[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 216 (Friday, November 12, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62746-62748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24540]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0999; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00036-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-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 an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as inward vent valves 
installed during production without chromate conversion coating on the 
bonding surface. This proposed AD would require modifying the inward 
vent valves and prohibiting installation of unmodified inward vent 
valves. 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 December 
27, 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; phone: +41 848 24 7 365; 
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, Kansas City, MO 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0999; 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.

[[Page 62747]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: 
(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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0999; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00036-A'' at the beginning of your 
comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the 
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include 
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Doug 
Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106. 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 Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2021-0010, dated January 11, 2021 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Pilatus Model PC-12/
47E airplanes with serial number 1720 and serial number 2001 and 
higher. The MCAI states:

    An occurrence was reported where, on the production line, a 
batch of inward vent valves without a chromate conversion coating on 
the bonding surface were installed on some PC-12/47E aeroplanes. 
Such inward vent valves are not in compliance with the latest 
approved design data.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to corrosion, 
consequent degradation of the electrical bonding to Rib 16, and in 
case of lightning strike, to arcing between the ungrounded equipment 
and the primary structure, possibly resulting in a fire and reduced 
control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the 
SB [Service Bulletin] to provide modification instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
modification of each affected part, as defined in this AD. This AD 
also prohibits (re-) installation of affected parts.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0999.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed the following service documents proposed for 
compliance with this NPRM:
    Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 28-015, dated October 12, 2020, which 
contains information for identifying the affected inward vent valves, 
removing the affected inward vent valve, and installing a modified 
inward vent valve.
    Pall Corporation Service Bulletin SB9337-01-29-01, Issue 1, dated 
September 22, 2020, which contains instructions for modifying the 
inward vent valve by applying corrosion protective chromate 
conversation coating.
    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

    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 this State of Design Authority, 
it has notified the agency of the unsafe condition described in the 
MCAI and service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this 
NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously 
is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information already described. This proposed AD would 
also prohibit installation of the unmodified inward vent valves on any 
airplane.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 24 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification per airplane if both       3 work-hours x $85 per               $50            $305          $7,320
 sides affected.                         hour = $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its 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.

[[Page 62748]]

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) Would not be a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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-2021-0999; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2021-00036-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 27, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12/47E 
airplanes, serial number (S/N) 1720 and S/N 2001 and larger, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2800, Aircraft Fuel 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    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 identifies the unsafe condition as inward vent 
valves installed during production without chromate conversion 
coating on the bonding surface. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent corrosion and degradation of the electrical bonding to Rib 
16. This condition, if not addressed, could lead to arcing between 
the ungrounded equipment and the primary structure in the event of a 
lightning strike, resulting in a fire and reduced airplane control.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Definitions

    (1) Group 1 airplanes: Airplanes with an inward vent valve part 
number (P/N) 963.04.26.520 installed with a serial number listed in 
section 1.C(1) of Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 28-015, dated October 
12, 2020 (Pilatus SB 20-015).
    (2) Group 2 airplanes: Airplanes without an inward vent valve P/
N 963.04.26.520 installed with a serial number listed in section 
1.C(1) of Pilatus SB 20-015.

(h) Modification of Inward Vent Valves

    For Group 1 airplanes, within 1,200 hours time-in-service after 
the effective date of this AD or within 9 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, modify each inward vent 
valve in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions and Rework 
Instructions in Pall Corporation Service Bulletin SB9337-01-29-01, 
Issue 1, dated September 22, 2020 (Pall SB9337-01-29-01, Issue 1).

(i) Prohibited Installation

    For all airplanes, as of the effective date of this AD, do not 
install an inward vent valve P/N 963.04.26.520 that has a serial 
number listed in section 1.C(1) of Pilatus SB 28-015 on any 
airplane, unless it is modified in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions and Rework Instructions of Pall SB9337-
01-29-01, Issue 1.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD or 
email: [email protected].
    (2) 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.

 (k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation 
Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 
329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2021-
0010, dated January 11, 2021, for related information. You may 
examine the MCAI at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. Docket No. FAA-2021-0999. For service 
information related to this AD, contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., 
Customer Support General Aviation, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; 
phone: +41 848 24 7 365; email: aircraft.com">techsupport.ch@pilatus-aircraft.com; 
website: 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, MO 
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on November 4, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-24540 Filed 11-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P