[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26882-26884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7021]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-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) 2003-13-
04, which applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd (Pilatus) Model PC-6 
airplanes, all manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) up to and including 
939. 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 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 2003-13-04 was to apply to all the affected 
serial numbers of the airplane models listed in TC No. 7A15. 
Consequently, this proposed AD would retain all the actions of AD 2003-
13-04, 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 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.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 9, 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, ``Docket 
No. FAA-2006-24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-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://
http://dms.dot.gov">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 a Pilatus Model PC-6 
airplane caused us to issue AD 2003-13-04, Amendment 39-13204 (68 FR 
37394, June 24, 2003). AD 2003-13-04 currently requires that you 
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 on Pilatus Model PC-6 airplanes, all manufacturer serial 
numbers (MSN) up to and including 939.
    The Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Switzerland, notified the FAA of the need 
to supersede AD 2003-13-04 to address an unsafe condition that may 
exist or could develop on Pilatus Model PC-6 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 cracks in the 
ribs of the inboard integral fuel tanks in the left and right wings, 
which could lead to wing failure during 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.

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

[[Page 26883]]

develop on other products of the same type design that are certificated 
for operation in the United States.
    This proposed AD would supersede AD 2003-13-04 with a new AD that 
would retain all the actions of AD 2003-13-04 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 49 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Total cost per
            Labor cost                    Parts cost            airplane         Total cost on U.S.  operators
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5 work hours x $80 per hour = $400  Not applicable.......               $400  $400 x 49 = $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 proposed 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that 
may need this repair:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         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 
vent system that will be required based on the results of this proposed 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that 
may need such installation.

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

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) 2003-13-04, Amendment 39-13204, and adding the following new AD:

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2006-24093; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by June 9, 2006.

Affected ADs

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

[[Page 26884]]

Applicability

    (c) This AD affects the following Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC6-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 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.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect:                  (A) For Group 1       Follow Pilatus
(i) The ribs in the inboard    Airplanes: Within     Aircraft Ltd. PC-6
 integral fuel tanks and       the next 100 hours    Service Bulletin
 related structure in the      time-in-service       No. 57-002, dated
 left and right wings for      (TIS) after August    November 27, 2002.
 crack damage;                 15, 2003 (the
(ii) The upper and lower       effective date of
 wing skins for damage; and    AD 2003-13-04),
(iii) The inboard fuel tank    unless already done.
 area to determine if the     (B) For Group 2
 inboard fuel tank vent        Airplanes: Within
 system is installed.          the next 90 days or
                               100 hours time-in-
                               service (TIS),
                               whichever occurs
                               first, after the
                               effective date of
                               this AD, unless
                               already done.
(2) If crack damage is        Before further        Follow Pilatus
 found:                        flight after the      Aircraft Ltd. PC-6
(i) Correct the crack damage   inspections           Service Bulletin
 designated as repairable in   required in           No. 57-002, dated
 the service bulletin.         paragraph (e)(1) of   November 27, 2002.
(ii) For other crack damage,   this AD.
 obtain a repair 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
 vent system is not            flight after the      Aircraft Ltd. PC-6
 installed, install the        inspections           Service Bulletin
 inboard fuel tank vent        required in           No. 118, dated
 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. 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-
2006-24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 3, 2006.
Barry R. Ballenger,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-7021 Filed 5-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P