Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 10733 

all other government acquisitions which 

require self-certification. The legislation 

also provided that in certain 

circumstances a firm can qualify as VO 

or SDVO when there is a surviving 

spouse or an employee stock ownership 

plan (ESOP). 

In response to the NDAA 2017 

changes, SBA amended the definitions 

in § 125.11 by incorporating language 

from VA’s regulations and also from 

SBA’s 8(a) Business Development (BD) 

program regulations. 13 CFR part 124, 

subpart A. In making these 

amendments, SBA inadvertently 

removed the definition of ‘‘interested 

party.’’ This rule adds back the 

definition. 

List of Subjects in 13 CFR Part 125 

Government contracts, Government 

procurement, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements, Small 

businesses, Technical assistance. 

Accordingly, 13 CFR part 125 is 

corrected by making the following 

correcting amendment: 

PART 125—GOVERNMENT 

CONTRACTING PROGRAMS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 125 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(p), (q), 634(b)(6), 

637, 644, 657f, 657q, 657r, and 657s; 38 

U.S.C. 501 and 8127. 

■ 2. Amend § 125.11 by adding in 

alphabetical order the definition of 

‘‘Interested Party’’ to read as follows: 

§ 125.11 What definitions are important in 

the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned 

(SDVO) Small Business Concern (SBC) 

Program? 

* * * * * 

Interested Party means the contracting 

activity’s contracting officer, SBA, any 

concern that submits an offer for a 

specific sole source or set-aside SDVO 

contract or order (including Multiple 

Award Contracts), or any concern that 

submitted an offer in full and open 

competition and its opportunity for 

award will be affected by a reserve of an 

award given to a SDVO SBC. 

* * * * * 

John W. Klein, 

Acting Associate Administrator, Government 

Contracting and Business Development. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03007 Filed 2–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8026–03–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0900; Product 

Identifier 2020–NM–080–AD; Amendment 

39–21400; AD 2021–02–17] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus SAS Model A318 series 

airplanes; Model A319–111, A319–112, 

A319–113, A319–114, A319–115, A319– 

131, A319–132, A319–133, A319–151N, 

and A319–153N airplanes; Model A320 

series airplanes; and Model A321 series 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by the 

results of laboratory tests on nonrechargeable lithium batteries installed 

in emergency locator transmitters (ELT), 

which highlighted a lack of protection 

against certain currents that could lead 

to thermal runaway and a battery fire. 

This AD requires modifying a certain 

ELT by installing a diode in the airplane 

circuit connecting the ELT battery, as 

specified in a European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is 

incorporated by reference. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 30, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of March 30, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For EASA material 

incorporated by reference (IBR) in this 

AD, contact the EASA, KonradAdenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, 

Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; 

email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

IBR material on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. For Airbus 

SAS service information incorporated 

by reference in this AD, contact Airbus 

SAS, Airworthiness Office—EIAS, 

Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 

31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone 

+33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 

51; email account.airworth-eas@

airbus.com; internet https://

www.airbus.com. You may view this 

IBR material at the FAA, Airworthiness 

Products Section, Operational Safety 

Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 206–231–3195. It is also available in 

the AD docket on the internet at https:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

0900. 

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– 

0900; 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, 

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: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone and fax 206–231–3223; email 

Sanjay.Ralhan@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2020–0103, dated May 7, 2020; 

corrected May 8, 2020 (EASA AD 2020– 

0103) (also referred to as the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information, 

or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe 

condition for all Airbus SAS Model 

A318–111, A318–112, A318–121, A318– 

122 airplanes; Model A319–111, A319– 

112, A319–113, A319–114, A319–115, 

A319–131, A319–132, A319–133, A319– 

151N, and A319–153N airplanes; Model 

A320–211, A320–212, A320–214, A320– 

215, A320–216, A320–231, A320–232, 

A320–233, A320–251N, A320–252N, 

A320–253N, A320–271N, A320–272N, 

and A320–273N airplanes; and Model 

A321–111, A321–112, A321–131, A321– 

211, A321–212, A321–213, A321–231, 

A321–232, A321–251N, A321–252N, 

A321–253N, A321–271N, A321–272N, 

A321–251NX, A321–252NX, A321– 

253NX, A321–271NX, and A321–272NX 

airplanes. Model A320–215 airplanes 

are not certificated by the FAA and are 

not included on the U.S. type certificate 

data sheet; this AD therefore does not 

include those airplanes in the 

applicability. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

10734 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

apply to all Airbus SAS Model A318 

series airplanes; Model A319–111, 

A319–112, A319–113, A319–114, A319– 

115, A319–131, A319–132, A319–133, 

A319–151N, and A319–153N airplanes; 

Model A320 series airplanes; and Model 

A321 series airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

October 1, 2020 (85 FR 61884). The 

NPRM was prompted by the results of 

laboratory tests on non-rechargeable 

lithium batteries installed in ELTs, 

which highlighted a lack of protection 

against certain currents that could lead 

to thermal runaway and a battery fire. 

The NPRM proposed to require 

modifying a certain ELT by installing a 

diode in the airplane circuit connecting 

the ELT battery, as specified in an EASA 

AD. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

this unsafe condition, which could 

result in local (temporary) fires and 

could result in damage to the airplane 

and injury to occupants. See the MCAI 

for additional background information. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The following presents 

the comment received on the NPRM and 

the FAA’s response. 

Request To Allow the Use of Additional 

Service Information 

American Airlines (AA) requested 

that operators be allowed to use the 

following Airbus SAS technical 

adaptations (TAs) during 

accomplishment of the related Airbus 

SAS service bulletins that are specified 

in EASA AD 2020–0103. The 

commenter noted that certain airplane 

maintenance manual (AMM) tasks 

referred to in Airbus SAS Service 

Bulletin A320–25–1BQN, dated 

December 5, 2019; and Service Bulletin 

A320–25–1BQP, dated December 5, 

2019; are incorrect. The commenter 

stated that it contacted Airbus SAS 

regarding this issue and Airbus SAS’ 

response was that there is no planned 

revision to these service bulletins to 

correct the references to the incorrect 

AMM tasks. 

The FAA agrees with the commenter’s 

request for the reason provided. The 

FAA has added paragraph (h)(4) to this 

AD to allow use of the correct TAs. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comment received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule with the change described 

previously and minor editorial changes. 

The FAA has determined that these 

minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

The FAA also determined that these 

changes will not increase the economic 

burden on any operator or increase the 

scope of this final rule. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2020–0103 describes 

procedures for modifying a certain ELT 

by installing a diode in the airplane 

circuit connecting the ELT battery. 

Airbus SAS has issued the following 

TAs, which specify the correct AMM 

tasks for doing the BITE [built-in test 

equipment] test of the ELT specified in 

the related Airbus SAS service bulletins. 

These TAs are distinct since they apply 

to different service bulletins specified in 

EASA AD 2020–0103. 

• Airbus SAS TA 80724343/009/ 

2020, Issue 1, dated May 20, 2020. 

• Airbus SAS TA 80832689/007/ 

2020, Issue 2, dated October 29, 2020. 

This material 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. 

Clarification of Maintenance Activities 

With an Affected Part 

EASA AD 2020–0103 defines an 

affected part as an ELT having part 

number (P/N) 01N65900. When the 

modification (installation of a diode) is 

completed, the part number of the ELT 

does not change. The intent of 

paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2020–0103 is 

to require, for airplanes that have an 

affected ELT installed, operators to do 

the modification within 24 months. For 

these airplanes, operators can remove an 

ELT having P/N 01N65900 and reinstall 

that same part during maintenance 

activities within the 24 month 

compliance for doing the modification. 

After the modification is done, operators 

can install an ELT having P/N 

01N65900 as long as the modification is 

not removed. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 1,100 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following costs 

to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

3 work-hours × $85 per hour = $255 .......................................................................................... $450 $705 $775,500

According to the manufacturer, some 

or all of the costs of this 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 known costs in our 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 

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 that this AD: 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 10735 

(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. 

Adoption of 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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2021–02–17 Airbus SAS: Amendment 39– 

21400; Docket No. FAA–2020–0900; 

Product Identifier 2020–NM–080–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective March 30, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the Airbus SAS 

airplanes specified in paragraphs (c)(1) 

through (4) of this AD, certificated in any 

category, all manufacturer serial numbers. 

(1) Model A318–111, A318–112, A318– 

121, and A318–122 airplanes. 

(2) Model A319–111, A319–112, A319– 

113, A319–114, A319–115, A319–131, A319– 

132, A319–133, A319–151N, and A319–153N 

airplanes. 

(3) Model A320–211, A320–212, A320– 

214, A320–216, A320–231, A320–232, A320– 

233, A320–251N, A320–252N, A320–253N, 

A320–271N, A320–272N, and A320–273N 

airplanes. 

(4) Model A321–111, A321–112, A321– 

131, A321–211, A321–212, A321–213, A321– 

231, A321–232, A321–251N, A321–252N, 

A321–253N, A321–271N, A321–272N, A321– 

251NX, A321–252NX, A321–253NX, A321– 

271NX, and A321–272NX airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 25, Equipment/Furnishings. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by the results of 

laboratory tests on non-rechargeable lithium 

batteries installed in emergency locator 

transmitters (ELT), which highlighted a lack 

of protection against currents of 28 volts DC 

or 115 volts AC that could lead to thermal 

runaway and a battery fire. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address this unsafe 

condition, which could result in local 

(temporary) fires, and could result in damage 

to the airplane and injury to occupants. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020–0103, dated 

May 7, 2020; corrected May 8, 2020 (EASA 

AD 2020–0103). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020–0103 

(1) Where EASA AD 2020–0103 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2020–0103 does not apply to this AD. 

(3) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2020– 

0103 specifies the parts installation 

limitation, for this AD, comply with 

paragraph (i) of this AD. 

(4) This AD allows the use of the airplane 

maintenance manual (AMM) tasks for the 

BITE [built-in test equipment] test of the ELT 

specified in the Airbus SAS technical 

adaptations (TAs) identified in paragraphs 

(h)(4)(i) and (ii) of this AD, in lieu of the 

AMM tasks specified in the applicable 

Airbus SAS service bulletins specified in 

EASA AD 2020–0103. 

(i) Airbus SAS TA 80724343/009/2020, 

Issue 1, dated May 20, 2020. 

(ii) Airbus SAS TA 80832689/007/2020, 

Issue 2, dated October 29, 2020. 

(i) Parts Installation Limitation 

(1) For airplanes that do not have an ELT 

having part number (P/N) 01N65900 installed 

as of the effective date of this AD: As of the 

effective date of this AD, no person may 

install an ELT having P/N 01N65900 on any 

airplane unless the airplane has been 

modified as required by paragraph (1) of 

EASA AD 2020–0103. 

(2) For airplanes that have an ELT having 

P/N 01N65900 installed as of the effective 

date of this AD: After modification of the 

airplane as required by paragraph (1) of 

EASA AD 2020–0103, no person may install 

an ELT having P/N 01N65900 on that 

airplane if the modification is removed. 

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft 

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. In accordance with 

14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 

principal inspector or responsible Flight 

Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending 

information directly to the Large Aircraft 

Section, International Validation Branch, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@faa.gov. Before using any 

approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the responsible 

Flight Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA; or 

EASA; or Airbus SAS’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except 

as required by paragraphs (h)(4) and (j)(2) of 

this AD, if any service information contains 

procedures or tests that are identified as RC, 

those procedures and tests must be done to 

comply with this AD; any procedures or tests 

that are not identified as RC are 

recommended. Those procedures and tests 

that are not identified as RC may be deviated 

from using accepted methods in accordance 

with the operator’s maintenance or 

inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the 

procedures and tests identified as RC can be 

done and the airplane can be put back in an 

airworthy condition. Any substitutions or 

changes to procedures or tests identified as 

RC require approval of an AMOC. 

(k) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206 231 3223; email Sanjay.Ralhan@

faa.gov. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) 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 this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2020–0103, dated May 7, 2020; 

corrected May 8, 2020. 

(ii) Airbus SAS Technical Adaptation 

80724343/009/2020, Issue 1, dated May 20, 

2020. 

Note 1 to paragraphs (l)(2)(ii) and (iii): The 

issue date of the document is identified only 

on the last page of the document. 

(iii) Airbus SAS Technical Adaptation 

80832689/007/2020, Issue 2, dated October 

29, 2020. 

(3) For EASA AD 2020–0103, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

10736 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

(4) For Airbus SAS service information, 

contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office— 

EIAS, Rond-Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 

31700 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email 

account.airworth-eas@airbus.com; internet 

https://www.airbus.com. 

(5) You may view this material at the FAA, 

Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. This material may be found 

in the AD docket on the internet at https:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2020–0900. 

(6) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@

nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/ 

federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on January 14, 2021. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03569 Filed 2–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0885; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00997–A; Amendment 

39–21424; AD 2021–04–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus 

Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC– 

24 airplanes. 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 

improperly manufactured cockpit and 

cabin evaporator filters installed during 

production on some PC–24 airplanes. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 30, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of March 30, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., CH–6371 Stans, 

Switzerland; phone: +41 848 24 7 365; 

email: techsupport.ch@pilatusaircraft.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, Missouri 64106. 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– 

0885. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket 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 

final rule, 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, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 

Section, International Validation 

Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106; phone: 

(816) 329–4059; fax: (816) 329–4090; 

email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov. 

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 Pilatus Model PC–24 airplanes 

with certain part-numbered evaporator 

filter assemblies installed. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

November 23, 2020 (85 FR 74627). 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 Union. EASA has 

issued EASA AD No. 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. 

The MCAI can be found in the AD 

docket at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–0885. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received no comments on 

the NPRM or on the determination of 

the costs. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

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. This AD is adopted as 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Pilatus PC–24 

Service Bulletin No. 21–006, dated 

April 3, 2020. This service information 

specifies procedures 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 ADDRESSES. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

MCAI 

This AD applies 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. This 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 

AD becomes effective. This AD also 

applies 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,