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2020-21-23 PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD.:
Amendment 39-21296; Docket No. FAA-2020-0745; Project Identifier 2019-CE-030-AD.

(a) EFFECTIVE DATE

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 7, 2020.

(b) AFFECTED ADS

    None.

(c) APPLICABILITY

    This AD  applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.  Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-
    12/47 and PC-12/47E airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any
    category,  with a horizontal stabilizer rear attachment bolt part num-
    ber (P/N) 555.10.12.139  marked  with  production  order  number  FAUF
    10169753, FAUF 10171067, or FAUF 10171267 installed.

(d) SUBJECT

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55: Stabilizers.

(e) REASON

    This AD was prompted by a report of horizontal stabilizer rear attach-
    ment bolts  that  had  not  received correct heat treatment during the
    manufacturing  process.  The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent fatigue
    failure of a bolt and subsequent loss of airplane control.

(f) ACTIONS AND COMPLIANCE

(1) Within 1,350 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD
    or within  13 months  after the  effective date  of this AD, whichever
    occurs first, replace each horizontal stabilizer rear attachment  bolt
    P/N 555.10.12.139 marked with  production order number FAUF  10169753,
    FAUF  10171067,  or  FAUF  10171267  by  following  the Accomplishment
    Instructions, section  3.B.(2) through  (4) and  figures 1  and 2,  of
    Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 55-004 dated March 29, 2019, except
    you are not required to return parts to the manufacturer.

(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a horizontal stab-
    ilizer rear attachment bolt P/N 555.10.12.139 marked  with  production
    order number FAUF 10169753, FAUF 10171067 or FAUF 10171267 on any air-
    plane.

(g) 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 14  CFR 39.19.  Send information  to ATTN:  Doug Rudolph, Aerospace
    Engineer, FAA,  General Aviation  & Rotorcraft  Section, International
    Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri  64106;
    telephone: (816) 329-4059;  fax: (816) 329-4090;  email: doug.rudolph@
    faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate prin-
    cipal inspector  (PI), or  lacking a  PI, your  local Flight Standards
    District Office.

(h) RELATED INFORMATION

    Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2019-0129
    dated June 6, 2019, for more information.  You may examine the EASA AD
    in the AD docket  on the internet  at  https://www.regulations.gov  by
    searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0745.

(i) MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(1) The Director of the Federal Register  approved  the  incorporation  by
    reference (IBR) of  the service information  listed in this  paragraph
    under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You must use  this service information as applicable to do the actions
    required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(i) Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 55-004,  dated  March
    29, 2019.

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) For Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. 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.

(4) You may view this service information at the FAA,  Airworthiness Prod-
    ucts Section,  Operational  Safety  Branch,  901 Locust,  Kansas City,
    Missouri 64106.  For information  on the availability of this material
    at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

(5) You  may  view  this  service  information  that  is  incorporated  by
    reference at the National Archives and Records Administration  (NARA).
    For information on the availability of this material  at  NARA, email:
    fedreg.legal@nara.gov,  or  go  to:  https://www.archives.gov/federal-
    register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

Issued on October 9, 2020. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworth-
iness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, General
Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;  phone: (816) 329-4059;  fax: (816)
329-4090; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.
PREAMBLE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0745; Project Identifier 2019-CE-030-AD; Amendment
39-21296; AD 2020-21-23]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E
airplanes. This AD was prompted by 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 improperly manufactured
horizontal stabilizer rear attachment bolts. If not corrected, this
could lead to fatigue failure of the bolts and loss of airplane
control. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 7, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 7,
2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
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. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 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 https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0745.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0745; 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 final rule, the MCAI, any comments received, and other
information. The address for Docket Operations is 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,
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch,
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; phone: (816) 329-
4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.
Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes with a
certain horizontal stabilizer rear attachment bolt installed. The NPRM
published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2020 (85 FR 47716). The
NPRM proposed to require replacing the horizontal stabilizer rear
attachment bolts and was prompted by MCAI originated by the European
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for
the Member States of the European Community. EASA issued AD No. 2019-
0129, dated June 6, 2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to
correct the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI states:

On the final assembly line, horizontal stabilizer rear
attachment bolts were detected that had not received correct heat
treatment. Subsequent investigation determined that certain parts,
identified by FAUF, were improperly manufactured and consequently
have reduced material properties.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a fatigue
failure of an affected part, possibly resulting in loss of control
of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the
[service bulletin] SB to provide inspection and replacement
instructions.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
replacement of affected parts, and prohibits (re)installation
thereof.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0745.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA has considered the comment
received. An individual commenter supported the NPRM.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51


The FAA reviewed Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-12 Service Bulletin No.
55-004, dated March 29, 2019. The service information contains
procedures for checking the rear attachment bolts for the horizontal
stabilizer and replacing any defective bolts. 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.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 14 products of U.S.
registry. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
The FAA estimates that the required actions will take 1.5 work-
hours and require parts costing $5,000, for a cost of $5,127.50 per
product and $71,785 for the U.S. operator fleet.

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

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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: