[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40845-40846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20441]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-69-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12 and
PC-12/45 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Models PC-12
and PC-12/45 airplanes that are equipped with the ``corporate commuter
cabin layout.'' This layout is a Pilatus designation only and the
affected airplanes are not certificated for commuter operation. The
proposed AD would require modifying the passenger seats and seat rail
covers. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority
for Switzerland. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended
to prevent passenger injuries because the passenger seat configuration
has been found to not fully meet current head injury criteria
regulations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 4, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-69-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans,
Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 62 33; facsimile: +41 41 610 33 51.
This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the
address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roman T. Gabrys, Aerospace
Engineer, Small Airplane Directorate, Airplane Certification Service,
FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone:
(816) 426-6932; facsimile: (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 98-CE-69-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 98-CE-69-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the
airworthiness authority for Switzerland, recently notified the FAA that
an unsafe condition may exist on Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes
that are equipped with the ``corporate commuter cabin layout.'' This
layout is a Pilatus designation only and the affected airplanes are not
certificated for commuter operation. The FOCA of Switzerland reports
that the current executive cabin layout of the above-referenced
airplanes, in particular the passenger seat configuration, has been
found to not fully meet the head injury criteria (HIC) requirements of
section 23.562 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 23.562).
These conditions, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result
in passenger injuries during an airplane crash because the passenger
seat configuration has been found to not fully meet current head injury
criteria regulations.
Relevant Service Information
Pilatus has issued Service Bulletin No. 25-006, dated April 7,
1998, which specifies procedures for modifying the passenger seats and
seat rail covers.
The FOCA of Switzerland classified this service bulletin as
mandatory and issued Swiss AD HB 98-179, dated June 15, 1998, in order
to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in
Switzerland.
The FAA's Determination
These airplane models are manufactured in Switzerland and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the FOCA of Switzerland has kept the
FAA informed of the situation described above.
The FAA has examined the findings of the FOCA of Switzerland;
reviewed all available information, including the service information
referenced above; and determined that AD action is necessary for
products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the
United States.
[[Page 40846]]
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Pilatus PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes of the
same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing
AD action. The proposed AD would require modifying the passenger seats
and seat rail covers. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be
required in accordance with Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 25-006, dated
April 7, 1998.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 11 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 8
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed modification, and
that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts would
be provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the owners/operators of
the affected airplanes. Based on these figures, the total cost impact
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $5,280, or $480
per airplane.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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) if promulgated,
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. 98-CE-69-AD.
Applicability: Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes, manufacturer
serial numbers (MSN) 101 through MSN 230, certificated in any
category, that are equipped with the ``corporate commuter cabin
layout.''
Note 1: This ``corporate commuter cabin layout'' is a Pilatus
Aircraft Ltd. designation only and the affected airplanes are not
certificated for commuter operation.
Note 2: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless
already accomplished.
To prevent passenger injuries because the passenger seat
configuration does not fully meet current head injury criteria
regulations, accomplish the following:
(a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD, modify the passenger seats and seat rail
covers in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section of
Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 25-006, dated April 7, 1998.
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install,
on any affected airplane, passenger seats and seat rail covers that
are not modified in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions
section of Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 25-006, dated April 7, 1998.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut,
suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(e) Questions or technical information related to Pilatus
Service Bulletin No 25-006, dated April 7, 1998, should be directed
to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans,
Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 62 33; facsimile: +41 41 610 33
51. This service information may be examined at the FAA, Central
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Swiss AD HB 98-
179, dated June 15, 1998.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 23, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-20441 Filed 7-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
