12150 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 49 / Monday, March 15, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

March 5, 2010. 

Peter A. White, 

Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–5549 Filed 3–12–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0250; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–CE–011–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; PILATUS 

Aircraft Ltd. Model PC–7 Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. 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 describes the unsafe 

condition as: 

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is 

prompted due to the discovery of corrosion 

at the bonding strap connections on the left 

and right lower longerons between fuselage 

frames 1 and 1A. The possibility of corrosion 

is increased because of the high electrical 

current flow between the tinned copper 

terminal lug of the bonding strap and the 

aluminum longeron. 

Such a condition, if left uncorrected, could 

lead to failure of the longeron and will 

prejudice the structural integrity of the 

aircraft. 

The proposed AD would require actions 

that are intended to address the unsafe 

condition described in the MCAI. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 29, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(telephone (800) 647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329– 

4059; fax: (816) 329–4090. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2010–0250; Directorate Identifier 

2010–CE–011–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

The Federal Office of Civil Aviation 

(FOCA), which is the aviation authority 

for Switzerland, has issued FOCA AD 

HB–2010–001, dated February 12, 2010 

(referred to after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to 

correct an unsafe condition for the 

specified products. The MCAI states: 

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is 

prompted due to the discovery of corrosion 

at the bonding strap connections on the left 

and right lower longerons between fuselage 

frames 1 and 1A. The possibility of corrosion 

is increased because of the high electrical 

current flow between the tinned copper 

terminal lug of the bonding strap and the 

aluminum longeron. 

Such a condition, if left uncorrected, could 

lead to failure of the longeron and will 

prejudice the structural integrity of the 

aircraft. In order to correct and control the 

situation, this AD requires a one time 

inspection of the longeron structure and the 

terminal lugs of the bonding straps for signs 

of corrosion. 

For left and right lower longerons where 

corrosion is found during the 

inspection, the MCAI also requires 

repair of any longeron where corrosion 

is found. You may obtain further 

information by examining the MCAI in 

the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

PILATUS Aircraft Ltd. has issued 

PILATUS PC–7 Service Bulletin No. 53– 

007, dated January 5, 2010. The actions 

described in this service information are 

intended to correct the unsafe condition 

identified in the MCAI. 

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, they have notified us 

of the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI and service information 

referenced above. We are proposing this 

AD because we evaluated all 

information and 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 or Service Information 

We have reviewed the MCAI and 

related service information and, in 

general, agree with their substance. But 

we might have found it necessary to use 

different words from those in the MCAI 

to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. 

operators and is enforceable. In making 

these changes, we do not intend to differ 

substantively from the information 

provided in the MCAI and related 

service information. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

will affect 10 products of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 4.5 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be $3,825, or $383 per 

product. 

In addition, we estimate that any 

necessary follow-on actions would take 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 49 / Monday, March 15, 2010 / Proposed Rules 12151 

about 3 work-hours and require parts 

costing $500, for a cost of $755 per 

product. We have no way of 

determining the number of products 

that may need these actions. 

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. 

We are 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 

We 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. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this proposed AD and placed it in the 

AD docket. 

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 adding 

the following new AD: 

PILATUS Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA– 

2010–0250; Directorate Identifier 2010– 

CE–011–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by April 29, 

2010. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Model PC–7 

airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in 

any category. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 53: Fuselage. 

Reason 

(e) The mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) states: 

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is 

prompted due to the discovery of corrosion 

at the bonding strap connections on the left 

and right lower longerons between fuselage 

frames 1 and 1A. The possibility of corrosion 

is increased because of the high electrical 

current flow between the tinned copper 

terminal lug of the bonding strap and the 

aluminum longeron. 

Such a condition, if left uncorrected, could 

lead to failure of the longeron and will 

prejudice the structural integrity of the 

aircraft. 

In order to correct and control the 

situation, this AD requires a one time 

inspection of the longeron structure and the 

terminal lugs of the bonding straps for signs 

of corrosion. 

For left and right lower longerons where 

corrosion is found during the inspection, the 

MCAI also requires repair of any longeron 

where corrosion is found. 

Actions and Compliance 

(f) Unless already done, do the following 

actions: 

(1) Within the next 120 days after the 

effective date of this AD, perform a visual 

inspection of the forward bonding points and 

the terminal lugs on the left and right lower 

longerons between fuselage frames 1 and 1A 

for signs of corrosion. Do the inspection 

following paragraphs 3.C.(1), (2), and (3) of 

PILATUS PC–7 Service Bulletin No. 53–007, 

dated January 5, 2010. 

(2) If during the inspection required in 

paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, any signs of 

corrosion are found, prior to further flight, 

perform corrective actions in accordance 

with the Accomplishment Instructions in 

paragraph 3.D of PILATUS PC–7 SB No. 53– 

007, dated January 5, 2010. If the corrosion 

damage is out of limits, record the values and 

apply to PILATUS for a repair scheme at: 

PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD., Customer Service 

Manager, CH–6371 STANS, Switzerland; 

telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 62 08; fax: +41 (0) 

41 619 73 11. 

Note 1: The Federal Office of Civil 

Aviation (FOCA), which is the airworthiness 

authority for Switzerland, will work with 

PILATUS in reviewing the results of the 

initial inspection required by this AD. From 

this, a repetitive inspection requirement or 

other action may be established. The FAA 

will evaluate any such action and determine 

whether further rulemaking is necessary. 

FAA AD Differences 

Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI 

and/or service information as follows: No 

differences. 

Other FAA AD Provisions 

(g) The following provisions also apply to 

this AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, 

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, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4059; fax: (816) 329– 

4090. Before using any approved AMOC on 

any airplane to which the AMOC applies, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector 

(PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District 

Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 

FSDO. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any 

reporting requirement in this AD, under the 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act 

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) has 

approved the information collection 

requirements and has assigned OMB Control 

Number 2120–0056. 

Related Information 

(h) Refer to MCAI FOCA AD HB–2010–001, 

dated February 12, 2010; and PILATUS PC– 

7 Service Bulletin No. 53–007, dated January 

5, 2010, for related information. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 

4, 2010. 

Sandra J. Campbell, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–5508 Filed 3–12–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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