Federal Register, Volume 75 Issue 165 (Thursday, August 26, 2010)

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 165 (Thursday, August 26, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52482-52484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-21182]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0849; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-043-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; PILATUS Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7
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 the
products listed above. 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: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted due to an
occurrence when an aircraft had a partial in-flight separation of the
aileron outboard bearing support. The aileron outboard bearing supports
are attached with two forward attachment bolts and two aft attachment
bolts. The forward attachment bolts are approximately 3.2 mm (0.125
inch) longer than the aft attachment bolts. If the aileron outboard
bearing supports have been removed, it is possible that during the
reinstallation of the aileron outboard bearing supports, the attachment
bolts can be installed in wrong positions. Bolts that are installed in
wrong positions can damage the threads in the rear attachment anchor
nuts. Such a condition, if left uncorrected, could lead to in-flight
separation of the aileron outboard bearing support, and as a
consequence, the loss or limited controllability of the aircraft. The
proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 12,
2010.

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.

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 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.

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-2010-0849;
Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-043-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://www.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 Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), which is the aviation
authority for Switzerland, has issued AD HB-2010-010, dated July 29,
2010 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

[[Page 52483]]

(0.125 inch) longer than the aft attachment bolts. If the aileron
outboard bearing supports have been removed, it is possible that
during the reinstallation of the aileron outboard bearing supports,
the attachment bolts can be installed in wrong positions. Bolts that
are installed in wrong positions can damage the threads in the rear
attachment anchor nuts.
Such a condition, if left uncorrected, could lead to in-flight
separation of the aileron outboard bearing support, and as a
consequence, the loss or limited controllability of the aircraft.
In order to correct and control the situation, this AD requires
a one time inspection to verify that the bolts are installed in the
correct positions and the threads of the anchor nuts are in good
condition. The replacement of the attachment hardware is required if
any damage on the anchor nut threads or a bolt at the wrong location
is found.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.

Relevant Service Information

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has issued PC-7 Service Bulletin No. 57-015,
Rev. No. 1, date July 23, 2010. 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.

Differences Between This Proposed 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 proposed different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a Note within the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 12 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $2,040, or $170 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 25 work-hours and require parts costing $200, for a cost of
$2,325 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
products that may need these actions.

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 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); 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

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

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2010-0849; Directorate
Identifier 2010-CE-043-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments by October 12, 2010.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to PILATUS Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-7
airplanes, manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) 101 through 618,
certificated in any category.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 57: Wings.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted due to an
occurrence when an aircraft had a partial in-flight separation of
the aileron outboard bearing support.
The aileron outboard bearing supports are attached with two
forward attachment bolts and two aft attachment bolts. The forward
attachment bolts are approximately 3.2 mm (0.125 inch) longer than
the aft attachment bolts. If the aileron outboard bearing supports
have been removed, it is possible that during the reinstallation of
the aileron outboard bearing supports, the attachment bolts can be
installed in wrong positions. Bolts that are installed in wrong
positions can damage the threads in the rear attachment anchor nuts.
Such a condition, if left uncorrected, could lead to in-flight
separation of the aileron outboard bearing support, and as a
consequence, the loss or limited controllability of the aircraft.
In order to correct and control the situation, this AD requires
a one time inspection to verify that the bolts are

[[Page 52484]]

installed in the correct positions and the threads of the anchor
nuts are in good condition. The replacement of the attachment
hardware is required if any damage on the anchor nut threads or a
bolt at the wrong location is found.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within 1 month after the effective date of this AD, check
the airplane maintenance records to determine if the left and/or
right aileron outboard bearing supports have been removed at any
time during the life of the airplane. Do this check following
paragraph 3.A. of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-7 Service Bulletin No.
57-015, Rev. No. 1, date July 23, 2010.
(2) If an entry is found during the airplane maintenance records
check required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD or it is unclear
whether or not the left and/or right aileron outboard bearing
supports have been removed, perform the actions following the
instructions in paragraph 3.A.(2) through paragraph 3.E of Pilatus
Aircraft Ltd. PC-7 Service Bulletin No. 57-015, Rev. No. 1, date
July 23, 2010.

FAA AD Differences

Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) 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. 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.
(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.

Special Flight Permit

(h) Special flight permits will not be issued.

Related Information

(i) Refer to MCAI Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) AD HB-
2010-010, dated July 29, 2010; and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-7
Service Bulletin No. 57-015, Rev. No. 1, date July 23, 2010, for
related information.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 19, 2010.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-21182 Filed 8-25-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P