[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 226 (Monday, November 23, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74627-74630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25545]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0885; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00997-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 certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) 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 identifies the unsafe condition as improperly manufactured cockpit 
and cabin evaporator filters installed during production on some PC-24 
airplanes. 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 January 7, 
2021.

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., CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; telephone: +41 848 
24 7 365; email: aircraft.com">techsupport.ch@pilatus-aircraft.com; internet: https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/. You may view this service information at 
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, MO 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-2020-0885.

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-
0885; 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, the MCAI, 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0885; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-00997-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any

[[Page 74628]]

recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider 
all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal 
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 agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

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.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2020-0160, dated July 16, 2020 (referred to after this 
as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on Pilatus Model PC-
24 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    An occurrence was reported where, during production, cockpit and 
cabin evaporator filters were installed on some PC-24 aeroplanes, 
which were not the proper parts for the affected configuration.
    This condition, if not corrected, could degrade the fire 
retardant properties of the filters, possibly resulting in an 
increase in smoke in the cockpit/cabin in case of electrical heater 
over-temperature.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the 
[service bulletin] SB to provide replacement instructions.
    For the reason described above, this AD requires replacement of 
affected parts with serviceable parts, as defined in this [EASA] AD, 
and prohibits (re) installation of affected parts.

    Due to a quality escape, the fire retardant used in the original 
filters installed in production is not sufficient for the conditions in 
this configuration, which is close to the heater and blowers.
    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-2020-0885.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Pilatus PC-24 Service Bulletin No. 21-006, dated 
April 3, 2020. The service information specifies procedures to replace 
the cockpit and cabin evaporator filters with new filters contained in 
a modification kit. 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 the FAA determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    This proposed AD would apply to airplanes with a defective filter 
installed, whereas the EASA AD applies to airplanes that do not have 
the modification kit, which was installed in production. The proposed 
AD identifies the individual part numbers (P/Ns) of the defective 
filters to address any airplanes that may have had a modification kit 
filter replaced with a defective filter in the field before this 
proposed AD becomes effective. The proposed AD would also apply to 
airplanes with a filter where the P/N is unknown. Pilatus advises that 
the defective filters can only be identified by their packing 
documents, as they do not have a permanent P/N marked on the actual 
part. The new filters in the modification kit do have a permanent 
marking on the frame of the actual part.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 36 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it 
would take 2.5 work-hours per product to comply with the requirements 
of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 
Required parts would cost about $575 per product, if all 4 filters 
would need to be replaced.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this proposed 
AD on U.S. operators to be $28,350, or $787.50 per product.
    The FAA has included all costs in this cost estimate. According to 
the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
operators.

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:

[[Page 74629]]

    (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-2020-0885; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-00997-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by January 7, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-24 airplanes, all 
serial numbers, certificated in any category, with any of the 
following evaporator filter assemblies installed, or if the part 
number (P/N) of the evaporator filter assembly is unknown:
    (1) Cockpit filter assembly P/N 959.90.20.291 (PC24EC-6068-1);
    (2) Cabin front filter assembly P/N 959.90.20.290 (PC24EC-6287-
1);
    (3) Cabin bottom filter assembly P/N 959.90.20.288 (PC24EC-6288-
1); or
    (4) Cabin top filter assembly P/N 959.90.20.289 (PC24EC-6297-1).

    Note:  The P/N in parenthesis is an alternative vendor P/N.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2100, AIR 
CONDITIONING SYSTEM.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a reported occurrence where, during 
production, cockpit and cabin evaporator filters produced with 
degraded fire retardant properties were installed on some Model PC-
24 airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect improper cockpit 
and cabin evaporator filters installed on Model PC-24 airplanes. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in filters with 
degraded fire retardant properties, resulting in smoke in the 
cockpit and cabin in the event of electrical heater over-
temperature.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    (1) Within 4 months after the effective date of this AD, unless 
already done, remove each filter assembly from service and replace 
with a filter assembly as specified in table 1 to paragraph (f)(1) 
of this AD by following the Accomplishment Instructions, sections 
3A. through 3C., of Pilatus PC-24 Service Bulletin No. 21-006, dated 
April 3, 2020.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP23NO20.000


[[Page 74630]]


    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install an 
evaporator filter assembly with a P/N listed in paragraph (c) of 
this AD on any airplane.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
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, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office/
certificate holding district office.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2020-0160, dated July 16, 2020, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0885. For service information identified in this AD, 
contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; 
telephone: +41 848 24 7 365; email: aircraft.com">techsupport.ch@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 November 13, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-25545 Filed 11-20-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P