[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2911-2913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1203]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-130-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 
airplanes. The proposed AD would require inspecting the elevator and 
rudder attachment brackets for cracks and/or corrosion, and repairing 
or replacing any cracked or corrosion-damaged parts, as applicable. The 
proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for 
Switzerland. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent failure of the elevator and rudder attachment brackets because 
of cracks or corrosion damage, which could result in the elevator and/
or rudder separating from the airplane with consequent loss of airplane 
control.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-130-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this 
location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays 
excepted.
    Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained 
from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 6509; facsimile: +41 41 610 3351. 
This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the 
address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roman T. Gabrys, Aerospace 
Engineer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification Service, 
FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone 
(816) 426-6932; facsimile (816) 426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned 
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 97-CE-130-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-130-AD, Room 1558,

[[Page 2912]]

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Switzerland, recently notified the FAA that 
an unsafe condition may exist on certain Pilatus Model PC-7 airplanes. 
The FOCA of Switzerland reports instances of corrosion and cracking in 
the elevator and rudder attachment brackets on the above-referenced 
airplanes that have been operated in areas of high humidity or salt 
content.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected in a timely manner, 
could result in the elevator and/or rudder separating from the airplane 
with consequent loss of airplane control.

Relevant Service Information

    Pilatus has issued Service Bulletin No. 55-002, dated November 7, 
1997, which specifies procedures for inspecting the elevator and rudder 
attachment brackets for cracks and/or corrosion, and repairing or 
replacing any cracked or corrosion-damaged parts, as applicable.
    The FOCA of Switzerland classified this service bulletin as 
mandatory and issued Swiss AD HB 97-440, dated November 20, 1997, in 
order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in 
Switzerland.

The FAA's Determination

    This airplane model is manufactured in Switzerland and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the FOCA of Switzerland has kept the 
FAA informed of the situation described above.
    The FAA has examined the findings of the FOCA; reviewed all 
available information, including the service information referenced 
above; and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this 
type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Pilatus PC-7 airplanes of the same type 
design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing AD action. 
The proposed AD would require inspecting the elevator and rudder 
attachment brackets for cracks and/or corrosion, and repairing or 
replacing any cracked or corrosion-damaged parts, as applicable. 
Accomplishment of the proposed installation would be in accordance with 
the previously referenced service bulletin.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 8 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 7 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that 
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Inspection kits 
cost approximately $106 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$4,208, or $526 per airplane.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects 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. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, 
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation 
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of 
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location 
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Pilatus Aircraft LTD.: Docket No. 97-CE-130-AD.

    Applicability: Model PC-7 airplanes, serial numbers MSN 001 
through MSN 612, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent failure of the elevator and rudder attachment 
brackets because of cracks or corrosion damage, which could result 
in the elevator and/or rudder separating from the airplane with 
consequent loss of airplane control, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the elevator and rudder 
attachment brackets for cracks and/or corrosion in accordance with 
Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 55-002, dated November 7, 1997.
    (b) If cracked or corrosion-damaged parts are found during the 
inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further 
flight, repair or replace any cracked or corrosion-damaged parts, as 
specified in and in accordance with Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 55-
002, dated November 7, 1997.
    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, 
suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be 
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may 
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane 
Directorate.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (e) Questions or technical information related to Pilatus 
Service Bulletin No. 55-002, dated November 7, 1997, should be

[[Page 2913]]

directed to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 
Stans, Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 6509; facsimile: +41 41 
610 3351. This service information may be examined at the FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Swiss AD HB 97-
440, dated November 20, 1997.
    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 12, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-1203 Filed 1-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U