Document ID: FAA-2022-0092-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2022-02-10T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 28 (Thursday, February 10, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7774-7776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02714]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0092; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01428-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 a batch of 
incorrectly sized fuel transfer ejector nozzles that were installed on 
Model PC-12/47E airplanes during production. This proposed AD would 
require removing the affected fuel transfer ejectors from service and 
prohibiting installation of the affected fuel transfer ejectors. 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 28, 
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 service information identified in this NPRM, contact Pilatus 
Aircraft Ltd., 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 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0092; 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.

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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-0092; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01428-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 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

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2020-0229, dated October 20, 2020 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on Pilatus Model PC-12/
47E airplanes with serial

[[Page 7775]]

number 2001 and larger. The MCAI states:

    An occurrence was reported where, on the production line, a 
batch of fuel transfer ejectors with an incorrect (too small) nozzle 
diameter were installed on some PC-12/47E aeroplanes. Such fuel 
transfer ejectors are not in compliance with the latest approved 
design data.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in a restriction 
of the motive fuel flow due to ice accumulation, possibly resulting 
in a reduction of safety margins in the fuel system.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the 
SB [Service Bulletin] to provide replacement instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of the affected parts with serviceable parts, as defined 
in the [EASA] AD. This [EASA] 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-2022-
0092.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 28-014, dated 
August 12, 2020. This service information contains the serial numbers 
of the affected fuel transfer ejectors and specifies procedures for 
replacing the affected fuel transfer ejectors. 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 any affected fuel transfer ejector on any 
airplane.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 10 airplanes of U.S. Registry. Although there are 54 affected 
fuel transfer ejectors worldwide, the FAA has no way of knowing how 
many affected parts may be installed on airplanes of U.S. Registry. The 
estimated cost on U.S. operators reflects the maximum possible cost 
based on the 10 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace an affected fuel transfer       5.5 work-hours x $85 per          $2,109       $2,576.50         $25,765
 ejector.                                hour = $467.50.
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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-2022-0092; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-01428-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by March 28, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12/47E 
airplanes, serial numbers 2001 and larger, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service 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 describes the unsafe condition as a batch of 
incorrectly sized fuel transfer ejector nozzles that were installed 
on Model PC-12/47E airplanes during production. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to correct the installation of

[[Page 7776]]

incorrectly sized fuel transfer ejectors nozzles. If not addressed, 
this unsafe condition could result in a restriction of motive fuel 
flow due to ice accumulation and lead to a reduction of safety 
margins in the fuel system with consequent loss of control of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Definitions

    (1) For purposes of this AD, an ``affected fuel transfer 
ejector'' is a fuel transfer ejector part number (P/N) 968.84.71.112 
with a serial number listed in the table on page 1 in section 1.C. 
of Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 28-014, dated August 12, 2020 
(Pilatus SB 28-014).
    (2) For purposes of this AD, a ``Group 1 airplane'' is an 
airplane with an affected fuel transfer ejector installed.
    (3) For purposes of this AD, a ``Group 2 airplane'' is an 
airplane without an affected fuel transfer ejector installed.

(h) Required Actions

    For Group 1 airplanes: Within 4 months after the effective date 
of this AD, remove each fuel transfer ejector from service and 
install a serviceable part in accordance with Paragraph 3.B.(1) of 
the Accomplishment Instructions in Pilatus SB 28-014.

(i) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the applicable time specified in paragraph (i)(1) or 
(i)(2) of this AD, do not install an affected fuel transfer ejector 
on any airplane.
    (1) For Group 1 airplanes: After replacing the fuel transfer 
ejector as required by paragraph (h) of this AD.
    (2) For Group 2 airplanes: As of the effective date of this AD.

(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 International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k)(1) 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) 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].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
AD 2020-0229, dated October 20, 2020, for related information. You 
may examine the EASA at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0092.
    (3) 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">[email protected]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 (817) 222-5110.

    Issued on February 2, 2022.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-02714 Filed 2-9-22; 8:45 am]
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