This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

7297 

Vol. 89, No. 23 

Friday, February 2, 2024 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–0045; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–01088–A] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus 

Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2023–12–17, which applies to Pilatus 

Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC–12, PC– 

12/45, PC–12/47, and PC–12/47E 

airplanes. AD 2023–12–17 requires 

revising the airworthiness limitation 

section (ALS) of the existing aircraft 

maintenance manual (AMM) or 

Instructions for Continued 

Airworthiness (ICA) for your airplane by 

introducing new and more restrictive 

instructions and maintenance tasks as 

specified in the component limitations 

section, which includes repetitive 

inspections for cracks in the lower main 

spar connection of the horizontal 

stabilizer. Since the FAA issued AD 

2023–12–17, the FAA has determined 

that new or more restrictive 

airworthiness limitations are necessary. 

This proposed AD would require 

revising the ALS of your existing AMM 

or ICA and your existing approved 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable, as specified in a European 

Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

AD, which is proposed for incorporation 

by reference. The FAA is proposing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this NPRM by March 18, 2024. 

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 

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. 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–0045; 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 mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI) any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For EASA material identified in this 

NPRM, contact EASA, KonradAdenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, 

Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; 

email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: 

easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

material on the EASA website at 

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

• 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 (817) 222–5110. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 

(816) 329–4059; email: doug.rudolph@

faa.gov. 

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–2024–0045; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2023–01088–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 the 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 

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, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 

Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, 

NY 11590. 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 FAA issued AD 2023–12–17, 

Amendment 39–22475 (88 FR 42604, 

July 3, 2023) (AD 2023–12–17), for 

Pilatus Model PC–12, PC–12/45, PC–12/ 

47, and PC–12/47E airplanes. AD 2023– 

12–17 was prompted by MCAI 

originated by EASA, which is the 

Technical Agent for the Member States 

of the European Union. EASA issued 

AD 2022–0103, dated June 9, 2022 

(EASA AD 2022–0103) to correct an 

unsafe condition for Pilatus Model PC– 

12, PC–12/45, PC–12/47, and PC–12/ 

47E airplanes identified as cracks in the 

lower main spar connection of the 

horizontal stabilizer and the failure of 

certain parts. 

AD 2023–12–17 requires 

incorporating new revisions to the ALS 


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7298 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2024 / Proposed Rules 

of the existing AMM or ICA for your 

airplane to establish new or more 

restrictive airworthiness limitations that 

include repetitive inspections for cracks 

in the lower main spar connection of the 

horizontal stabilizer. The FAA issued 

AD 2023–12–17 to address cracks in the 

lower main spar connection of the 

horizontal stabilizer and failure of 

certain parts, which could result in loss 

of airplane control. 

Actions Since AD 2023–12–17 Was 

Issued 

Since the FAA issued AD 2023–12– 

17, EASA superseded EASA AD 2022– 

0103 and issued EASA AD 2023–0184, 

dated October 19, 2023 (EASA AD 

2023–0184) (also referred to as the 

MCAI) for all Pilatus Model PC–12, PC– 

12/45, PC–12/47, and PC–12/47E 

airplanes. The MCAI states that new or 

more restrictive tasks and limitations 

have been developed. These new or 

more restrictive airworthiness 

limitations include repetitive eddy 

current inspections for cracks in the 

main landing gear yoke fitting. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to address failure of 

certain parts, which could result in 

asymmetric main landing gear failure 

that could lead to loss of airplane 

control during take-off, landing, and 

taxiing operations Additionally, the 

actions required to address the unsafe 

condition in AD 2023–12–17 are 

included in ‘‘the applicable ALS,’’ as 

defined in EASA AD 2023–0184. 

You may examine the MCAI in the 

AD docket at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2024–0045. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2023–0184 requires certain 

actions and associated thresholds and 

intervals, including life limits and 

maintenance tasks. EASA AD 2023– 

0184 also requires doing corrective 

actions if any discrepancy (as defined in 

‘‘the applicable ALS’’ as defined in 

EASA AD 2023–0184) is found during 

accomplishment of any task required by 

paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2023–0184 

and revising the aircraft maintenance 

program (AMP) by incorporating the 

limitations, tasks, and associated 

thresholds and intervals described in 

‘‘the applicable ALS’’ as defined in 

EASA AD 2023–0184. 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 

ADDRESSES. 

FAA’s Determination 

These products have been approved 

by the aviation authority of another 

country and are approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

FAA’s bilateral agreement with the State 

of Design Authority, it has notified the 

FAA of the unsafe condition described 

in the MCAI described above. The FAA 

is issuing this NPRM after determining 

that the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

in other products of the same type 

design. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would retain none 

of the requirements of AD 2023–12–17. 

This proposed AD would require 

revising the ALS of the existing AMM 

or ICA for your airplane as specified in 

EASA AD 2023–0184, described 

previously, except as discussed under 

‘‘Differences Between this Proposed AD 

and EASA AD 2023–0184.’’ 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and EASA AD 2023–0184 

Paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2023–0184 

requires replacing each component 

before exceeding the applicable life 

limit and within the identified 

thresholds and intervals accomplishing 

all applicable maintenance tasks as 

specified in the applicable ALS for that 

airplane. Paragraph (2) of EASA AD 

2023–0184 requires corrective actions in 

accordance with the applicable Pilatus 

maintenance documentation or 

contacting Pilatus for approved 

instructions and accomplishing those 

instructions accordingly. Paragraph (4) 

of EASA AD 2023–0184 provides credit 

for performing actions in accordance 

with previous revisions of the Pilatus 

AMM. Paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2023– 

0184 explains that after revision of the 

AMP, it is not necessary to record 

accomplishment of individual actions 

for demonstration of AD compliance. 

This proposed AD would not require 

compliance with paragraphs (1), (2), (4), 

and (5) of EASA AD 2023–0184. 

Explanation of Required Compliance 

Information 

In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to 

improve the efficiency of the AD 

process, the FAA developed a process to 

use some civil aviation authority (CAA) 

ADs as the primary source of 

information for compliance with 

requirements for corresponding FAA 

ADs. The FAA has been coordinating 

this process with manufacturers and 

CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to 

incorporate EASA AD 2023–0184 by 

reference in the FAA final rule. Service 

information required by the EASA AD 

for compliance will be available at 

regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2024–0045 

after the FAA final rule is published. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 1,030 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Revise the ALS ............................................... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. $0 $85 $87,550 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2024 / Proposed Rules 7299 

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 the proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not 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 

■ 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: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

2023–12–17, Amendment 39–22475 (88 

FR 42604, July 3, 2023); and 

■ b. Adding the following new AD: 

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA–2024– 

0045; Project Identifier MCAI–2023– 

01088–A. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by March 18, 

2024. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2023–12–17, 

Amendment 39–22475 (AD 2023–12–17). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. 

Model PC–12, PC–12/45, PC–12/47, and PC– 

12/47E airplanes, all serial numbers, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 3211, Main Landing Gear Attach 

Section. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a revision to the 

airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the 

existing aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) 

introducing new and more restrictive 

instructions and maintenance tasks as 

specified in the component limitations 

section, which include repetitive eddy 

current inspections for cracks in the main 

landing gear yoke fitting, could result in an 

unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address failure of certain parts, which 

could result in asymmetric main landing gear 

failure that could lead to loss of airplane 

control during take-off, landing, and taxiing 

operations. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and 

(i) of this AD: Comply with all required 

actions and compliance times specified in, 

and in accordance with, European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023– 

0184, dated October 19, 2023 (EASA AD 

2023–0184). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023–0184 

(1) Where EASA AD 2023–0184 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) This AD does not adopt the 

requirements specified in paragraphs (1), (2), 

(4), and (5) of EASA AD 2023–0184. 

(3) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023– 

0184 specifies ‘‘Within 12 months after the 

effective date of this AD, revise the AMP,’’ 

this AD requires replacing those words with 

‘‘Within 30 days after the effective date of 

this AD, revise the airworthiness limitations 

section of your existing airplane maintenance 

manual or instructions for continued 

airworthiness and your existing approved 

maintenance or inspection program, as 

applicable.’’ 

(4) The initial compliance time for doing 

the tasks specified in paragraph (3) of EASA 

AD 2023–0184 is on or before the applicable 

‘‘limitations’’ and ‘‘associated thresholds’’ as 

incorporated by the requirements of 

paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023–0184 or 

within 30 days after the effective date of this 

AD, whichever occurs later. 

(5) This AD does not adopt the ‘‘Remarks’’ 

section of EASA AD 2023–0184. 

(i) Provisions for Alternative Actions and 

Intervals 

No alternative actions and associated 

thresholds and intervals, including life 

limits, are allowed for compliance with 

paragraph (g) of this AD unless they are 

approved as specified in the provisions of the 

‘‘Ref. Publications’’ section of EASA AD 

2023–0184. 

(j) 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. 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 International Validation Branch, send 

it to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (k) of this AD or email to: 9-AVSAIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. If mailing 

information, also submit information by 

email. Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the responsible Flight Standards Office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(k) Additional Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 

410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329– 

4059; email: doug.rudolph@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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2023–0184, dated October 19, 

2023. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2023–0184, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; 

email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: 

easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD 

on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) 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 (817) 222–5110. 

(5) You may view this material at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on January 29, 2024. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02055 Filed 2–1–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–0219; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00764–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; MHI RJ 

Aviation ULC (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 


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