Document ID: FAA-2019-0536-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2019-07-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32099-32101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14199]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 129 / Friday, July 5, 2019 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 32099]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0536; Product Identifier 2018-CE-054-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-6, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-
H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, 
PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, PC-6/C1-H2, PC-6-H1, and PC-6-H2 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 describes the unsafe condition as rudder shaft assemblies with 
incorrect rivet configuration. The FAA is proposing this AD to require 
actions that address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 19, 
2019.

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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
PILATUS Aircraft Ltd., Customer Technical Support (MCC), P.O. Box 992, 
CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; phone: +41 (0)41 619 67 74; fax: +41 (0)41 
exception occurred on : 2019-14199.htm
exception occurred on : 2019-14199.htm
619 67 73; email: aircraft.com">[email protected]aircraft.com; internet: http://
www.pilatus-aircraft.com. You may review this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0536; 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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed 
above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2019-0536; 
Product Identifier 2018-CE-054-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. The 
FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
received about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No. 2018-0222, dated October 19, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    During a recent check flight with a PC-6, the pilot experienced 
loss of rudder control. The consequent precautionary landing 
resulted in a runway excursion and damage to the aeroplane, but 
without serious injuries to the occupants. The post-event inspection 
of the affected rudder shaft assembly found an incorrect rivet 
configuration. Subsequent investigation results identified that the 
tapered pins had been replaced with an insufficient quantity of 
rivets of unknown origin, which effectively constituted a 
modification that does not conform to any of the three different 
Pilatus-approved configurations. Prompted by this event, five more 
aeroplanes were inspected and various non-standard rivet 
configurations were found in the same area. It cannot be excluded 
that more PC-6 aeroplanes have had a similar modification applied.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
failure or loss of rivets, possibly resulting in reduced control of 
the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd 
issued the [service bulletin] SB to provide inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection of the affected part to determine the rivet 
configuration and, depending on findings, accomplishment of 
applicable corrective action(s). This [EASA] AD also requires 
inspection of affected parts held as spare, and depending on 
findings, corrective action(s), prior to installation.

You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0536.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) has issued Pilatus PC-6 Service 
Bulletin No. 27-006, Rev. No. 1, dated September 4, 2018. The service 
information contains procedures for inspecting the rivet

[[Page 32100]]

configuration on the rudder shaft assembly for size, quantity, 
location, and type and contacting Pilatus to obtain repair instructions 
if any discrepancies are found. 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 and Requirements of This 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. The FAA is proposing this AD 
because it evaluated all information and determined the unsafe 
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD will affect 30 products of 
U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 7 work-
hours per product to comply with the inspection requirement of this 
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this proposed 
AD on U.S. operators to be $17,850, or $595 per product.
    Since the repair instructions could vary significantly if 
discrepancies are found during the inspections, the FAA has no way of 
determining the number of products that may need follow-on actions or 
what the cost per product would be.

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) 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.

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 (AD):

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2019-0536; Product Identifier 
2018-CE-054-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by August 19, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Models PC-6, 
PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, 
PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, PC-6/C1-
H2, PC-6-H1, and PC-6-H2 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated 
in any category.

    Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD:  These airplanes may also be 
identified as Fairchild Republic Company airplanes, Fairchild Heli 
Porter airplanes, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55: Stabilizers.

(e) Reason

    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 rudder shaft 
assemblies with incorrect rivet configuration. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to prevent rudder shaft assembly failure, which could result 
in reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) and (2) of this AD:
    (1) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service after the 
effective date of this AD or within the next 12 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect the 
rudder shaft assembly for proper rivet configuration and repair any 
discrepancies before further flight in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions--Part 1, paragraph 3.B. and table 1, of 
Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No: 27-006, Rev. No. 1, dated 
September 4, 2018.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install a rudder 
shaft assembly on any airplane unless it has been inspected in 
accordance with paragraph (f)(1) of this AD and found to be free of 
discrepancies or all discrepancies have been repaired or replaced.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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 Standards Branch, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 
329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov. 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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 2018-0222, 
dated October 19, 2018, for related information. You may examine the 
MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0536. For service information 
related to this AD, contact PILATUS Aircraft Ltd., Customer 
Technical Support (MCC), P.O. Box 992, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; 
phone: +41 (0)41 619 67 74; fax: +41 (0)41 619 67 73; email: 
exception occurred on : 2019-14199.htm
exception occurred on : 2019-14199.htm
aircraft.com">[email protected]aircraft.com; internet: http://www.pilatus-
aircraft.com. You may review this referenced service information at 
the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

[[Page 32101]]

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 26, 2019.
James A. Grigg,
Acting Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & 
Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-14199 Filed 7-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P