Document ID: FAA-2022-0084-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2022-02-03T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6087-6089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02130]

[[Page 6087]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0084; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01312-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 all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-24 airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a failure of the dual ethernet 
communication channel on a dual-channel data concentration and 
processing unit, which triggered the opening of electronic circuit 
breakers that caused several unintended system activations. This 
proposed AD would require installing a software (SW) upgrade to the 
utility management system (UMS), as specified in a European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation 
by reference (IBR). 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 March 21, 
2022.

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 material that is proposed for IBR in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 
000; email: [email protected]; website: https://www.easa.europa.eu. 
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Pilatus 
Aircraft Ltd., Customer Support General Aviation, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; phone: +41 848 24 7 365; email: aircraft.com">[email protected]aircraft.com; website: https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com. You may view 
this material 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. The 
EASA material is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0084.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0084; 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 EASA AD, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above.

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; 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0084; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-01312-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 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 
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 NPRM. 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 that is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0200, dated September 21, 2020 
(EASA AD 2020-0200), to correct an unsafe condition on Pilatus Model 
PC-24 airplanes, all serial numbers.
    EASA AD 2020-0200 was prompted by a report that, during climb, a 
Model PC-24 airplane experienced a dual ethernet communication channel 
failure on a dual-channel data concentration and processing unit. The 
failure triggered the opening of electronic circuit breakers, which led 
to degradation of environmental control system functionalities, the 
deployment of all passenger oxygen masks, and the autopilot entering 
into emergency descent mode. According to EASA, various crew alerting 
system messages were displayed and the functionality of other systems 
(such as flaps, fuel indication, and the ice protection system) was 
significantly degraded.
    The FAA is proposing this AD to address the failure of the dual 
ethernet communication channel on a dual-channel data concentration and 
processing unit. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result 
in an increased pilot workload and reduced control of the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2020-0200, which specifies upgrading the 
UMS SW and prohibits installing an earlier version of the SW. This 
material is reasonably available because the interested parties have 
access to it through their normal course of business

[[Page 6088]]

or by the means identified in ADDRESSES.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Pilatus PC-24 Service Bulletin No. 42-010, dated 
January 21, 2020. This service information contains procedures for 
upgrading the UMS SW to Build 7.3.

FAA's Determination

    These airplanes have been approved by EASA and are approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral 
agreement with the European Union, EASA has notified the FAA about the 
unsafe condition described in the EASA AD. 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 EASA AD 2020-0200, described previously, as incorporated by 
reference, except as discussed under ``Differences Between this 
Proposed AD and the EASA AD.''

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD 
process, the FAA initially worked with Airbus and EASA to develop a 
process to use some EASA ADs as the primary source of information for 
compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has 
since coordinated with other manufacturers and civil aviation 
authorities to use this process. As a result, the FAA proposes to 
incorporate EASA AD 2020-0200 by reference in the FAA final rule. This 
proposed AD would require compliance with portions of EASA AD 2020-
0200, except for any differences identified in the regulatory text of 
this proposed AD. Service information required by EASA AD 2020-0200 for 
compliance will be available at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0084 after the FAA final 
rule is published.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    Where EASA AD 2020-0200 requires compliance after its effective 
date, this proposed AD would require using the effective date of this 
AD. Where EASA AD 2020-0200 prohibits the installation of an affected 
part ``from the effective date'' of EASA AD 2020-0200, this proposed AD 
would require using ``as of the effective date of this AD.'' Although 
the service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0200 specifies 
reporting information to the manufacturer, this proposed AD would not 
include that requirement.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 42 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       airplane        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Install SW upgrade to UMS.............  8 work-hours x $85 per            $5,000          $5,680        $238,560
                                         hour = $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.

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) 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

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-2022-0084; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-01312-A

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by March 21, 2022.

(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

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2200, Auto Flight 
System; 2400, Electrical Power System; 3140, Central

[[Page 6089]]

Computers (EICAS); 3500, Oxygen System; and 4500, Central Maint, 
Computer.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a failure of the dual ethernet 
communication channel on a dual-channel data concentration and 
processing unit, which triggered the opening of electronic circuit 
breakers that caused several unintended system activations. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the dual ethernet 
communication channel on a dual-channel data concentration and 
processing unit. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in increased pilot workload and reduced control of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For Group 1 airplanes as defined under the ``Definitions'' 
section in European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2020-0200, dated 
September 21, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0200): Install the build 7.3 
standard software upgrade to the utility management system software 
in accordance with paragraph 1 and the ``Ref. Publications'' section 
of EASA AD 2020-0200, except you are required to comply within 30 
days after the effective date of this AD. After updating the 
software, do not install on that airplane utility management system 
software that is earlier than version 7.3.
    (2) For Group 2 airplanes as defined under the ``Definitions'' 
section in EASA AD 2020-0200: As of the effective date of this AD, 
do not install utility management system software that is earlier 
than version 7.3 on any airplane.

 (h) 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 International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(2) of 
this AD and email to: [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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about EASA AD 2020-0200, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 
000; email: [email protected]. You may view this material 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. This material may 
be found in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0084.
    (2) For more information about this AD, 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; email: 
[email protected].
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, Pilatus 
Aircraft Ltd., Customer Support General Aviation, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; phone: +41 848 24 7 365; email: aircraft.com">[email protected]aircraft.com; website: https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com. You may 
view this material 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.

    Issued on January 27, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-02130 Filed 2-2-22; 8:45 am]
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