FR Doc E8-479

[Federal Register: January 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 11)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2801-2803]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ja08-5]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0116 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-082-AD;
Amendment 39-15333; AD 2008-02-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Limited Model PC-12,
PC-12/45, and PC-12/47 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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:

Components in this condition can decrease the specific fatigue life
and could lead to MLG collapse during operation with consequent loss
of airplane control.

We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 20, 2008.
On February 20, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this
AD.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S.

Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2007 (72
FR 61580). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:

It has been found that some of the above mentioned MLG special
bolts can be defective. The problem is only applicable to specific
bolts with serial numbers that start with the letters AT or have the
supplier code AT. Investigations revealed that there is a
possibility for hydrogen embrittlement which occurs during the
manufacture process.
Components in this condition can decrease the specific fatigue
life and could lead to MLG collapse during operation with consequent
loss of airplane control.
In order to correct the situation, this AD requires the
identification of all MLG special bolts to determine if the bolts
have serial numbers that start with the letters AT or have the
supplier code AT and the replacement of affected special bolts.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received.

Comment Issue: Revision of Service Bulletin No. 32-020

PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. comments they have revised the applicable
service information, and the latest version is PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD.
Service Bulletin No. 32-020, Rev. No. 1, dated November 22, 2007. They
request we incorporate the revised version of the service bulletin into
our AD.
We agree that we should incorporate the revised version of the
service bulletin into our AD. We have discussed the revised service
bulletin with the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the
aviation authority for Switzerland, and they also agree we should
incorporate the revised version of the service bulletin into our AD.
We will change the final rule AD action to incorporate PILATUS
AIRCRAFT LTD. Service Bulletin No. 32-020, Rev. No. 1, dated November
22, 2007.

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD

[[Page 2802]]

with the changes described previously. We determined that these changes
will not increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the
scope of the AD.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have required different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a NOTE within the AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 480 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about .5 work-hour per product to
comply with basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is
$80 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S.
operators to be $19,200, or $40 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 4 work-hours and require parts costing $2,300, for a cost of
$2,620 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
products that may need these actions.

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.
We are 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

We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
; or in person at the Docket Management Facility

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 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 AD:

2008-02-03 Pilatus Aircraft Limited: Amendment 39-15333; Docket No.
FAA-2007-0116; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-082-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February
20, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to PC-12, PC-12/45, and PC-12/47 airplanes,
serial numbers 101 through 749, certificated in any category; that
have not incorporated the actions in their entirety of PILATUS
AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service Bulletin No: 32-020, dated July 24,
2007; and with one or more of the following installed:
(1) Main landing gear (MLG) assemblies delivered before December
31, 2006, with the following part numbers (P/N): 532.10.12.037,
532.10.12.038, 532.10.12.041, 532.10.12.042, 532.10.12.043,
532.10.12.044, 532.10.12.047, 532.10.12.048, 532.10.12.049,
532.10.12.050, 532.10.12.051, or 532.10.12.052;
(2) Special bolts P/N 532.10.12.110, 532.10.12.205,
532.10.12.077, or 532.10.12.202 delivered before December 31, 2006;
or
(3) Modification kit numbers 500.50.12.267, 500.50.12.286, or
500.50.12.299 delivered before December 31, 2006.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing
Gear.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
It has been found that some of the above mentioned MLG special
bolts can be defective. The problem is only applicable to specific
bolts with serial numbers that start with the letters AT or have the
supplier code AT. Investigations revealed that there is a
possibility for hydrogen embrittlement which occurs during the
manufacture process.

Components in this condition can decrease the specific fatigue life
and could lead to MLG collapse during operation with consequent loss
of airplane control.
In order to correct the situation, this AD requires the
identification of all MLG special bolts to determine if the bolts
have serial numbers that start with the letters AT or have the
supplier code AT and the replacement of affected special bolts.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after
February 20, 2008 (the effective date of this AD) or within the next
3 months after February 20, 2008 (the effective date of this AD),
whichever occurs first, inspect the special bolts that attach the
MLG retraction actuators and the special bolts that attach the shock
absorbers to the MLG assemblies to identify the serial numbers that
start with the letters AT or have the supplier code AT following
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service Bulletin No: 32-020, Rev. No. 1,
dated November 22, 2007.
(2) If during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of
this AD any special bolts with the serial number starting with the
letters AT or special bolts with the supplier code AT are found,
before further flight,

[[Page 2803]]

replace the specified bolts with new bolts with the new part numbers
in all MLG assemblies following PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service
Bulletin No: 32-020, Rev. No. 1, dated November 22, 2007.
(3) As of February 20, 2008 (the effective date of this AD), do
not install any of the special bolts that have serial numbers that
start with the letters AT or have the supplier code AT on Models PC-
12, PC-12/45, and PC-12/47 airplanes as indicated in PILATUS
AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service Bulletin No: 32-020, Rev. No. 1, dated
November 22, 2007. MLG assemblies, special bolts, and modifications
kits, as referenced in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this
AD, delivered from PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. on or after December 31,
2006, will not incorporate the unsafe condition.

FAA AD Differences

Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office, 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 Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090. 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.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

(h) Refer to Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) AD HB-2007-
382, dated August 27, 2007; and PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service
Bulletin No: 32-020, Rev. No. 1, dated November 22, 2007, for
related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(i) You must use PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service Bulletin
No: 32-020, Rev. No. 1, dated November 22, 2007, to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD., Customer Support Manager, CH-6371 STANS,
Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 6208; fax: +41 41 619 7311; e-
mail: SupportPC12@pilatus-aircraft.com.
(3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html
.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 8, 2008.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-479 Filed 1-15-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P