[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54515-54517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19264]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 2, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 54515]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0753; Product Identifier 2019-CE-033-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).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-24 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 overheating of the electrical wiring splices 
close to the right-hand pitot-static connector on frame 10. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 19, 
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/en. 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-
0753.

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-
0753; 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, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed 
above. 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-2020-0753; 
Product Identifier 2019-CE-033-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 received, without change, to 
https://www.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 AD No. 2019-0166, dated July 15, 2019 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. 
Model PC-24 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    During maintenance it was found that affected parts located 
close to the right-hand pitot/static connector on frame 10 showed 
signs of overheating.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncontrolled 
fire in the cockpit area, or

[[Page 54516]]

loss of probe heating and de-icing function, possibly resulting in 
reduced control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the 
[service bulletin] SB to provide modification instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts, and prohibits 
(re)installation of affected parts.

    The MCAI identifies the ``affected part'' as electrical wiring 
splice part number (P/N) 971.31.32.561 and a ``serviceable part'' as 
electrical wiring splice P/N 971.31.32.641. EASA identified the root 
cause of the overheating as internal corrosion of the affected splices, 
which are not immersion-resistant, due to moisture ingress. The 
serviceable splices are immersion-resistant. You may examine the MCAI 
on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0753.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued Pilatus PC-24 Service Bulletin No. 
30-002, dated April 3, 2019. The service information contains 
procedures for replacing certain electrical splices and wire for the 
pitot and static probes. 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 will affect 16 products of 
U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take 6 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 $65 per product.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed 
AD on U.S. operators to be $9,200, or $575 per product.
    According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this proposed AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for 
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in 
this cost estimate.

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-2020-0753; Product Identifier 
2019-CE-033-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by October 19, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Pilatus Aircraft 
Ltd. Model PC-24 airplanes, serial numbers 101 through 125 
inclusive, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 30: Ice and Rain 
Protection.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by 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 overheating of 
the electrical wiring splices close to the right-hand pitot-static 
connector on frame 10. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
overheating of the pitot and static probe electrical splices, which 
could lead to loss of probe heating and de-icing function or an 
inflight fire.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) and (2):
    (1) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, for the 
pitot and static probes de-ice wiring, replace wire H279A10 with 
wire H279A12, and replace each electrical wiring splice part number 
(P/N) 971.31.32.561 with electrical wiring splice P/N 971.31.32.641 
by following the Accomplishment Instructions--Aircraft, section 
3.B., of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-24 Service Bulletin No. 30-002, 
dated April 3, 2019.
    (2) After completing the requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD, do not install a pitot and static probes de-ice wire 
H279A10 or electrical wiring splice P/N 971.31.32.561 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 Doug Rudolph, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, 901

[[Page 54517]]

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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
No. 2019-0166, dated July 15, 2019. You may examine the MCAI on the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0753. 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/en. 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 August 26, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-19264 Filed 9-1-20; 8:45 am]
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