Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes, 47712-47714 [2020-17044]
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47712
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 152 / Thursday, August 6, 2020 / Proposed Rules
this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC,
notify your appropriate principal inspector,
or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(3) AMOCs approved previously for AD
2018–23–51 are not approved as AMOCs for
this AD.
(4) For service information that contains
steps that are labeled as Required for
Compliance (RC), the provisions of
paragraphs (p)(4)(i) and (ii) of this AD apply.
(i) The steps labeled as RC, including
substeps under an RC step and any figures
identified in an RC step, must be done to
comply with the AD. If a step or substep is
labeled ‘‘RC Exempt,’’ then the RC
requirement is removed from that step or
substep. An AMOC is required for any
deviations to RC steps, including substeps
and identified figures.
(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be
deviated from using accepted methods in
accordance with the operator’s maintenance
or inspection program without obtaining
approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps,
including substeps and identified figures, can
still be done as specified, and the airplane
can be put back in an airworthy condition.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. 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 describes the unsafe
condition as seizing of a main landing
gear (MLG) spring pack assembly. 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 September 21,
2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: 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; telephone: +41 (0)41
619 67 74; fax: +41 (0)41 619 67 73;
email: Techsupport@pilatusaircraft.com; internet: https://
www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en. You may
review this referenced service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety
Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA,
call (816) 329–4148.
Federal Aviation Administration
Examining the AD Docket
(q) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD,
contact Ian Won, Manager, Seattle ACO
Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206–231–
3500; email: 9-FAA-SACO-AD-Inquiry@
faa.gov.
(2) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data
Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd.,
MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600;
telephone 562–797–1717; internet https://
www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this
referenced service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call
206–231–3195.
Issued on August 3, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–17221 Filed 8–5–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2020–0746; Product
Identifier 2019–CE–012–AD]
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
ACTION:
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus
Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:21 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 250001
SUMMARY:
You may examine the AD docket on
the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2020–
0746; 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.
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Comments will be available in the AD
docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation
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–2020–0746;
Product Identifier 2019–CE–012–AD’’ at
the beginning of your comments. The
FAA will consider all comments
received by the closing date and may
amend this proposed AD because of
those comments.
Except for Confidential Business
Information 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://
regulations.gov, including any personal
information you provide. The FAA will
also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact it receives
about this proposed AD.
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,
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General
Aviation & Rotorcraft Section,
International Validation Branch, 901
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106. Any commentary that
the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be
placed in the public docket for this
rulemaking.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 152 / Thursday, August 6, 2020 / Proposed Rules
Discussion
The European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the
European Community, has issued AD
No. 2019–0032, dated February 15, 2019
(referred to after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to
correct an unsafe condition for Pilatus
Aircraft Ltd. Model PC–12/47E
airplanes. The MCAI states:
bilateral agreement with this State of
Design Authority, it had notified the
FAA 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.
An occurrence was reported of an
unlocked main landing gear (MLG) during
landing of a PC–12/47E, equipped with
electro-mechanical landing gear. Subsequent
investigation identified that the aeroplane
was equipped with an affected part [spring
pack assemblies having part number (P/N)
532.34.12.101], which had completely seized.
Serviceable parts [spring pack assemblies
having P/N 532.34.12.120] have a special
surface treatment on the inner and outer
tube, which would have prevented the
seizure.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead
to failure of an MLG spring pack assembly,
possibly resulting in inability to safely
extend the MLG and consequent loss of
control of the aeroplane after landing.
To address this potential unsafe condition,
Pilatus issued the [service bulletin] SB to
provide inspection and modification
instructions.
For the reason described above, this
[EASA] AD requires replacement of affected
parts with serviceable parts, and prohibits
(re)installation of affected parts.
Costs of Compliance
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Forty-two airplanes were built that
may have this version of the spring pack
assembly installed. An improved spring
pack assembly with a hard chrome
plated inner tube was introduced in
2014. You may examine the MCAI on
the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2020–
0746.
Related Service Information Under 1
CFR Part 51
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued PC–12
Service Bulletin No. 32–027, dated
January 7, 2019. The service information
contains procedures for inspecting the
MLG spring pack assembly to determine
the part number, removing and
discarding any affected spring pack
assemblies, and installing the improved
design spring pack assemblies. 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 the FAA’s
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:21 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 250001
The FAA estimates that this proposed
AD would affect 29 products of U.S.
registry. The FAA also estimates that it
would take about 3 work-hours per
product to comply with the replacement
requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Required parts would cost about $5,000
per product.
Based on these figures, the FAA
estimates the cost of this proposed AD
on U.S. operators to be $152,395, or
$5,255 per product.
According to the manufacturer, some
of the costs of this proposed AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby
reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. The FAA does not control
warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, the FAA has
included all costs in this cost estimate.
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
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47713
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
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 airworthiness
directive:
■
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA–2020–
0746; Product Identifier 2019–CE–012–
AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by
September 21, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This airworthiness directive (AD) applies
to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC–12/47E
airplanes, serial numbers 1300 and 1451 thru
1944 (except serial number 1720), certificated
in any category, with a main landing gear
(MLG) spring pack assembly part number
(P/N) 532.34.12.101 installed.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America
(ATA) Code 32: Landing Gear.
(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 seizing of
an MLG spring pack assembly. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the MLG
spring pack assembly, which could result in
the inability to extend the MLG with
consequent loss of control of the airplane
after landing.
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06AUP1
47714
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 152 / Thursday, August 6, 2020 / Proposed Rules
(f) Actions and Compliance
(1) Within 2 months after the effective date
of this AD, remove from service MLG spring
pack assembly P/N 532.34.12.101 and install
MLG spring pack assembly P/N
532.34.12.120 by following the
Accomplishment Instructions-Part AAircraft, section 3.B., in Pilatus PC–12
Service Bulletin No. 32–027, dated January 7,
2019.
(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do
not install an MLG spring pack assembly
P/N 532.34.12.101 on any airplane.
(g) 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. Send
information to ATTN: Doug Rudolph,
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation
& Rotorcraft Section, International Validation
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,
notify your appropriate principal inspector
(PI), or lacking a PI, your local Flight
Standards District Office.
(h) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety
Agency AD No. 2019–0032, dated February
15, 2019, for related information. You may
examine the MCAI on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA–2020–0746. 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:
Techsupport@pilatus-aircraft.com; internet:
https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en. You
may review this referenced service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch,
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For
information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (816) 329–4148.
Issued on July 30, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–17044 Filed 8–5–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2020–0685; Project
Identifier MCAI–2020–00396–R]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus
Helicopters
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:21 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 250001
Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
ACTION:
The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4
helicopters. This proposed AD was
prompted by reports of inflight
detachment of the left-hand (LH) side
cabin sliding doors and cases of impact
damage on the main rotor blades, which
were caused by degradation of the
sliding door locking mechanism. This
proposed AD would require repetitive
checks (measurements) of the load that
operates the sliding door opening
mechanism, repetitive inspections of the
markings of the attachment screws for
proper alignment, modifying the
attachment system of the sliding door,
and corrective actions if necessary, as
specified in a European Union Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will
be incorporated by reference. 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 September 21,
2020.
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 incorporated by reference
(IBR) in this AD, contact the EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668
Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221
8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu;
internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may
find this IBR material on the EASA
website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu.
You may view this service information
at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, Fort
Worth, TX 76177. For information on
the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 817–222–5110. It is also
available in the AD docket on the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA–2020–0685.
SUMMARY:
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on
the internet at https://
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2020–
0685; 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, 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:
Kristi Bradley, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft
Standards Branch, FAA, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177;
telephone 817–222–5485; email
Kristin.Bradley@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 the ADDRESSES section. Include
‘‘Docket No. FAA–2020–0685; Project
Identifier MCAI–2020–00396–R’’ 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 based on 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
the FAA receives, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report
summarizing each substantive verbal
contact the FAA receives 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
E:\FR\FM\06AUP1.SGM
06AUP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 152 (Thursday, August 6, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47712-47714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17044]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0746; Product Identifier 2019-CE-012-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. 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 describes
the unsafe condition as seizing of a main landing gear (MLG) spring
pack assembly. 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 September
21, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: 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; telephone: +41 (0)41 619 67 74; fax: +41
(0)41 619 67 73; email: aircraft.com">[email protected]aircraft.com; internet:
https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en. You may review this referenced
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0746; 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,
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch,
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816)
329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].
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-2020-0746;
Product Identifier 2019-CE-012-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information 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://regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact it receives about this proposed AD.
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, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
[[Page 47713]]
Discussion
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has
issued AD No. 2019-0032, dated February 15, 2019 (referred to after
this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Pilatus
Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12/47E airplanes. The MCAI states:
An occurrence was reported of an unlocked main landing gear
(MLG) during landing of a PC-12/47E, equipped with electro-
mechanical landing gear. Subsequent investigation identified that
the aeroplane was equipped with an affected part [spring pack
assemblies having part number (P/N) 532.34.12.101], which had
completely seized. Serviceable parts [spring pack assemblies having
P/N 532.34.12.120] have a special surface treatment on the inner and
outer tube, which would have prevented the seizure.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of an
MLG spring pack assembly, possibly resulting in inability to safely
extend the MLG and consequent loss of control of the aeroplane after
landing.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the
[service bulletin] SB to provide inspection and modification
instructions.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts, and prohibits
(re)installation of affected parts.
Forty-two airplanes were built that may have this version of the
spring pack assembly installed. An improved spring pack assembly with a
hard chrome plated inner tube was introduced in 2014. You may examine
the MCAI on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0746.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 32-027,
dated January 7, 2019. The service information contains procedures for
inspecting the MLG spring pack assembly to determine the part number,
removing and discarding any affected spring pack assemblies, and
installing the improved design spring pack assemblies. 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
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it
had notified the FAA 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 would affect 29 products of
U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 3 work-
hours per product to comply with the replacement requirements of this
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required
parts would cost about $5,000 per product.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $152,395, or $5,255 per product.
According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in
this cost estimate.
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:
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0746; Product Identifier
2019-CE-012-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by September 21, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Pilatus Aircraft
Ltd. Model PC-12/47E airplanes, serial numbers 1300 and 1451 thru
1944 (except serial number 1720), certificated in any category, with
a main landing gear (MLG) spring pack assembly part number (P/N)
532.34.12.101 installed.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing
Gear.
(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 seizing of an
MLG spring pack assembly. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the MLG spring pack assembly, which could result in the
inability to extend the MLG with consequent loss of control of the
airplane after landing.
[[Page 47714]]
(f) Actions and Compliance
(1) Within 2 months after the effective date of this AD, remove
from service MLG spring pack assembly P/N 532.34.12.101 and install
MLG spring pack assembly P/N 532.34.12.120 by following the
Accomplishment Instructions-Part A-Aircraft, section 3.B., in
Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 32-027, dated January 7, 2019.
(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install an MLG
spring pack assembly P/N 532.34.12.101 on any airplane.
(g) 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. Send information to ATTN: Doug
Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816)
329-4090; email: [email protected]. Before using any approved
AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI), or lacking a
PI, your local Flight Standards District Office.
(h) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 2019-0032,
dated February 15, 2019, for related information. You may examine
the MCAI on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0746. 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:
aircraft.com">[email protected]aircraft.com; internet: https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en. You may review this referenced service information
at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety
Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Issued on July 30, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-17044 Filed 8-5-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
