Airworthiness Directives; 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

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40886-40888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11339]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD; 
Amendment 39-14683; AD 2006-15-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; 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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
supersedes AD 2003-13-04, which applies to certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd 
(Pilatus) Model PC-6 airplanes. AD 2003-13-04 currently requires you to 
inspect the integral fuel tank wing ribs for cracks and the top and 
bottom wing skins for distortion, repair any cracks or distortion 
before further flight, and do a fuel tank ventilating system 
installation. Since we issued AD 2003-13-04, the FAA determined the 
action should also apply to all the models of the PC-6 airplanes listed 
in the type certificate data sheet of Type Certificate (TC) No. 7A15 
that were produced in the United States through a licensing agreement 
between Pilatus and Fairchild Republic Company (also identified as 
Fairchild Industries, Fairchild Heli Porter, or Fairchild-Hiller 
Corporation). In addition, the intent of the applicability of AD 2003-
13-04 was to apply to all the affected serial numbers of the airplane 
models listed in TC No. 7A15. This AD retains all the actions of AD 
2003-13-04, adds those Fairchild Republic Company airplanes to the 
applicability of this AD, and lists the individual specific airplane 
models. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the ribs 
of the inboard integral fuel tanks in the left and right wings, which 
could lead to wing failure during flight with consequent loss of 
control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on August 23, 2006.
    As of August 15, 2003 (68 FR 37394, June 24, 2003), the Director of 
the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference 
of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-002, dated 
November 27, 2002; and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 
118, dated December 1972, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51.

ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified in this AD, 
contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 63 19; facsimile: +41 41 619 6224.
    To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-24093; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD.

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

    On May 3, 2006, 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 all the models of the PC-6 airplanes listed in the type 
certificate data sheet of TC No. 7A15 that were produced in the United 
States through a licensing agreement between Pilatus and Fairchild 
Republic Company (also identified as Fairchild Industries, Fairchild 
Heli Porter, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation) airplanes. This proposal 
was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on May 9, 2006 (71 FR 26882). The NPRM proposed to 
supersede AD 2003-13-04 (68 FR 37394, June 24, 2003), add those 
Fairchild Republic Company airplanes to the applicability of this 
proposed AD, and would list the individual specific airplane models. 
The NPRM proposed to retain all of the actions of AD 2003-13-04 for 
inspecting the integral fuel tank wing ribs for cracks and the top and 
bottom wing skins for distortion, repairing any cracks or distortion 
before further flight, and installing a fuel tank ventilating system.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received one comment in favor of the proposed AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed 
except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these 
minor corrections:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 49 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Total cost per   Total cost on
                 Labor cost                               Parts cost                 airplane     U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $400.........  Not applicable.....................            $400         $19,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs for each rib to do any necessary 
rib repair that will be required based on the results of the 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that 
may need this repair:

[[Page 40887]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
           Labor cost                   Parts cost              rib
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 work-hours x $80 per hour =    $50 per rib............            $290
 $240 per rib.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to install any inboard fuel tank 
ventilating system that will be required based on the results of this 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that 
may need such an installation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
               Labor cost                   Parts cost       airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 work-hours x $80 per hour = $960.....            $200          $1,160
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

    We have 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); 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and 
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed 
it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a 
request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket 
No. FAA-2006-24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD'' in your 
request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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

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. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2003-13-04, 39-13204 (68 FR 37394, June 24, 2003), and by adding the 
following new AD:

2006-15-03 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-14683; Docket No. 
FAA-2006-24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on August 23, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2003-13-04, Amendment 39-13204.

Applicability

    (c) This AD affects the following 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 that are equipped with turbo-prop engines and are 
certificated in any category:
    (1) Group 1 (maintains the actions from AD 2003-13-04): All 
manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) up to and including 939.
    (2) Group 2: MSN 2001 through 2092.

    Note: 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.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for 
Switzerland that requires retaining the actions of AD 2003-13-04 and 
adding MSN 2001 through 2092 for all the models of the PC-6 
airplanes listed in the type certificate data sheet of Type 
Certificate (TC) No. 7A15. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct cracks in the ribs of the inboard integral fuel tanks in the 
left and right wings, which could lead to wing failure during flight 
with consequent loss of control of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect:
    (i) The ribs in the       (A) For Group 1       Follow Pilatus
     inboard integral fuel     Airplanes: Within     Aircraft Ltd. PC-6
     tanks and related         the next 100 hours    Service Bulletin
     structure in the left     time-in-service       No. 57-002, dated
     and right wings for       (TIS) after August    November 27, 2002.
     crack damage;             15, 2003 (the
                               effective date of
                               AD 2003-13-04),
                               unless already done.

[[Page 40888]]

 
    (ii) The upper and lower  (B) For Group 2
     wing skins for damage;    Airplanes: Within
     and                       the next 90 days or
    (iii) The inboard fuel     100 hours TIS,
     tank area to determine    whichever occurs
     if the inboard fuel       first, after August
     tank ventilating system   23, 2006 (the
     is installed.             effective date of
                               this AD), unless
                               already done.
(2) If any crack damage is
 found:
    (i) Correct the crack     Before further        Follow Pilatus
     damage designated as      flight after the      Aircraft Ltd. PC-6
     repairable in the         inspections           Service Bulletin
     service bulletin.         required in           No. 57-002, dated
    (ii) For other crack       paragraph (e)(1) of   November 27, 2002.
     damage, obtain a repair   this AD.
     scheme from the
     manufacturer through
     FAA at the address
     specified in paragraph
     (f) of this AD and
     incorporate this repair
     scheme.
(3) If wing distortion is     Before further        Follow Pilatus
 found, obtain a repair        flight after the      Aircraft Ltd. PC-6
 scheme from the               inspections           Service Bulletin
 manufacturer through FAA at   required in           No. 57-002, dated
 the address specified in      paragraph (e)(1) of   November 27, 2002.
 paragraph (f) of this AD      this AD.
 and incorporate this repair
 scheme.
(4) If the inboard fuel tank  Before further        Follow Pilatus
 ventilating system is not     flight after the      Aircraft Ltd. PC-6
 installed, install the        inspections           Service Bulletin
 inboard fuel tank             required in           No. 118, dated
 ventilating system.           paragraph (e)(1) of   December 1972.
                               this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Standards Office, ATTN: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (g) AMOCs approved for AD 2003-13-04 are approved for this AD.

Related Information

    (h) Swiss AD Numbers HB 2003-092, dated February 17, 2003, and 
HB 2005-289, effective date August 23, 2005, also address the 
subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-
002, dated November 27, 2002, and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service 
Bulletin No. 118, dated December 1972.
    (1) As of August 15, 2003 (68 FR 37394, June 24, 2003), the 
Director of the Federal Register previously approved the 
incorporation by reference of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service 
Bulletin No. 57-002, dated November 27, 2002; and Pilatus Aircraft 
Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 118, dated December 1972, in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) To get a copy of this service information, contact Pilatus 
Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; 
telephone: +41 41 619 63 19; facsimile: +41 41 619 6224. To review 
copies of this service information, go to the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call 
(202) 741-6030. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management 
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-
24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 11, 2006.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-11339 Filed 7-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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