[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 214 (Friday, November 4, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76883-76884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26429]



[[Page 76883]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9357; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-030-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
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. This 
proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to 
identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The 
MCAI describes the unsafe condition as certain combinations of the 
aileron counterweight and the attaching parts possibly resulting in 
reduced thread engagement and leading to disconnection of the aileron 
counterweight from the aileron. We are issuing this proposed AD to 
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 19, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 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 Technical Support (MCC), P.O. Box 992, 
CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; phone: +41 (0)41 619 3333; fax: +41 (0)41 
619 7311; email: aircraft.com">supportPC12@pilatus-aircraft.com; Internet: http://
www.pilatus-aircraft.com. You may review this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9357; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-9357; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-030-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No.: 2016-0183, dated September 13, 2016 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. 
Model 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 and was based on mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information originated by an aviation 
authority of another country. The MCAI states:

    The proper installation of the aileron counterweight requires a 
combination, peculiar to each aileron, of anchor nut types, bolt 
types, number of washers, and the definition of the bolt torque. 
Some combinations of counterweight and attaching parts, which could 
result in reduced thread engagement, have been reported on a PC-6 
aeroplane.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to a 
disconnection of the aileron counterweight from the aileron, 
possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 57-006 (hereafter referred to as `the SB' 
in this AD) to provide inspection instructions.
    For the reason described above, this AD requires identification 
and inspection of the affected aileron mass-balance counterweight 
attachment parts and, depending on findings, accomplishment of 
applicable corrective action(s).

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9357.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 
57-006, dated May 13, 2016. The service information describes 
procedures for removal, installation, and inspection of the ailerons, 
aileron balance tabs, and the aileron counterweights and their 
attaching parts. This service information is reasonably available 
because the interested parties have access to it through their normal 
course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section 
of this NPRM.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

[[Page 76884]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 30 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $100 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $8,100, or $270 per product.

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 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 this 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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

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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2016-9357; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-CE-030-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 19, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to PILATUS 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, all manufacturer serial numbers (MSN), including MSN 2001 
through 2092 (see Note 1 of paragraph c), certificated in any 
category.

    Note 1 of paragraph (c):  For MSN 2001-2092, these airplanes are 
also identified as Fairchild Republic Company PC-6 airplanes, 
Fairchild Industries PC-6 airplanes, Fairchild Heli Porter PC-6 
airplanes, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation PC-6 airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 57: Wings.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by certain combinations of the aileron 
counterweight and the attaching parts possibly resulting in reduced 
thread engagement and leading to disconnection of the aileron 
counterweight from the aileron. We are issuing this proposed AD to 
prevent disconnection of the aileron counterweight from the aileron, 
which could result in loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions as specified in 
paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) of this AD:
    (1) Within the next 12 months after the effective date of this 
AD or the next time the ailerons or aileron counterweights are 
removed or installed, whichever occurs first, and thereafter anytime 
the ailerons or aileron counterweights are removed or installed, 
remove each aileron counterweight to inspect the type and number of 
washers required for the installation of a counterweight on each 
aileron following the accomplishment instructions of paragraphs 
3.B.(2) and 3.B.(3) of Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin (SB) No. 57-
006, dated May 13, 2016.
    (2) Before further flight after the inspection required by 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, reinstall each aileron counterweight on 
the airplane following the accomplishment instructions of paragraph 
3.B.(3) of Pilatus PC-6 SB No. 57-006, dated May 13, 2016.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane 
to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), 
or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI EASA AD No.: 2016-0183, dated September 13, 2016, 
for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2016-9357. For service information related to this AD, contact 
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Technical Support (MCC), P.O. Box 
992, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; phone: +41 (0)41 619 3333; fax: +41 
(0)41 619 7311; email: aircraft.com">supportPC12@pilatus-aircraft.com; Internet: 
http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com. You may review this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 27, 2016.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26429 Filed 11-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P