[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 152 (Thursday, August 6, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47716-47718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17038]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0745; Product Identifier 2019-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: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/
47E airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct

[[Page 47717]]

an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the 
unsafe condition as improperly manufactured horizontal stabilizer rear 
attachment bolts. If not corrected, this could lead to fatigue failure 
of the bolts and loss of airplane control. The FAA is proposing this AD 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 
21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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; telephone: +41 (0)41 619 67 74; fax: +41 
(0)41 619 67 73; email: aircraft.com">Techsupport@pilatus-aircraft.com; internet: 
https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com. You may review this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 
329-4148. It is also available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0745.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0745; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this proposed AD, any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations 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, 
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 
329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2020-0745; 
Product Identifier 2019-CE-030-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
https://regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive 
verbal contact it receives about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Doug 
Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; 
email: [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which 
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public 
docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD No. 2019-0129, dated June 6, 2019 (referred to after 
this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Pilatus 
Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E 
airplanes. The MCAI states:

    On the final assembly line, horizontal stabilizer rear 
attachment bolts were detected that had not received correct heat 
treatment. Subsequent investigation determined that certain parts, 
identified by FAUF, were improperly manufactured and consequently 
have reduced material properties.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a fatigue 
failure of an affected part, possibly resulting in loss of control 
of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the 
[service bulletin] SB to provide inspection and replacement 
instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of affected parts, and prohibits (re)installation 
thereof.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0745.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 
55-004, dated March 29, 2019. The service information contains 
procedures for checking the rear attachment bolts for the horizontal 
stabilizer and replacing any defective bolts. 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.

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, it has 
notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD 
because it evaluated all information and determined the unsafe 
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 14 products of 
U.S. registry. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.

[[Page 47718]]

    The FAA estimates that the proposed actions would take 1.5 work-
hours and require parts costing $5,000, for a cost of $5,127.50 per 
product and $71,785 for the U.S. operator fleet.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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 airworthiness 
directive:
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0745; Product Identifier 
2019-CE-030-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by September 21, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Pilatus Aircraft 
Ltd. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes, all 
serial numbers, certificated in any category, with a horizontal 
stabilizer rear attachment bolt part number (P/N) 555.10.12.139 
marked with production order number FAUF 10169753, FAUF 10171067, or 
FAUF 10171267 installed.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55: Stabilizers.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of horizontal stabilizer rear 
attachment bolts that had not received correct heat treatment during 
the manufacturing process. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
fatigue failure of a bolt and subsequent loss of airplane control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    (1) Within 1,350 hours time-in-service after the effective date 
of this AD or within 13 months after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first, replace each horizontal stabilizer rear 
attachment bolt P/N 555.10.12.139 marked with production order 
number FAUF 10169753, FAUF 10171067, or FAUF 10171267 by following 
the Accomplishment Instructions, section 3.B.(2) through (4) and 
figures 1 and 2, of Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 55-004, dated 
March 29, 2019, except you are not required to return parts to the 
manufacturer.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a 
horizontal stabilizer rear attachment bolt P/N 555.10.12.139 marked 
with production order number FAUF 10169753, FAUF 10171067, or FAUF 
10171267 on any airplane.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, International Validation Branch, 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, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 
329-4090; email: [email protected]. Before using any approved 
AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI), or lacking a 
PI, your local Flight Standards District Office.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 2019-0129, dated June 
6, 2019, for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No FAA-2020-0745. For service information related to 
this AD, contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Technical Support 
(MCC), P.O. Box 992, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; telephone: +41 
(0)41 619 67 74; fax: +41 (0)41 619 67 73; email: 
aircraft.com">Techsupport@pilatus-aircraft.com; internet: https://www.pilatus-
aircraft.com. You may review this referenced service information at 
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on July 30, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-17038 Filed 8-5-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P