DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-7003; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-015-AD;
Amendment 39-18766; AD 2016-26-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-22-01 for
all PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/
47E 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 Limitations section, Chapter 4, of the FAA-approved
maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). The limitations were
revised to include repetitive inspections of the main landing gear
(MLG) attachment bolts. We are issuing this AD to require actions to
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 9, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of February 9,
2017.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
7003; 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 Service Manager, CH-6371 STANS, Switzerland;
telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 33 33; fax: +41 (0) 41 619 73 11; Internet:
http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com or email: SupportPC12@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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2016-7003.

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 supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to
amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all PILATUS
AIRCRAFT LTD. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E
airplanes. That SNPRM was published in the Federal Register on August
31, 2016 (81 FR 59919), and proposed to supersede AD 2014-22-01,
Amendment 39-18005 (79 FR 67343, November 13, 2014).
The SNPRM 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:

The airworthiness limitations are currently defined and
published in the Pilatus PC-12 Aircraft Maintenance Manual(s) (AMM)
under Chapter 4, Structural, Component and Miscellaneous--
Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) documents. The limitations
contained in these documents have been identified as mandatory for
continued airworthiness.
Failure to comply with these instructions could result in an
unsafe condition.

EASA issued AD 2014-0170 requiring the actions as specified in
ALS, Chapter 4 of AMM report 02049 issue 28, for PC-12, PC-12/45 and
PC-12/47 aeroplanes, and Chapter 4 of AMM report 02300 issue 11, for
PC-12/47E aeroplanes.
Since that AD was issued, Pilatus issued Chapter 4 of PC-12 AMM
report 02049 issue 31, and Chapter 4 of PC-12 AMM report 02300 issue
14 (hereafter collectively referred to as `the applicable ALS' in
this AD), to incorporate new six-year and ten-year inspection
intervals for several main landing gear (MLG) attachment bolts, and
an annual inspection interval for the MLG shock absorber attachment
bolts, which was previously included in the AMM Chapter 5 annual
inspection. After a further review of the in-service data, Pilatus
issued Service Letter (SL) 186, extending the special compliance
time applicable for the MLG bolts inspection.
For the reasons described above, this AD retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2014-0170, which is superseded, and requires
the accomplishment of the new maintenance tasks, as described in the
applicable ALS.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2016-7003-0002.

Comments

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

Request To Incorporate Requirements of the New Revisions to the
Limitations Section of the FAA-Approved Maintenance Program Into This
AD

Fernando Campos of KACALP Flight Operations requested that the
requirements of the new revisions to the Limitations section of the
FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual) be written
into the AD instead of requiring operators to insert these new
revisions into the Limitations section of the FAA-approved maintenance
program (e.g., maintenance manual).
The commenter stated that most operators do not own a maintenance
library subscription (hardcopy of the maintenance manual) from PILATUS
AIRCRAFT LTD. (Pilatus). Therefore, it would be impossible to comply
with paragraph (f)(1) of the proposed AD.
The commenter also stated that Pilatus PC-12 airplane operators are
not subject to 14 CFR 91.409(e) and/or 14 CFR 91.409(f)(3) ``Inspection
Program'' and operators can maintain their airplane in accordance with
the operating rules of 14 CFR 91.409(a) and 14 CFR 91.409(b) only.
We do not agree with the commenter. Although some operators may or
may not own a current hardcopy subscription of the Pilatus PC-12
maintenance library (e.g., maintenance manual), 14 CFR 21.50 requires
that a complete set of instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA)
be delivered with the airplane. Therefore, it is possible for an
operator to comply with paragraph (f)(1) of this AD using the set of
ICA delivered with the airplane. Pilatus PC-12 airplanes are bound by
14 CFR 91.409(a) and 14 CFR 91.409(b) if operated for hire. An option
for 14 CFR 135 operators, if they desire to use an ``Approved Aircraft
Inspection Program'' is 14 CFR 91.409(c). An option for using a
``Progressive Inspection'' is 14 CFR 91.409(d), and the Pilatus PC-12
ICA has such a program already in it. Operators of a Pilatus PC-12
airplane are not normally subject to 14 CFR 91.409(e) or 14 CFR
91.409(f)(3); however, if an exemption to 14 CFR 91.409(e) is granted
to an operator, then 14 CFR 409(f)(3) is an option as well.
Incorporating the limitation requirements into the AD could potentially
cause confusion and/or unintended new unsafe conditions if there were
any inadvertent changes when rewriting the limitations into this AD. In
addition, this deviates from the method utilized by the foreign
airworthiness authority in the MCAI and could cause confusion with
future rulemaking.
We have not changed the AD based on this comment.

Request To Allow All A&P Mechanics To Do the Supplemental Structural
Inspection Document (SSID) Program

Fernando Campos of KACALP Flight Operations requested that the AD
be revised to allow all A&P mechanics to do the SSID program.
The commenter stated that paragraph (f)(3) of the proposed AD
states that ``only authorized Pilatus Service Centers can do the
SSID.'' The commenter stated that this is illegal and contrary to U.S.
antitrust laws. Properly certificated repair stations and A&P mechanics
cannot be prevented from engaging in aircraft commerce, especially if
they have the appropriate ratings from the FAA under 14 CFR parts 65
and 145.
The FAA does not agree with the commenter that the requirements in
this AD are illegal and contrary to U.S. antitrust laws. There is
little margin for error on the safety risk presented in the SSID.
Although the FAA believes that the requirement to use only Pilatus
services centers appropriately addresses this risk, we will also
consider an alternative method of compliance (AMOC), as stated in the
AD. The FAA can issue an AMOC that allows properly certified mechanics
to do the actions in the SSID, providing we believe the additional risk
presented in the SSID is appropriately addressed. For such an AMOC, you
should contact the FAA at the contact specified in paragraph (g)(1) of
this AD.
We have not changed this AD based on this comment at this time,
although we will consider AMOCs as indicated above.

Request Compliance Credit for Using Electronic Versus Hardcopy
Maintenance Manual

Fernando Campos of KACALP Flight Operations requested compliance be
allowed for operators who subscribe to the Pilatus maintenance library
electronically (instead of hardcopy).
We agree with the commenter. Although we have to account for the
actual paper document due to the fact that we have to incorporate by
reference the documents referenced in this AD and make it part of the
regulation, we understand the concerns. We added language to this AD
stating that compliance with the electronic version of the Limitations
sections to the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance
manual) is acceptable provided the specifically referenced section is
followed even though there may be differences with the pagination.
We have changed this AD based on this comment.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments 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
SNPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the SNPRM.

Related Service Information

PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. has issued Structural, Component and
Miscellaneous--Airworthiness Limitations, document 12-A-04-00-00-00A-
000A-A, dated July 12, 2016, and Structural and Component Limitations--
Airworthiness Limitations, document 12-B-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, dated
July 19, 2016. 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 of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 770 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 1.5 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of
this AD on U.S. operators to be $98,175, or $127.50 per product. This
breaks down as follows:
Incorporating new revisions into the Limitations section,
Chapter 4, of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance
manual): .5 work-hour for a fleet cost of $32,725, or $42.50 per
product.
New inspections of the MLG attachment bolts: 1 work-hour
with no parts cost for fleet cost of $65,450 or $85 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary corrective actions (on-
condition costs) that must be taken based on the inspections will take
about 1 work-hour and require parts costing approximately $100 for a
cost of $185 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
products that may need these necessary corrective actions.
The only costs that will be imposed by this AD over that already
required by AD 2014-22-01 is the costs associated with the insertion of
the revised Limitation section and the MLG attachment bolts inspection
and replacement as necessary.

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-2016-
7003; 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 39-18005 (79 FR 67343,
November 13, 2014) and adding the following new AD: