Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
| Published date | 02 September 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 54515 |
| Record Number | 2020-19264 |
| Section | Proposed rules |
| Court | Federal Aviation Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 171 (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54515-54517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19264]
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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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 2, 2020 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 54515]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0753; Product Identifier 2019-CE-033-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).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-24 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 overheating of the electrical wiring splices
close to the right-hand pitot-static connector on frame 10. The FAA is
proposing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 19,
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. It is also available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0753.
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-
0753; 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-2020-0753;
Product Identifier 2019-CE-033-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 (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 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; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090;
email: [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public
docket for this rulemaking.
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. 2019-0166, dated July 15, 2019 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.
Model PC-24 airplanes. The MCAI states:
During maintenance it was found that affected parts located
close to the right-hand pitot/static connector on frame 10 showed
signs of overheating.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncontrolled
fire in the cockpit area, or
[[Page 54516]]
loss of probe heating and de-icing function, possibly resulting in
reduced control of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the
[service bulletin] SB to provide 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.
The MCAI identifies the ``affected part'' as electrical wiring
splice part number (P/N) 971.31.32.561 and a ``serviceable part'' as
electrical wiring splice P/N 971.31.32.641. EASA identified the root
cause of the overheating as internal corrosion of the affected splices,
which are not immersion-resistant, due to moisture ingress. The
serviceable splices are immersion-resistant. You may examine the MCAI
on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0753.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued Pilatus PC-24 Service Bulletin No.
30-002, dated April 3, 2019. The service information contains
procedures for replacing certain electrical splices and wire for the
pitot and static probes. 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 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, it has
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 will affect 16 products of
U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take 6 work-hours
per product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD.
The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost
about $65 per product.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $9,200, or $575 per product.
According to the manufacturer, all 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-2020-0753; Product Identifier
2019-CE-033-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by October 19, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Pilatus Aircraft
Ltd. Model PC-24 airplanes, serial numbers 101 through 125
inclusive, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 30: Ice and Rain
Protection.
(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 overheating of
the electrical wiring splices close to the right-hand pitot-static
connector on frame 10. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
overheating of the pitot and static probe electrical splices, which
could lead to loss of probe heating and de-icing function or an
inflight fire.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs
(f)(1) and (2):
(1) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, for the
pitot and static probes de-ice wiring, replace wire H279A10 with
wire H279A12, and replace each electrical wiring splice part number
(P/N) 971.31.32.561 with electrical wiring splice P/N 971.31.32.641
by following the Accomplishment Instructions--Aircraft, section
3.B., of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-24 Service Bulletin No. 30-002,
dated April 3, 2019.
(2) After completing the requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of
this AD, do not install a pitot and static probes de-ice wire
H279A10 or electrical wiring splice P/N 971.31.32.561 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 Doug Rudolph,
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section,
International Validation Branch, 901
[[Page 54517]]
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-
4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected]. 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 Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD
No. 2019-0166, dated July 15, 2019. You may examine the MCAI on the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0753. For service information related
to this 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.
Issued on August 26, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-19264 Filed 9-1-20; 8:45 am]
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