DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0667; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00735-A;
Amendment 39-22475; AD 2023-12-17]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-19-03
which applied to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-12, PC-12/45,
PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes. AD 2022-19-03 required incorporating
new revisions to the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of the
existing airplane maintenance manual (AMM) or Instructions for
Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to establish a 5-year life limit for
certain main landing gear (MLG) actuator bottom attachment bolts and
new life limits for the rudder bellcrank. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-
19-03, the FAA determined that new or more restrictive tasks and
limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the ALS of the
existing AMM or ICA for your airplane, as specified in a European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference
(IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 7, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 7,
2023.

ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-0667; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For EASA material that is incorporated by reference in
this final rule, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne,
Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website:
easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at
ad.easa.europa.eu.
You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0667.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (816) 329-4059; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2022-19-03, Amendment 39-22172 (87 FR
57809, September 22, 2022) (AD 2022-19-03). AD 2022-19-03 applied to
all Pilatus Model PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes.
AD 2022-19-03 required incorporating new revisions to the ALS of the
existing airplane AMM or ICA to establish a 5-year life limit for
certain MLG actuator bottom attachment bolts and new life limits for
the rudder bellcrank. The FAA issued AD 2022-19-03 to prevent MLG
collapse during all phases of airplane operations, including take-off
and landing, and also to prevent rudder bellcrank failure, which could
lead to loss of airplane control.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2023 (88 FR
21543). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2022-0103, dated June 9, 2022
(EASA AD 2022-0103) (referred to after this as the MCAI), issued by
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union. The MCAI states new or more restrictive tasks and
limitations have been developed. These new or more restrictive
airworthiness limitations include repetitive inspections for cracks in
the lower main spar connection of the horizontal stabilizer.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-0667.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the ALS of the
existing AMM or ICA for your airplane, as specified in EASA AD 2022-
0103. The FAA is issuing this AD to address failure of certain parts,
which could result in loss of airplane control. Additionally, the
actions required to address the unsafe condition in AD 2022-19-03 are
included in ``the applicable ALS,'' as defined in EASA AD 2022-0103.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received one comment from the Air Line Pilots Association,
International (ALPA). ALPA supported the NPRM without change.

Conclusion

These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and
determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed.
Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

EASA AD 2022-0103 requires certain actions and associated
thresholds and intervals, including life limits and maintenance tasks.
EASA AD 2022-0103 also requires doing corrective actions if any
discrepancy (as defined in the applicable ALS) is found during
accomplishment of any task required by paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2022-
0103 and revising the approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP) by
incorporating the limitations, tasks, and associated thresholds and
intervals described in ``the applicable ALS'' as defined in EASA AD
2022-0103.
This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in ADDRESSES.

Differences Between This AD and EASA AD 2022-0103

Paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2022-0103 requires corrective actions in
accordance with the applicable Pilatus maintenance documentation or
contacting Pilatus for approved instructions and accomplishing those
instructions accordingly. Paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0103 requires
revising the approved AMP. Paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2022-0103 provides
credit for performing actions in accordance with previous revisions of
the Pilatus AMM. Paragraph (5) of EASA AD 2022-0103 explains that after
revision of the approved AMP, it is not necessary to record
accomplishment of individual actions for demonstration of AD
compliance. This AD does not require compliance with paragraphs (2)
through (5) of EASA AD 2022-0103.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1,030 airplanes of U.S.
registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on
these numbers, the FAA estimates that revising the ALS of the existing
AMM or ICA for your airplane requires about 1 work-hour for an
estimated cost on U.S. operators of $87,550 or $85 per airplane.

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

The FAA has 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) 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.

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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2022-19-03, Amendment 39-22172 (87
FR 57809, September 22, 2022); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: