DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0205; Product Identifier 2019-CE-001-AD; Amendment
39-19598; AD 2019-05-15]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7 airplanes. This AD results from
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the
aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as chafed and burned wires located under panel F5. We are
issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 23, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 23,
2019.
We must receive comments on this AD by May 20, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://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 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:Techsupport@pilatus-aircraft.com; internet: https://www.pilatus-
aircraft.com/en. You may view this referenced service
information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation, 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 locating Docket No. FAA-
2019-0205.

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-2019-
0205; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations (telephone (800)
647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the aviation
authority for Switzerland, has issued AD HB-2019-002, dated January 28,
2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe
condition for certain serial-numbered Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7
airplanes. The MCAI states:

During a scheduled inspection several chafed and burned wires
located under panel F5 were found.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
smoke/fume in the cockpit and in a possible in-flight fire.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus Aircraft
Ltd. issued the [service bulletin] SB to provide applicable
inspection instructions.
For the reason described above, this [FOCA] Airworthiness
Directive (AD) requires a visual inspection of the wires below the
panel F5 and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable
corrective action(s).

FOCA advises that although aircraft are manufactured with
sufficient clearance between the wiring loom and the components
installed below access panel F5, the wiring looms may be moved when
components installed in the front instrument panel are removed and re-
installed during maintenance. As a result, the wiring looms can come
into contact with other equipment, causing chafing damage. You may
examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0205.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued Pilatus PC-7 Service Bulletin No.
24-008, Rev. No. 1, dated December 20, 2018. The service information
contains procedures for inspecting the wires below access panel F5 for
chafing and contact with the casings of the line replacement unit
(LRU), panel edges, and environmental control system (ECS) hoses;
replacing exposed bare wires; repairing chafed wires by installing a
protective sleeve; inspecting the metal clips on the demist hoses to
make sure they are not in contact with the wiring looms; and if
necessary, adjusting the orientation of the metal clips to put their
sharp edges away from the wiring loom. The service information also
specifies reporting information to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. so it can
determine if follow-on action will be necessary. 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 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, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we
evaluated all information provided by the State of Design Authority and
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because
chafing of electrical cables through the insulation could lead to
arching, which may cause smoke or fumes in the cockpit and result in a
possible in-flight fire. Therefore, we find good cause that notice and
opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable. In addition,
for the reason stated above, we find that good cause exists for making
this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-0205; Product
Identifier 2019-CE-001-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of
those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 18 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 3.5 work-hours per product to
comply with the inspection requirement of this AD and 5 minutes to
comply with the reporting requirement of this AD. The average labor
rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the inspection and
reporting requirement in this AD on U.S. operators to be $5,481, or
$304.50 per product.
In addition, we estimate the labor and parts costs for the follow-
on actions as necessary:

Repairing chafed wires and installing a protective sleeve
would take about 1.5 work-hours for a cost of $127.50 per product.
Replacing burnt or bare wires would take about 4 work-
hours and require parts costing approximately $2,000 for a cost of
$2,340.
Adjusting metal clips would take about .5 work-hour for a
cost of $42.50.
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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders,
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation
Division.

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 that 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.

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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):