Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-24 airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as movement of the aft fuel pipe within the coupling, which can cause damage to the O-rings and lead to a fuel leak, fuel fire or explosion, and consequent loss of control of the airplane. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 14, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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 proposed AD, contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Support General Aviation, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland, +41 848 24 7 365, techsupport.ch@pilatus-aircraft.com, www.pilatus-aircraft.com. 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 816-329-4148. It is also available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0719.

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-2020-0719; 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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations 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:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2020-0719; Product Identifier 2019-CE-041-AD” at the beginning of your comments. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact it receives about this proposed AD.

Confidential Business Information

Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 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. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA AD No. 2019-0240, dated September 25, 2019 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for Pilatus Model PC-24 airplanes. The MCAI states:

An occurrence was reported where, during maintenance, when system pressure was applied to a motive-flow fuel pipe, the aft fuel pipe was found to move to the end stop within the coupling. When system pressure was released, the aft fuel pipe returned to its point of origin. This movement can cause damage to the O-rings.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a fuel leak and consequently a fuel contamination of the rear fuselage, which, in combination with an ignition source in this area, could possibly result in a fuel fire or fuel vapour explosion and consequent loss of the aeroplane.

To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus issued the [service bulletin] SB to provide modification instructions.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts, as defined in this AD, and prohibits (re-)installation of affected parts.

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-2020-0719.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Pilatus Service Bulletin No: 28-002, dated May 3, 2019. The service information contains procedures for replacing the two flexible saddle clamps on the left-hand (LH) motive-flow fuel pipe and the two flexible saddle clamps on the right-hand (RH) motive-flow fuel pipe with fixed saddle clamps. This service information also contains procedures for replacing the four O-rings on the LH and RH motive-flow fuel pipes. 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 Proposed 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, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD because the FAA evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 16 products of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 7 work-hours per product to comply with the requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $5,000 per product.

Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators would be $89,520 or $5,595 per product.

According to the manufacturer, all or some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in this cost estimate.

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 determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 proposed regulation:

(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 Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0719; Product Identifier 2019-CE-041-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments by September 14, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-24 airplanes, all serial numbers, with a flexible saddle clamp part number (P/N) 946.33.22.004 installed between frame 34 and 36, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2800: Fuel.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by an occurrence of movement of the aft fuel pipe within the coupling when system pressure was applied. This movement can cause damage to the O-rings, which could lead to a fuel leak and fuel contamination of the rear fuselage. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a fuel fire or fuel vapor explosion with consequent loss of airplane control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

Unless already done, do the following actions in accordance with the applicable compliance times:

(1) Within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, replace each flexible saddle clamp with a fixed saddle clamp with P/N 946.33.21.933, align the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) motive-flow fuel pipes, and test the LH and RH motive-flow fuel pipe for leaks in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, sections 3.B and 3.C, of Pilatus PC-24 Service Bulletin No. 28-002, dated May 3, 2019.

(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a flexible saddle clamp P/N 946.33.22.004 between frame 34 and 36 on any airplane.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

The Manager, Small Airplane Standards 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, 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. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(h) Related Information

Refer to MCAI EASA AD No.: 2019-0240, dated September 25, 2019, for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0719. For service information related to 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 review this referenced 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.