88 FR 72 pgs. 22928-22931 - Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
Type: PRORULEVolume: 88Number: 72Pages: 22928 - 22931
Pages: 22928, 22929, 22930, 22931Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2023-0926; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01583-A]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2023-07775 Filed 4-13-23; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0926; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01583-A]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 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 was prompted by a report that an incorrect wiring arrangement was detected around the weather radar system. This proposed AD would require modifying the weather radar redundant wiring, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES:
The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by May 30, 2023.
ADDRESSES:
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
[top] • 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0926; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference
• For EASA service information that is proposed for IBR in this NPRM, contact EASA Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this service information on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
• 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 (817) 222-5110. The EASA service information is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0926.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4059; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES . Include "Docket No. FAA-2023-0926; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01583-A" at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal 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 received, without change, to regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
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, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2022-0249, dated December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0249) (referred to after this as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on certain serial-numbered Pilatus Model PC-24 airplanes. The MCAI states an occurrence was reported where an incorrect wiring arrangement was detected around the weather radar system on certain Pilatus Model PC-24 airplanes. In case of a lightning strike, the functionalities related to the Advanced Graphic Module (AGM) 1 and AGM2, the Dual Generic Input/Output (DGI0) 1 card in the Modular Avionics Unit (MAU) 1 module of the Honeywell Advanced Cockpit Environment (ACE) system, and the Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) 2 could be affected. The MCAI specifies modification of the weather radar redundant wiring.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address an incorrect wiring arrangement around the weather radar system which, if not corrected, could lead to the partial loss of flight and navigation data displayed to the pilot or pilots, possibly resulting in increased flight crew workload and a consequent reduction of safety margins.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0926.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2022-0249 requires modification of the weather radar redundant wiring.
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 ADDRESSES .
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI described above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in the MCAI.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2022-0249 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2022-0249 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0249 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0926 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
[top] The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 12 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modification | 16 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,360 | $5,000 | $6,360 | $76,320 |
The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.
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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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.
§?39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends §?39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2023-0926; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01583-A.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by May 30, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-24 airplanes, serial numbers 231 through 252 inclusive and serial numbers 254 and 255, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Codes 3497, Navigation System Wiring; and 3442, Weather Radar System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that an incorrect wiring arrangement was detected around the weather radar system. The FAA is issuing this AD to address an incorrect wiring arrangement around the weather radar system. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could, in the case of a lightning strike, lead to the partial loss of flight and navigation data displayed to the pilot or pilots, possibly resulting in increased flight crew workload and a consequent reduction of safety margins.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0249, dated December 14, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0249).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0249
(1) Where EASA AD 2022-0249 requires compliance from its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) Where the service information referenced in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2022-0249 specifies removing and discarding parts, this AD requires removing those parts from service.
(3) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" paragraph of EASA AD 2022-0249.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0249 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in §?39.19. In accordance with §?39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, mail it to the address identified in paragraph (k) of this AD or email to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. If mailing information, also submit information by email. 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.
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4059; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
[top] (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2022-0249, dated December 14, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA AD 2022-0249, contact EASA Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu.
(4) 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 (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email: fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued on April 8, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-07775 Filed 4-13-23; 8:45 am]
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