[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 120 (Thursday, June 22, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35783-35785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5583]


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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; 
Amendment 39-14665; AD 2006-13-12]
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.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
supersedes 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. 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 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 98-12-01 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 98-12-01, 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 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: This AD becomes effective on August 7, 2006.
    As of July 13, 1998 (63 FR 30370, June 4, 1998), the Director of 
the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference 
of Pilatus Service Bulletin No. PC-6-SB-171, dated October 18, 1995, 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, S.W., Nassif 
Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-24091; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-17-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 April 17, 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 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) airplanes. This proposal 
was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) on April 21, 2006 (71 FR 20595). The NPRM proposed to 
supersede AD 98-12-01, Amendment 39-10558 (63 FR 30370, June 4, 1998), 
add those Fairchild Republic Company airplanes to the applicability of 
this proposed AD, and list the individual specific airplane models. The 
NPRM proposed to retain all the actions of AD 2002-21-08 for modifying 
the fuel system.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing

[[Page 35784]]

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:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     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 43 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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-2006-24091; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-17-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) 98-
12-01, Amendment 39-10558 (63 FR 30370, June 4, 1998), and by adding 
the following new AD:

2006-13-12 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-14665; Docket No. 
FAA-2006-24091; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-17-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on August 7, 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 35785]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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 August
                               7, 2006 (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 August 7,       Service Bulletin
 system unless the             2006 (the effective   No. PC-6-SB-171,
 modification requirements     date of this AD).     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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. PC-6-SB-171, dated 
October 18, 1995.
    (1) As of July 13, 1998 (63 FR 30370, June 4, 1998), the 
Director of the Federal Register previously approved the 
incorporation by reference of Pilatus Service Bulletin No. PC-6-SB-
171, dated October 18, 1995, 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 20590-0001 
or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-
2006-24091; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-17-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 14, 2006.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-5583 Filed 6-21-06; 8:45 am]
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