[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57-59]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33402]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 1 / Tuesday, January 2, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 57]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-46-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 98-08-22, which currently requires inspecting the elevator and 
rudder attachment brackets for cracks and corrosion, and replacing any 
cracked or corrosion-damaged parts on certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. 
(Pilatus) Model PC-7 airplanes. AD 98-08-22 resulted from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 
authority for Switzerland. Since the issuance of AD 98-08-22, Pilatus 
has redesigned the brackets. Installation of these brackets should 
eliminate the cause of corrosion, which resulted in cracks or corrosion 
damage. The proposed AD would require you to replace the elevator and 
rudder attachment brackets with parts of improved design. 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. Such failure could result in the elevator or rudder separating 
from the airplane with consequent loss of airplane control.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule by February 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send three copies of your comments to FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-46-
AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may read 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays.
    You may get service information that applies to the proposed AD 
from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 6509; facsimile: +41 41 610 3351. 
You may read this information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roman Gabrys, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4141; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on the proposed AD? We invite your comments on the 
proposed rule. You may send whatever written data, views, or arguments 
you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and send your 
comments in triplicate to the address specified under the caption 
ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received by the closing date 
specified above, before acting on the proposed rule. We may change the 
proposals contained in this notice in light of the comments received.
    Are there any specific portions of the proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
rule that might require a change to the proposed rule. You may look at 
all comments we receive. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of this proposal.
    We are re-examining the writing style we currently use in 
regulatory documents, in response to the Presidential memorandum of 
June 1, 1998. That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate 
more clearly with the public. We are interested in your comments on the 
ease of understanding this document, and any other suggestions you 
might have to improve the clarity of FAA communications that affect 
you. You can get more information about the Presidential memorandum and 
the plain language initiative at http://www.faa.gov/language/.
    How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want us to 
acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you must include a self-
addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to 
Docket No. 2000-CE-46-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Discussion

    Has FAA taken any action to this point? Reports received from the 
Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for Switzerland, revealed instances of corrosion and cracking 
in the elevator and rudder attachment brackets on Pilatus Model PC-7 
airplanes that have been operated in areas of high humidity or salt 
content. This caused FAA to issue AD 98-08-22, Amendment 39-10471 (63 
FR 19175, April 17, 1998). That AD requires you to inspect the elevator 
and rudder attachment brackets for cracks and/or corrosion, and replace 
any cracked or corrosion-damaged parts, as applicable.
    What has happened since AD 98-08-22 to initiate this action? The 
FOCA recently notified FAA of the need to change AD 98-08-22. The FOCA 
reports that Pilatus has redesigned the elevators and rudder attachment 
brackets. Installation of these brackets should inhibit the cause of 
corrosion, which resulted in cracks or corrosion damage.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Pilatus 
has issued Service Bulletin No. 55-005, dated March 23, 2000.
    What are the provisions of this service bulletin? The service 
bulletin includes procedures for removing and replacing the elevator 
and rudder attachment brackets with ones of improved design.
    What action did FOCA take? The FOCA classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued Swiss AD Number HB 2000-411, dated 
September 27, 2000, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in Switzerland.
    Was this in accordance with the bilateral airworthiness agreement? 
These airplane models are manufactured in Switzerland and are 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.

[[Page 58]]

    Following this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the FOCA has kept 
FAA informed of the situation described above.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of the 
Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? The FAA has examined the findings of the 
FOCA; reviewed all available information, including the service 
information referenced above; and determined that:

--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Pilatus Model PC-7 airplanes of the same type design;
--The actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

    What would the proposed AD require? This proposed AD would 
supersede AD 98-08-22 with a new AD that would require you to 
incorporate the actions in the previously referenced service bulletin.
    Why is the compliance of the initial inspection in hours time-in-
service (TIS) and calendar time? The affected airplanes are used in 
general aviation operations. Those operators may accumulate 100 hours 
TIS on the airplane in less than 3 months. We have determined that the 
dual compliance time:

--Gives all owners/operators of the affected airplanes adequate time to 
schedule and do the actions in this proposed AD; and
--Ensures that the unsafe condition referenced in this AD will be 
corrected within a reasonable time period without inadvertently 
grounding any of the affected airplanes.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would the proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD affects 8 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of the proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to 
do the proposed modification:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total cost per     Total cost on
                       Labor cost                            Parts cost          airplane        U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 workhours  x  $60 per hour = $480....................     Parts will be               $480       $480  x  8 =
                                                          provided by the                               $3,840.
                                                         manufacturer free
                                                                of charge
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? The regulations 
proposed here would 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. Therefore, it is determined that this proposed 
rule would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? 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 adopted, 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, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
98-08-22, Amendment 39-10471 (63 FR 19175, April 17, 1998), and by 
adding a new AD to read as follows:

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. 2000-CE-46-AD; Supersedes AD 98-
08-22, Amendment 39-10471.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model PC-7 airplanes, serial numbers MSN 001 through MSN 612, that 
are certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this 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 or rudder separating from the airplane 
with consequent loss of airplane control.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Replace the horizontal    Within the next 100   Do these
 stabilizer brackets with      hours time-in-        replacements
 new parts using replacement   service (TIS) or 6    following the
 kit No. 500.50.07.132 and     months after the      ``Accomplishment
 replace the vertical          effective date of     Instructions''
 stabilizer bracket with new   this AD, whichever    paragraph of
 parts using replacement kit   occurs first,         Pilatus Service
 No. 500.50.07.133.            unless already done.  Bulletin No. 55-
                                                     005, dated March
                                                     23, 2000, the
                                                     aircraft
                                                     maintenance
                                                     manuals, and
                                                     illustrated parts
                                                     catalogs.
(2) Do not install any parts  As of the effective   Not Applicable.
 identified as old parts in    date of this AD.
 replacement kit No.
 500.50.07.132 (or FAA-
 approved equivalent part
 numbers) or 500.50.07.133
 (or FAA-approved equivalent
 part number).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 59]]

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way?
    (1) You may use an alternative method of compliance or adjust 
the compliance time if:
    (i) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (ii) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, approves your 
alternative. Send your request through an FAA Principal Maintenance 
Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, 
Small Airplane Directorate.
    (2) Alternative methods of compliance approved under AD 98-08-
22, which is superseded by this AD, are not approved as alternative 
methods of compliance with this AD.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Roman Gabrys, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4141; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can do the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland. You may look at these documents at FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106.
    (i) Does this AD action affect any existing AD actions? This 
amendment supersedes AD 98-08-22, Amendment 39-10471.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Swiss AD HB 2000-
411, dated September 27, 2000.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 21, 2000.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-33402 Filed 12-29-00; 8:45 am]
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