[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 30, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16509-16511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06514]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0917; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00606-A; 
Amendment 39-21467; AD 2021-06-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-24 airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by a report that electronic circuit breakers (ECBs) were found 
in a locked state after maintenance, but before flight. This AD 
requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate a 
procedure to check for the ECB status. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 4, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 4, 2021.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Technical Support (MCC), P.O. 
Box 992, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; phone: +41 (0)41 619 67 74; fax: 
+41 (0)41 619 67 73; email: aircraft.com">techsupport.ch@pilatus-aircraft.com; 
website: https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/. You may view this service 
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, 901 Locust Street, Kansas City, MO. For information on 
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It 
is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0917.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0917; 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 final rule, the 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments 
received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, 901 Locust Street, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; 
phone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Pilatus Model PC-24 
airplanes. The NPRM published in the

[[Page 16510]]

Federal Register on October 23, 2020 (85 FR 67465). The NPRM was 
prompted by MCAI originated by the European Union Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Community. EASA has issued EASA AD No. 2020-0096, dated 
April 29, 2020 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for Pilatus Model PC-24 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    An occurrence was reported where, before take-off after 
maintenance of a PC-24 aeroplane, some electronic circuit breakers 
(ECB) were found in a ``LOCKED'' state.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a loss of power 
supply to equipment, without indication to the flight crew before 
take-off.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the 
AFM [temporary revision] TR, as defined in this [EASA] AD, to 
provide operators with the necessary preflight check instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
amendment of the AFM.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0917.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the AFM to 
incorporate a procedure to check for the ECB status. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of the Final Airworthiness Directive Comments

    The FAA received a comment from Pilatus. The following presents the 
comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to the comment.

Request To Refer to Revised Service Information

    Pilatus stated that the temporary revision referenced in the NPRM 
has been incorporated into page 4-3-9, dated October 7, 2020, of the 
``Before Engine Start'' procedure (4-PF-04), in Section 4 of Pilatus 
PC-24 Airplane Flight Manual, Report No. 02371, Issue 003 Revision 03, 
dated October 8, 2020 (AFM Revision 03). Pilatus requested that the FAA 
change the proposed AD to require using AFM Revision 03 instead of the 
temporary revision.
    The FAA partially agrees. This AD requires adding the language in 
the temporary revision. However, the FAA has added wording to paragraph 
(g) of this AD to still allow compliance if later revisions of the AFM 
contain language identical to that in the temporary revision, such as 
the page referenced by the commenter.

Conclusion

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operations 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 reference above. The FAA reviewed the relevant 
data, considered the comment received, and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for 
the changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed in the 
NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed [Pilatus] PC-24 Temporary Revision 02371-016 to 
PC-24 Airplane Flight Manual, PC24-A-A15-99-0031-00A-0030A-A, dated 
November 1, 2019. The service information contains a step to be added 
to the pilot preflight procedures to check the ECB status. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 30 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
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Revise the AFM......................  1 work-hour x $85 per                $0              $85           $2,550
                                       hour = $85.
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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

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 AD:
    (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 Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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:

2021-06-01 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-21467; Docket No.

[[Page 16511]]

FAA-2020-0917; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00606-A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 4, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-24 airplanes, 
all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 24, Electrical 
Power.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report that electronic circuit 
breakers (ECBs) were found in a locked state after maintenance, but 
before flight. ECBs were turned off prior to maintenance and then 
not reset properly after maintenance was complete. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent improperly set ECBs, which if not 
detected, could lead to loss of power supply to equipment without 
indication to the flightcrew before take-off.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Revision of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

    Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
Section 4 of the existing AFM for your airplane by replacing the 
information as specified in [Pilatus] PC-24 Temporary Revision 
02371-016 to PC-24 Airplane Flight Manual, PC24-A-A15-99-0031-00A-
0030A-A, dated November 1, 2019 (PC-24 TR 02371-016). Using a 
different document with information identical to that contained in 
PC-24 TR 02371-016 is acceptable for compliance with the 
requirements of this paragraph.

(h) 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, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust Street, Room 
301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-
4090; email: [email protected]. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust Street, Room 
301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-
4090; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2020-0096, dated April 29, 2020, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0917.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) [Pilatus] PC-24 Temporary Revision 02371-016 to PC-24 
Airplane Flight Manual, PC24-A-A15-99-0031-00A-0030A-A, dated 
November 1, 2019.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Pilatus service information identified in this AD, 
contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Technical Support (MCC), 
P.O. Box 992, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; phone: +41 (0)41 619 67 
74; fax: +41 (0)41 619 67 73; email: aircraft.com">techsupport.ch@pilatus-aircraft.com; website: https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust Street, 
Kansas City, MO. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 7(816) 329-4148.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on March 1, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-06514 Filed 3-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P