DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0717; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-026-AD;
Amendment 39-18045; AD 2014-25-04]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Limited Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding an airworthiness directive (AD) 2013-11-08
for Pilatus Aircraft Limited Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, 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, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes.
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 a need to incorporate new revisions
into the aircraft maintenance manual or in the limitations document of
the FAA-approved maintenance program. We are issuing this AD to require
actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 16, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of January 16,
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0717; or in person at the Docket 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 service information identified in this AD, contact PILATUS
AIRCRAFT LTD., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 STANS, Switzerland;
telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 65 80; fax: +41 (0) 41 619 65 76; Internet:
http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com; email: aircraft.com">fodermatt@pilatus-aircraft.com.
You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816)
329-4148.

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; email:
doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to add an AD that would apply to Pilatus Aircraft Limited
Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, 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, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on September 18, 2014 (79 FR 56023), and proposed to
supersede AD 2013-11-08, Amendment 39-17468 (78 FR 37701; June 24,
2013).
The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another
country. The MCAI states that:

The maintenance instructions and airworthiness limitations
applicable to the Structure and Components of PC-6 aeroplanes are
specified in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) under Chapter 4
or in the Airworthiness Limitations Document (ALS), depending on
aeroplane model.
The instructions contained in the ALS document have been
identified as mandatory actions for continued airworthiness and
failure to comply with these instructions and limitations could
potentially lead to an unsafe condition.
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) recently issued PC-6 AMM,
Chapter 04-00-00, Document Number 01975 issue 19 for PC-6 B2-H2 and
PC-6 B2-H4 aeroplanes and PC-6 ALS, Document Number 02334 issue 4
for all other PC-6 aeroplane models to incorporate new life limits
for the Fire Extinguisher.
For the reason described above, this AD retains the requirements
of EASA AD 2012-0268, which is superseded, and requires
implementation of the new maintenance requirements and/or
airworthiness limitations.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0717.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal
and the FAA's response to the comment.

Request

John Kruger of Pilatus Aircraft Limited commented that paragraph
(f)(4)(ii) of this AD provides a compliance time of 30 days after
effective date of the AD or within 10 hours time-in-service, but that
Pilatus had recommended in the MCAI to allow a grace period of 6
months, as was done in the case of the PC-12 when the fire extinguisher
life was changed, and that the compliance time should be changed for
this AD per the recommendation.
We agree because the compliance time of 6 months allows for an
acceptable level of safety. We revised the AD so that the compliance
time in paragraph (f)(4)(ii) of this AD reads ``. . . within 6 months
after . . .''

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD with the change described previously and minor editorial changes. We
have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (79 FR 56023, September 18, 2014) for correcting the unsafe
condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 56023, September 18, 2014).
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 50 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 8 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $34,000, or $680 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 1 work-hour and require parts costing $1,000, for a cost of
$1,085 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
products that may need these actions.
The only costs that would be imposed by this AD over that already
required by AD 2013-11-08 is 1 work-hour to incorporate the new
airworthiness limitations section sections into the maintenance
program, $1,085 for replacement of the fire extinguisher if needed, and
the addition of 35 airplanes from 15 airplanes to 50 airplanes.

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 the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.

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-2014-
0717; 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, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-17311 (78 FR
11572, February 19, 2013) and adding the following new AD: