[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 214 (Monday, November 7, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66971-66974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23567]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1404; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01044-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 corrosion of the 
actuator attachment lug areas underneath the anti-rotation pads of the 
main landing gear (MLG) and nose landing gear (NLG). This proposed AD 
would require replacing certain MLG and NLG electro-mechanical 
actuators. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by December 22, 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 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.

[[Page 66972]]

    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1404; 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-1404; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-01044-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 
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 which 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 2022-0158, dated August 4, 2022 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on certain serial-
numbered Pilatus Model PC-12/47E airplanes.
    The MCAI was prompted by occurrences of corrosion on the MLG and 
NLG actuator attachment lugs, underneath the anti-rotation pads of 
Pilatus Model PC-12/47E airplanes. The MCAI states that investigations 
revealed that extending or retracting the affected landing gear results 
in fretting between the anti-rotation pads and the actuator attachment 
lugs. This decreases the effectivity of surface protection, allows 
corrosion to develop on the attachment lug areas underneath the anti-
rotation pads, and leads to cracking and failure of the attachment 
lugs.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of 
functionality of the MLG and NLG, which could result in damage to the 
airplane and injury to the occupants. The MCAI requires inspecting, and 
if required, replacing affected MLG and NLG electro-mechanical 
actuators with serviceable actuators and prohibits the installation of 
an affected actuator unless it has been reworked to become a 
serviceable actuator.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1404.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI and service information described 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 replacing affected MLG and NLG 
actuators with serviceable actuators (either improved part number 
actuators or reworked (inspection and modification) actuators) and 
prohibits the installation of an affected actuator unless it has been 
reworked (inspection and modification) to become a serviceable 
actuator.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI bases the compliance time for the replacement of affected 
MLG and NLG electro-mechanical actuators on the corrosion environment 
of the airplane. FAA regulations do not require operators to track 
operations in different environmental conditions and thus there is no 
way to determine whether an airplane is in the category of moderate to 
severe or mild corrosion environment. Therefore, this proposed AD would 
establish the compliance time for the replacement as within 3 months 
after the effective date of the final rule, regardless of the 
airplane's operating environment.
    The MCAI and the proposed AD affect the same serial-numbered Model 
PC-12/47E airplanes, but the MCAI limits the requirement for 
replacement to certain serial-numbered PC-12/47E airplanes with an 
affected electro-mechanical landing gear installed and prohibits 
installation of the affected landing gear on all airplanes in the 
applicability. Pilatus has notified the FAA that all the airplanes in 
the applicability should be part of the proposed replacement 
requirements and installation prohibition. EASA is considering a 
revision to the MCAI based on this information. Because of this, the 
proposed AD would require the replacement on all serial-numbered Model 
PC-12/47E airplanes in the applicability of the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 440 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates that the costs of one of the two actions below 
would be required to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 66973]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                   Cost on U.S.
              Action                    Labor cost           Parts cost        Cost per product      operators
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Rework (inspection and             5 work-hours x $85   $1,245 (if needed).  $1,670 (for rework         $734,800
 modification) *.                   per hour = $425.                          of all three
                                                                              actuators).
Replacement *....................  3 work-hours x $85   $4,750 (Actuator P/  $16,105 (for              7,086,200
                                    per hour = $255.     N 959.56.01.852,     replacement of all
                                                         nose landing gear)   three actuators).
                                                         and $11,100.
                                                        (for 2 actuators--
                                                         Actuator P/N
                                                         659.56.01.853,
                                                         main landing gear).
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* Only the rework (inspection and modification) or the replacement would be required by this proposed AD. Both
  actions would not be required.

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-2022-1404; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-01044-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 22, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12/47E 
airplanes, serial number (S/N) 1300 and S/Ns 1451 and higher, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3211, Main Landing 
Gear Attach Section; and JASC Code 3221, Nose/Tail Landing Gear 
Attach Section.

(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 identifies the unsafe condition as corrosion 
leading to cracks on the actuator attachment lug areas underneath 
the anti-rotation pads of the main landing gear (MLG) and nose 
landing gear (NLG). The FAA is issuing this AD to address this 
condition. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
loss of functionality of the MLG and NLG, which could result in 
damage to the airplane and injury to the occupants.

(f) Definitions

    For the purposes of this AD, the following definitions apply:
    (1) Affected parts are defined as MLG electro-mechanical 
actuators having part number (P/N) 959.56.01.823 or P/N 
959.56.01.845 and NLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 
959.56.01.824 or P/N 959.56.01.844.
    (2) Serviceable parts are defined as one of the following:
    (i) MLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 959.56.01.823 or 
P/N 959.56.01.845 and NLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 
959.56.01.824 or P/N 959.56.01.844 that have been reworked 
(inspection and modification) in accordance with the instructions in 
Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 32-030, dated June 27, 2022; and 
Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd., Service Bulletin No. SB21-0001, dated 
March 31, 2022; or
    (ii) MLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 959.56.01.853 
and NLG electro-mechanical actuators having P/N 959.56.01.852.

(g) Compliance

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

(h) Actions

    (1) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, replace 
each affected part as defined in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD with a 
serviceable part as defined in either paragraph (f)(2)(i) or (ii) of 
this AD.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install an 
affected part as defined in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD on any 
airplane unless it has been reworked (inspection and modification) 
and made a serviceable part as defined in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of 
this AD.

(i) 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 Sec.  39.19. In accordance with Sec.  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, mail 
it to the address identified in paragraph (j)(2) of this AD or email 
to: [email protected]. If mailing information, also submit 
information by email.

(j) Additional Information

    (1) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0158, dated August 4, 2022, for related information. This EASA 
AD may be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. 
FAA-2022-1404.

[[Page 66974]]

    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
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 Pilatus and Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd. service information 
that is not incorporated by reference in this AD, contact Pilatus 
Aircraft Limited, Customer Support General Aviation, CH-6371 Stans, 
Switzerland; phone: +41 848 24 7 365; email: aircraft.com">[email protected]aircraft.com; website: pilatus-aircraft.com.

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on October 25, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-23567 Filed 11-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


