[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20595-20597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5978]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24091; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-17-AD]
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), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-12-01, 
which applies to certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd (Pilatus) Models PC-6, 
PC-6/A, PC-6/B, and PC-6/C series airplanes equipped with turbo-prop 
engines. AD 98-12-01 currently requires you to modify the fuel system 
to improve the venting between the collector tank, the main wing tanks, 
and the engine. Since we issued AD 98-12-01, the FAA determined the 
action should also apply to all the models of the PC-6 airplanes listed 
in the type certification data sheet of Type Certificate (TC) No. 7A15 
that are 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 98-12-
01 was to apply to affected serial numbers of the airplane models 
listed in TC No. 7A15. Consequently, this proposed AD would retain all 
the actions of AD 98-12-01, would add those Fairchild Republic Company 
airplanes to the applicability of this proposed AD, and would list out 
the individual specific airplane models. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent engine fuel starvation during maximum climb and descent caused 
by poor fuel tank venting with low fuel levels, which could result in a 
loss of engine power during critical phases of flight.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 63 19; facsimile: +41 41 619 6224.

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: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2006-24091; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-17-AD'' at the beginning of 
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    Mandatory continuing airworthiness information and the FAA's 
determination that an unsafe condition existed on certain Pilatus 
Models PC-6, PC-6/A, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B, PC-6/C series 
airplanes (all models in the TCDS) equipped with turbo-prop engines 
caused us to issue AD 98-12-01, Amendment 39-10558 (63 FR 30370, June 
4, 1998). AD 98-12-01 currently requires you to modify the fuel system 
to improve the venting between the collector tank, the main wing tanks, 
and the engine on certain Models PC-6, PC-6/A, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, 
PC-6/B, PC-6/C series airplanes.
    The Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Switzerland, notified the FAA of the need 
to supersede AD 98-12-01 to address an unsafe condition that may exist 
or could develop on certain Models PC-6, PC-6/A, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, 
PC-6/B, PC-6/C series airplanes. The FOCA reports that the AD action 
should also apply to all the models of the PC-6 airplanes listed in the 
type certification data sheet of TC No. 7A15 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).
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in engine fuel 
starvation during maximum climb and descent caused by poor fuel tank 
venting with low fuel levels, which could result in a loss of engine 
power during critical phases of flight.

Foreign Airworthiness Authority Information

    The FOCA recently issued Swiss AD Number HB 2005-289, effective 
date August 23, 2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of all 
models of the PC-6 airplanes listed in TC No. 7A15, including those 
produced in the United States under a licensing agreement with Pilatus 
and Fairchild Republic Company (also identified as Fairchild 
Industries, Fairchild Heli Porter, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation).
    The State of Design for the Pilatus PC-6 airplanes is Switzerland 
and the airplanes 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.
    Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the FOCA has kept us 
informed of the situation described above.

[[Page 20596]]

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we have examined the FOCA's 
findings, evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design that are certificated for operation in the United 
States.
    This proposed AD would supersede AD 98-12-01 with a new AD that 
would retain all the actions of AD 98-12-01 and would:
     Add manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) 2001 through 2092 
for all the models of the PC-6 airplanes as listed in TC No. 7A15 and 
specified in the applicability section. These MSN are the airplanes 
produced in the United States through a licensing agreement with the 
Fairchild Republic Company; and
     List all the models of the PC-6 airplanes as listed in TC 
No. 7A15.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 43 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed modification of 
the fuel system to improve venting between the collector tank, the main 
wing tanks, and the engine:

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                                                             Total cost per
                 Labor cost                    Parts cost       airplane         Total cost on U.S. operators
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10 work hours x $80 per hour = $800........            $614          $1,414  $1,414 x 43 = $60,802.
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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 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 98-12-01, Amendment 39-10558, and adding the following new AD:

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2006-24091; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-17-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) action by May 24, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 98-12-01, Amendment 39-10558.

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 
certificated in any category:
    (1) Group 1 (maintains the actions from AD 98-12-01): All 
manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) up to and including 915.
    (2) Group 2: MSN 2001 through 2092.

    Note: These airplanes are also identified as Fairchild Republic 
Company 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 the actions of AD 98-12-01 for the added 
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 prevent engine fuel starvation 
during maximum climb and descent caused by poor fuel tank venting 
with low fuel levels, which could result in a loss of engine power 
during critical phases of flight.

Compliance

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

[[Page 20597]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
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(1) Modify the fuel system    (i) For Group 1       Follow Pilatus PC-6
 to improve the venting        Airplanes: Within     Service Bulletin
 between the collector tank,   the next 3 calendar   No. PC-6-SB-171,
 the main wing tanks, and      months after July     dated October 18,
 the engine.                   13, 1998 (the         1995.
                               effective date of
                               AD 98-12-01),
                               unless already done.
                              (ii) For Group 2
                               Airplanes: Within
                               the next 3 calendar
                               months after the
                               effective date of
                               this AD, unless
                               already done.
(2) Do not install any        For all airplanes:    Follow Pilatus PC-6
 collector tank or fuel vent   As of the effective   Service Bulletin
 system unless the             date of this AD.      No. PC-6-SB-171,
 modification requirements                           dated October 18,
 of paragraph (e)(1) are                             1995.
 done.
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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 98-12-01 are approved for this AD.

Related Information

    (h) Swiss AD Number HB 2005-289, effective date August 23, 2005, 
also addresses the subject of this AD. To get copies of the 
documents referenced 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, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The 
docket number is Docket No. FAA-2006-24091; Directorate Identifier 
2006-CE-17-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 17, 2006.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-5978 Filed 4-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P