Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42600-42602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14010]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0926; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01583-A; 
Amendment 39-22462; AD 2023-12-04]
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-24 airplanes. This AD 
was prompted by a report that an incorrect wiring arrangement was 
detected around the weather radar system. This AD requires modifying 
the weather radar redundant wiring, as specified in a European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference 
(IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 7, 2023.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference

[[Page 42601]]

of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 7, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No.FAA-2023-0926; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For EASA service information that is incorporated by 
reference in this final rule, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
[email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this service 
information on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> 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. The EASA service information 
is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0926.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
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-24 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on April 14, 2023 (88 FR 22928). The NPRM was prompted by EASA 
AD 2022-0249, dated December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0249) (referred to 
after this as the MCAI). The MCAI states an occurrence was reported 
where an incorrect wiring arrangement was detected around the weather 
radar system on certain Pilatus Model PC-24 airplanes. In case of a 
lightning strike, the functionalities related to the Advanced Graphic 
Module (AGM) 1 and AGM2, the Dual Generic Input/Output (DGI0) 1 card in 
the Modular Avionics Unit (MAU) 1 module of the Honeywell Advanced 
Cockpit Environment (ACE) system, and the Attitude Heading Reference 
System (AHRS) 2 could be affected. The MCAI specifies modification of 
the weather radar redundant wiring.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-0926.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require modifying the weather 
radar redundant wiring. The FAA is issuing this AD to address an 
incorrect wiring arrangement around the weather radar system. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could, in the case of a lightning 
strike, lead to the partial loss of flight and navigation data 
displayed to the pilot or pilots, possibly resulting in increased 
flight crew workload and a consequent reduction of safety margins.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

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 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, this AD is 
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2022-0249 requires modification of the weather radar 
redundant wiring.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 12 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification..........................  16 work-hours x $85 per           $5,000          $6,360         $76,320
                                         hour = $1,360.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected operators.

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 42602]]

    (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:

2023-12-04 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-22462; Docket No. 
FAA-2023-0926; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01583-A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 7, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-24 airplanes, 
serial numbers 231 through 252 inclusive and serial numbers 254 and 
255, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Codes 3497, Navigation 
System Wiring; and 3442, Weather Radar System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that an incorrect wiring 
arrangement was detected around the weather radar system. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address an incorrect wiring arrangement around 
the weather radar system. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could, in the case of a lightning strike, lead to the partial loss 
of flight and navigation data displayed to the pilot or pilots, 
possibly resulting in increased flight crew workload and a 
consequent reduction of safety margins.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply 
with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0249, dated December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0249).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0249

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0249 requires compliance from its 
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this 
AD.
    (2) Where the service information referenced in paragraph (1) of 
EASA AD 2022-0249 specifies removing and discarding parts, this AD 
requires removing those parts from service.
    (3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' paragraph of EASA AD 
2022-0249.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0249 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

(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) of this AD or email 
to: [email protected]. If mailing information, also submit 
information by email. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office/
certificate holding district office.

(k) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329-4059; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2022-0249, dated 
December 14, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2022-0249, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 
50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: 
[email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA 
AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) 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.
    (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, email: [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on June 12, 2023.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-14010 Filed 6-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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