[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 186 (Thursday, September 24, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60097-60100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21031]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0849; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01036-A]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all

[[Page 60098]]

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 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 the need to revise the Airworthiness Limitations section 
(ALS) of the existing aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to introduce 
new mandatory repetitive inspections for the flap pivot arm assemblies 
and for certain wing angle brackets, and to implement a change to the 
Oxygen cylinder and pressure reducer task item. The FAA is proposing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 9, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, 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 view this 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.

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-
0849; 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 NPRM, 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 participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views about this proposal. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed 
electronically, commenters should submit only one time. Send your 
comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
``Docket No. FAA-2020-0849; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01036-A'' at 
the beginning of your 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, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments received by the closing 
date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the 
comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring 
expense or delay. The FAA may change this NPRM because of those 
comments.

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 the 
person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. 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 Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Switzerland, has issued FOCA AD HB-2020-007, dated July 
23, 2020 (referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing 
Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition with new mandatory instructions for continued airworthiness 
for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    The airworthiness limitations and certification maintenance 
instructions for Pilatus PC-7 aeroplanes, which are approved by 
FOCA, are currently defined and published in the Pilatus PC-7 AMM 
Chapter 5. These instructions have been identified as mandatory for 
continued airworthiness.
    Failure to accomplish these instructions could result in an 
unsafe condition [discrepancies of life-limited and overhauled 
components, which could result in reduced structural integrity and 
system reliability of the airplane].
    Previously, FOCA issued AD HB-2019-004 (later corrected) to 
require implementation of the maintenance tasks and airworthiness 
limitations as specified in Pilatus PC-7 AMM Document Number 01715, 
or Document Number 02416, both at issue 44, as applicable. [These 
tasks included the added wing angle bracket at rib 23 repetitive 
inspections.]
    Since that AD was issued, Pilatus amended the ALS, as defined in 
this AD, to introduce new mandatory repetitive inspection for the 
flap pivot arm assemblies and a change to the Oxygen cylinder and 
pressure reducer task (Chapter 35--Oxygen) to remove the reference 
to the part numbers.
    For the reason described above, this [Swiss] AD retains the 
requirements of FOCA AD HB-2019-004 including its correction, which 
is superseded, and requires accomplishment of the actions specified 
in the ALS.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0849.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued Section 05-10-10, ``Lifed and 
Overhauled Components,'' of Chapter 05, Time Limitations, of the 
Pilatus PC-7 Maintenance Manual, dated June 30, 2020. This document 
provides updated

[[Page 60099]]

limitations, inspections, and procedures for the airworthiness 
limitations in chapter 5 of the existing AMM. This service information 
describes new mandatory repetitive inspections for the flap pivot arm 
assemblies and for the wing angle brackets on middle rib 23, and a 
change to the Oxygen cylinder and pressure reducer task item to remove 
the reference to the part numbers.
    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.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    The FOCA AD is requiring incorporating all of the updated Chapter 
05-00-00 for the Swiss State of Design type certificate because they 
deem the complete chapter 5 as the mandatory ALS of the PC-7 AMM. The 
FAA is only requiring Section 05-10-10, ``Lifed and Overhauled 
Components,'' of Chapter 05, Time Limitations, of the Pilatus PC-7 
Maintenance Manual, dated June 30, 2020, because it is the only 
mandatory section of the ALS for the U.S. type certificate.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, 
the FAA has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
and service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD 
because the FAA evaluated all the relevant information and determined 
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop 
on other products of the same type design.

Proposed Requirements of This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require revising the airworthiness 
limitation section of the existing maintenance manual or instructions 
for continued airworthiness to incorporate new airworthiness 
limitations. An owner/operator (pilot) may incorporate the revisions to 
the AMM, and the owner/operator must enter compliance with the 
applicable paragraphs of the AD into the aircraft records in accordance 
with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1) through (4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). A pilot 
may perform these actions because they can be performed equally well by 
a pilot or a mechanic. This is an exception to our standard maintenance 
regulations.
    This proposed AD would require revisions to certain operator 
maintenance documents to include new actions (e.g., inspections). 
Compliance with these actions is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For 
airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in 
the areas addressed by this proposed AD, the operator may not be able 
to accomplish the actions described in the revisions. In this 
situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request 
approval for an alternative method of compliance according to paragraph 
(h) of this proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 18 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with 
this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
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1 work-hours x $85 per hour = $85............................              $0              $85           $1,530
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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.
    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 (AD):

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0849; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-01036-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by November 9, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 airplanes, 
all manufacturer serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 05, Time Limits/
Maintenance Checks.

[[Page 60100]]

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the need to revise the Airworthiness 
Limitation section of the existing aircraft maintenance manual. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to revise the Airworthiness Limitations 
section of the existing aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) to 
introduce new mandatory repetitive inspections for the flap pivot 
arm assemblies and for the wing angle brackets on middle rib 23, and 
to implement a change to the Oxygen cylinder and pressure reducer 
task item. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
reduced structural integrity and system reliability of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Unless already done, before further flight: Incorporate the 
revised Airworthiness Limitation section as specified in Section 05-
10-10, ``Lifed and Overhauled Components,'' of Chapter 05, Time 
Limitations, of the Pilatus PC-7 Maintenance Manual, dated June 30, 
2020, into your FAA-accepted maintenance program (maintenance 
manual).

(g) No Alternative Actions or Intervals

    After the existing maintenance or inspection program has been 
revised as required by paragraph (f) of this AD, no alternative 
actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals may be used unless the 
actions or intervals are approved as an alternative method of 
compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (h) of this AD.

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) AD HB-2020-007, dated 
July 23, 2020, for related information. This MCAI may be found in 
the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0849.
    (2) For more information about this AD, 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].
    (3) For service information identified in 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 view this 
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 September 18, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-21031 Filed 9-23-20; 8:45 am]
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