Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22903-22905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07773]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1404; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01044-A; 
Amendment 39-22410; AD 2023-07-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-12/47E airplanes. This 
AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to 
identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The 
MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as corrosion of the actuator 
attachment lug areas underneath the anti-rotation pads of the main 
landing gear (MLG) and nose landing gear (NLG). This AD requires 
replacing certain MLG and NLG electro-mechanical actuators. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 19, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No.FAA-2022-1404; 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 final rule, the MCAI, any comments received, and 
other information. The address for Docket Operations is 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: 
(816) 329-4059; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered 
Pilatus Model PC-12/47E airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on November 7, 2022 (87 FR 66971). The NPRM was prompted by 
EASA AD 2022-0158, dated August 4, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0158) (referred 
to after this as ``the MCAI''), issued by the European Union Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union.
    The MCAI was prompted by occurrences of corrosion on the MLG and 
NLG actuator attachment lugs, underneath the anti-rotation pads of 
Pilatus Model PC-12/47E airplanes. The MCAI states that investigations 
revealed that extending or retracting the affected landing gear results 
in fretting between the anti-rotation pads and the actuator attachment 
lugs. This decreases the effectivity of surface protection, allows 
corrosion to develop on the attachment lug areas underneath the anti-
rotation pads, and leads to cracking and failure of the attachment 
lugs.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of 
functionality of the MLG and NLG, which could result in damage to the 
airplane and injury to the occupants. The MCAI requires inspecting, and 
if required, replacing affected MLG and NLG electro-mechanical 
actuators with serviceable actuators and prohibits the installation of 
an affected actuator unless it has been reworked to become a 
serviceable actuator.
    Since issuance of the NPRM, EASA superseded EASA AD 2022-0158 with 
EASA AD 2022-0245, dated December 12, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0245). EASA AD 
2022-0245 retains the requirements of EASA AD 2022-0158 and references 
revised service information.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing affected MLG and 
NLG actuators with serviceable actuators and prohibit the installation 
of an affected actuator unless it has been reworked (inspection and 
modification) to become a serviceable actuator. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1404.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from the Air Line Pilots Association, 
International (ALPA), who supported the NPRM without change.
    The FAA received additional comments from Pilatus. The following 
presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response.

[[Page 22904]]

Request To Reference Revised Service Information

    Pilatus stated that since the NPRM was published, revised service 
information was issued and requested that the FAA change paragraph 
(f)(2)(i) in the proposed AD to reference Pilatus PC-12 Service 
Bulletin 32-030, Rev. 2, dated October 7, 2022; and Tamagawa Seiki Co., 
Ltd., Service Bulletin SB21-0001, Issue 3, dated August 25, 2022, 
instead of Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin 32-030, dated June 27, 2022; 
and Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd., Service Bulletin SB21-0001, dated March 
31, 2022. The commenter also noted that after the NPRM was published, 
EASA released Proposed Airworthiness Directive (PAD) 22-149, dated 
November 9, 2022, which indicated that EASA AD 2022-0158 would be 
superseded.
    The FAA agrees with the commenter's request. The FAA reviewed 
Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin 32-030, Rev. 2, dated October 7, 2022, 
which references Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd., SB SB21-0001, Issue 3, dated 
August 25, 2022, and determined that no additional work is specified. 
The FAA revised paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this AD to reference this 
revised service information. The FAA added paragraph (i) to this AD 
(and redesignated the subsequent paragraphs of this AD accordingly) to 
provide credit for actions done before the effective date of this AD 
using Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin 32-030, dated June 27, 2022; and 
Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd., Service Bulletin SB21-0001, dated March 31, 
2022.
    As discussed in the Background section of this final rule, EASA 
superseded EASA AD 2022-0158 with EASA AD 2022-0245. The FAA did not 
update the reference to the MCAI in this AD to refer to EASA AD 2022-
0245 because in the NPRM, the FAA already proposed to require the 
actions in EASA AD 2022-0245. The FAA discussed this in the 
``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the MCAI'' section of the 
NPRM.

Request To Extend the Compliance for Certain Airplanes

    Pilatus requested that the FAA revise the 3-month compliance time 
in paragraph (h)(1) of the proposed AD and explained this compliance 
time should only be applicable to older airplanes on which the affected 
actuators were installed and the initial failures were identified.
    The FAA agrees. The FAA is keeping the compliance time for 
replacement of each affected part for the older airplanes with serial 
numbers (S/Ns) 1300 and 1451 to 1663 inclusive, which is within 3 
months after the effective date of the AD. The FAA is extending the 
compliance time for replacement of each affected part from what was 
called out in the NPRM for the rest of airplanes as follows:
    <bullet> For airplanes with S/Ns 1664 through 1719 inclusive, and 
S/Ns 1721 through 1942 inclusive, within 300 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD or within 12 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
    <bullet> For airplanes with S/Ns 1720, 2001 through 2202 inclusive, 
2204, and 2206, within 600 hours TIS after the effective date of this 
AD or within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs first.

Conclusion

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 
considered the comments received, and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for 
minor editorial changes, and any other changes described previously, 
this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes 
increase the economic burden on any operator.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI bases the compliance time for the replacement of affected 
MLG and NLG electro-mechanical actuators on the corrosion environment 
of the airplane. FAA regulations do not require operators to track 
operations in different environmental conditions and thus there is no 
way to determine whether an airplane is in the category of moderate to 
severe or mild corrosion environment.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 440 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates that the costs of one of the two actions below 
will be required to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Cost on U.S.
             Action                  Labor cost             Parts cost         Cost per product      operators
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* Rework (inspection and         5 work-hours x $85  Up to $1,245...........  $1,670 (for rework        $734,800
 modification).                   per hour = $425.                             of all three
                                                                               actuators).
* Replacement..................  3 work-hours x $85  $4,750 (Actuator Part    $16,105 (for             7,086,200
                                  per hour = $255.    Number (P/N)             replacement of
                                                      959.56.01.852, nose      all three
                                                      landing gear) and        actuators).
                                                      $11,100 (for 2
                                                      actuators--Actuator P/
                                                      N 659.56.01.853, main
                                                      landing gear).
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* Only the rework (inspection and modification) or the replacement will be required by this AD. Both actions
  will not be required.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    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:

[[Page 22905]]

    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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:

2023-07-08 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-22410; Docket No. 
FAA-2022-1404; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01044-A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 19, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12/47E 
airplanes, serial number (S/N) 1300 and S/Ns 1451 and higher, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3211, Main Landing 
Gear Attach Section; and JASC Code 3221, Nose/Tail Landing Gear 
Attach Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as corrosion 
leading to cracks on the actuator attachment lug areas underneath 
the anti-rotation pads of the main landing gear (MLG) and nose 
landing gear (NLG). The FAA is issuing this AD to address this 
condition. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
loss of functionality of the MLG and NLG, which could result in 
damage to the airplane and injury to the occupants.

(f) Definitions

    For the purposes of this AD, the following definitions apply:
    (1) Affected parts are defined as MLG electro-mechanical 
actuators having part number (P/N) 959.56.01.823 or P/N 
959.56.01.845 and NLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 
959.56.01.824 or P/N 959.56.01.844.
    (2) Serviceable parts are defined as one of the following:
    (i) MLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 959.56.01.823 or 
P/N 959.56.01.845 and NLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 
959.56.01.824 or P/N 959.56.01.844 that have been reworked 
(inspection and modification) in accordance with the instructions in 
Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin 32-030, Rev. 2, dated October 7, 
2022; and Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd., Service Bulletin SB21-0001, 
Issue 3, dated August 25, 2022; or
    (ii) MLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 959.56.01.853 
and NLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 959.56.01.852.

(g) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(h) Required Actions

    (1) Replace each affected part as defined in paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD with a serviceable part as defined in either paragraph 
(f)(2)(i) or (ii) of this AD, as follows:
    (i) For airplanes with S/Ns 1300 and 1451 through 1663 
inclusive, within 3 months after the effective date of the AD.
    (ii) For airplanes with S/Ns 1664 through 1719 inclusive, and S/
Ns 1721 through 1942 inclusive, within 300 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD or within 12 months after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
    (iii) For airplanes with S/Ns 1720, 2001 through 2202 inclusive, 
2204, and 2206, within 600 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD or within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install an 
affected part as defined in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD on any 
airplane unless it has been reworked (inspection and modification) 
and made a serviceable part as defined in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of 
this AD.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions required by 
paragraph (h)(1) of this AD if those actions were done before the 
effective date of this AD using Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin 32-
030, dated June 27, 2022; and Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd., Service 
Bulletin SB21-0001, dated March 31, 2022.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in Sec.  39.19. In accordance with Sec.  39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, mail 
it to the address identified in paragraph (k)(2) of this AD or email 
to: [email protected]. If mailing information, also submit 
information by email.

(k) Additional Information

    (1) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0158, dated August 4, 2022, for related information. This EASA 
AD may be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. 
FAA-2022-1404.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4059; email: 
[email protected].
    (3) For Pilatus and Tamagawa Seki Co., Ltd. service information 
that is not incorporated by reference in this AD, contact Pilatus 
Aircraft Limited, Customer Support General Aviation, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; phone: +41 848 24 7 365; email: aircraft.com">techsupport.ch@pilatus-aircraft.com; website: pilatus-aircraft.com. You may view this 
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(817) 222-5110.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on April 8, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-07773 Filed 4-13-23; 8:45 am]
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