E7-1494. Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., PC-6 Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. 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 the discovery of exfoliation corrosion in the fittings of some PC-6 airplanes. These fittings are installed exterior to the bottom skin of the wing skin. If not corrected, undetected corrosion in this area could lead to failure of the fitting and subsequent loss of control of the airplane. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective March 8, 2007.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of March 8, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust Street, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Streamlined Issuance of AD

The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance of ADs related to MCAI. The streamlined process will allow us to adopt MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.

This AD references the MCAI and related service information that we considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this reason might not follow our plain language principles.

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 3, 2006 (71 FR 64653). That NPRM proposed to require repetitive inspections of the wing strut fitting and the replacement of corroded wing strut fittings with new retrofit wing strut fittings.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Comment Issue: Summary

Clay Lacy asks if there is a planned hourly minimum or just calendar time for the compliance. He notes that he has a PC-6 that was built by Fairchild in 1967, has only 1,600 hours total time, and has always been hangared. Mr. Lacy added, “We have never detected any corrosion at any location.”

We are relying on the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the state of design authority, and the manufacturer's (Pilatus) determination that calendar time compliance for this type of corrosion inspection is appropriate. The FOCA AD requires a one-time inspection, and the corresponding service bulletin (SB) states the required repetitive inspection will be included in Chapter 5 of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM). Both initial and repetitive compliance times are specified in calendar time. We do not have information for this issue to correlate between Time-In-Service (TIS) and calendar time.

Comment Issue: What Prompted AD

Clay Lacy states if possible he would like more information that prompted this proposed AD.

Further information on what prompted this proposed AD may be found in the Docket Management System (DMS). This action was initiated as a result of FOCA AD HB-2006-400. We have checked the DMS and this document is electronically available.

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data, including the comments received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and related service information.

We might also have required different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are described in a separate paragraph of the AD, and take precedence over the actions copied from the MCAI.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect about 49 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take 27 work-hours per product to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $2,500 per wing per product. Where the service information lists required parts costs that are covered under warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these parts. As we do not control warranty coverage for affected parties, some parties may incur costs higher than estimated here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $350,840 or $7,160 per product.

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 DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov;​; 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 [phone]) 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2007-03-08 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., PC-6 Series Airplanes: Amendment 39-14919; Docket No. FAA-2006-25929; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-54-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 8, 2007.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to 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; manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) 101 through 949, MSN 951, and MSN 2001 through 2092; that are certificated in any category. These airplanes are also identified as Fairchild Republic Company PC-6 airplanes, Fairchild Industries PC-6 airplanes, Fairchild Heli Porter PC-6 airplanes, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation PC-6 airplanes.

Reason

(d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states that exfoliation corrosion in the fittings of some PC-6 airplanes was found. These fittings are installed exterior to the bottom skin of the wing skin. If not corrected, undetected corrosion in this area could lead to failure of the fitting and subsequent loss of control of the airplane.

Actions and Compliance

(e) Unless already done, do the following actions.

(1) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months, perform an inspection required by paragraph 3.B.(2) of PILATUS PC-6 Service Bulletin (SB) No. 57-003, dated June 13, 2006, of the fittings Part Number (P/N) 6102.0041.00, P/N 111.35.06.055 or P/N 111.35.06.056 for signs of corrosion. Repair of minor surface corrosion is permitted according to the Repair and Overhaul Manual (ROM) (Report No. 1391), Chap. 2 and 4. Corrosion outside these limits is not permitted.

(2) If during any of the inspections required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, any minor surface corrosion is found, prior to further flight, remove the minor surface corrosion (Ref. ROM. Chap. 2 and 4).

(3) If during any of the inspections required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, any corrosion out of limits is found (Ref. ROM, Chap. 2 and 4), prior to further flight, replace the fittings in accordance with paragraph 4 of PILATUS PC-6 SB No. 57-003, dated June 13, 2006, with new (retrofit) fittings P/N 111.35.06.185 and/or P/N 111.35.06.186.

(4) Replacement of the fittings with new (improved) fittings P/N 111.35.06.185 (left hand side) and/or 111.35.06.186 (right hand side) terminates the repetitive inspection for that side.

FAA AD Differences

Note:

This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows:

(1) The FAA AD is requiring repetitive inspections, not just a one-time inspection as required in the MCAI.

(2) The Service Bulletin specifies “subsequent inspections for corrosion will be included in Chapter 5 of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM).” The only way we (FAA) can mandate these repetitive inspections is through an AD.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(f) The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone], has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et.seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

(g) Refer to FOCA AD HB-2006-400, effective date September 28, 2006, which references Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. SB No. 57-003, dated June 13, 2006, for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(h) You must use PILATUS PC-6 Service Bulletin (SB) No. 57-003, dated June 13, 2006, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

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

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

(3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 24, 2007.

Kim Smith,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.