[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42723-42724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17142]
[[Page 42723]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0610; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-017-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12/47E 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 describes
the unsafe condition as common grounding of both the pilot Primary
Flight Display (PFD) and the Electronic Standby Instrument System
(ESIS). If the common ground fails both navigations systems could fail
simultaneously, which could result in loss of control. We are issuing
this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 3,
2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://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 Service Manager, CH-6371 STANS,
Switzerland; telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 65 01; fax: +41 (0) 41 619 65
76; Internet: http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/#32. You may review
copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.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 this proposed AD, the MCAI, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information.
The street address for the Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) 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 Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite 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-2013-0610;
Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-017-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD No.: 2013-0114, dated May 28, 2013 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
During a design review of the electrical supply of navigation
equipment installed on certain PC 12/47E aeroplanes, common
grounding of the pilot Primary Flight Display (PFD) and the
Electronic Standby Instrument System (ESIS) was identified.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead, in case of failure
of PFD and ESIS common ground, to simultaneous loss of more than one
pilot flight information display and inhibition of flight parameter
presentation, possibly resulting in reduced ability to control the
aeroplane.
To address this potentially unsafe condition, Pilatus Aircraft
Ltd. introduced a modification in production to relocate the ESIS
ground connection. This modification is available for affected in-
service aeroplanes through Pilatus Aircraft Ltd Service Bulletin
(SB) No 34-038.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires relocation of
the ESIS ground connection.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 34-
038, dated March 26, 2013. The actions described in this service
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in
the MCAI.
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, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because
we 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
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 230 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 5 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost
about $40 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $106,950, or $465 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,
[[Page 42724]]
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 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0610; Directorate
Identifier 2013-CE-017-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by September 3, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12/47E
airplanes, serial numbers 545, and 1001 through 1450, certificated
in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 34: Navigation.
(e) Reason
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 describes the unsafe condition as common grounding
of both the pilot Primary Flight Display (PFD) and the Electronic
Standby Instrument System (ESIS). If the common ground fails both
navigations systems could fail simultaneously, which could result in
loss of control. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions
to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, within 3 months after the effective date of
this AD, modify the ESIS return wire ground connections following
the accomplishment instructions in Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-12
Service Bulletin No. 34-038, dated March 26, 2013.
(g) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office, 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 Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:.
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.
(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.
(h) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.:
2013-0114, dated May 28, 2013, for related information, which can be
found in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. For service information related to this AD,
contact Pilatus Aircraft LTD., Customer Service Manager, CH-6371
STANS, Switzerland; telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 65 01; fax: +41 (0) 41
619 65 76; Internet: http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/#32. You may
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (816) 329-4148.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 11, 2013.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-17142 Filed 7-16-13; 8:45 am]
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