-008, Rev. No. 1, dated December 20, 2018. The service information 
contains procedures for inspecting the wires below access panel F5 for 
chafing and contact with the casings of the line replacement unit 
(LRU), panel edges, and environmental control system (ECS) hoses; 
replacing exposed bare wires; repairing chafed wires by installing a 
protective sleeve; inspecting the metal clips on the demist hoses to 
make sure they are not in contact with the wiring looms; and if 
necessary, adjusting the orientation of the metal clips to put their 
sharp edges away from the wiring loom. The service information also 
specifies reporting information to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. so it can 
determine if follow-on action will be necessary. This service 
information 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 and Requirements of the AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by the State of Design Authority and 
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or 
develop on other products of the same type design.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because 
chafing of electrical cables through the insulation could lead to 
arching, which may cause smoke or fumes in the cockpit and result in a 
possible in-flight fire. Therefore, we find good cause that notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable. In addition, 
for the reason stated above, we find that good cause exists for making 
this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-0205; Product 
Identifier 2019-CE-001-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 18 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would take about 3.5 work-hours per product to 
comply with the inspection requirement of this AD and 5 minutes to 
comply with the reporting requirement of this AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the inspection and 
reporting requirement in this AD on U.S. operators to be $5,481, or 
$304.50 per product.
    In addition, we estimate the labor and parts costs for the follow-
on actions as necessary:

[[Page 12879]]

    <bullet> Repairing chafed wires and installing a protective sleeve 
would take about 1.5 work-hours for a cost of $127.50 per product.
    <bullet> Replacing burnt or bare wires would take about 4 work-
hours and require parts costing approximately $2,000 for a cost of 
$2,340.
    <bullet> Adjusting metal clips would take about .5 work-hour for a 
cost of $42.50.
    We have no way of determining the number of products that may need 
these actions.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders, 
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and 
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation 
Division.

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 that 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.

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2019-05-15 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd: Amendment 39-19598; Docket No. FAA-
2019-0205; Product Identifier 2019-CE-001-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 23, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 airplanes, 
manufacturer serial number (MSN) 101 through MSN 537, MSN 548 
through MSN 609, and MSN 613 through MSN 618, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 24: Electric 
Power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as chafed and 
burned wires located under panel F5. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct chafed and burned wires under panel F5, which 
could lead to smoke or fumes in the cockpit and result in a possible 
in-flight fire.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (2).
    (1) Within the next 120 days after the effective date of this 
AD, do the following inspections:
    (i) Visually inspect all wires below access panel F5 for signs 
of chafing and contact with the casings of the line replacement 
units (LRUs), panel edges, or environmental control system (ECS) 
hoses. If there is any chafing or contact, before further flight, do 
all corrective actions by following the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraphs 3.B.(2) through 3.B.(3), in Pilatus PC-7 Service Bulletin 
No. 24-008, Rev. No. 1, dated December 20, 2018.
    (ii) Visually inspect the metal clips on the demist hoses for 
signs of contact with the wiring looms. If there is any contact, 
before further flight, adjust the clips by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.(5), in Pilatus PC-7 
Service Bulletin No. 24-008, Rev. No. 1, dated December 20, 2018.
    (2) Within 10 days after completing the inspections required in 
paragraph (f)(1)(i) and (ii) of this AD or within the next 10 days 
after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, report 
the results of the inspections, both negative and positive, to 
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. at the address listed in paragraph (i)(3) of 
this AD. On the report, include whether there were any chafed wires, 
casing contacts that needed to be relocated, or metal clip 
adjustments. You may use the Service Bulletin Evaluation Sheet in 
Pilatus PC-7 Service Bulletin No. 24-008, Rev. No. 1, dated December 
20, 2018, for this purpose, but include the above findings of the 
inspection.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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 Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-
4090; email: [email protected]. Before 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must 
instead be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, FAA, or the Federal Office of Civil 
Aviation (FOCA).
    (3) Reporting Requirements: 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 currently 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

[[Page 12880]]

be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering 
and maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory as required by this AD; the nature and 
extent of confidentiality to be provided, if any. Send comments 
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this 
burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 
76177-1524.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI FOCA AD HB-2019-002, dated January 28, 2019, for 
related information. You may examine the MCAI on the internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0205.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-7 Service Bulletin No. 24-008, Rev. 
No. 1, dated December 20, 2018.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. service information identified in 
this AD, contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Technical Support 
(MCC), P.O. Box 992, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; phone: +41 (0)41 
619 67 74; fax: +41 (0)41 619 67 73; email: aircraft.com">Techsupport@pilatus-aircraft.com; internet: https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Policy and 
Innovation, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information 
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-
4148. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0205.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 25, 2019.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Aircraft Certification Service, Deputy Director, Policy and Innovation 
Division, AIR-601.
[FR Doc. 2019-06284 Filed 4-2-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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