AD 2021-26-21

This AD is effective February 25, 2022.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 25, 2022.

For service information identified in this final rule, contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., CH-6371, Stans, Switzerland; phone: +41 848 24 7 365; email: techsupport.ch@pilatus-aircraft.com; website: https://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 (817) 222-5110.

Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered Pilatus Model PC-24 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2021 (86 FR 56227). The NPRM was based on MCAI from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD 2020-0252, dated November 12, 2020 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”) to address the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI states:

An occurrence was reported where an insufficient performance of the fuel drain system was detected on certain PC-24 aeroplanes.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead, in case of a fuel leak, to contamination of the inboard rear fuselage, creating a fuel vapour which, in combination with an ignition source, could possibly result in a fire and consequent damage to the aeroplane.

To address this potential unsafe condition, Pilatus Aircraft issued the [service bulletin] SB providing instructions to modify the fuel drain pipe routing and to install a drain mast.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires modification of the fuel drain system.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require modifying the fuel drain pipe routing and installing a drain mast. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0218.

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the costs.

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country and is 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 referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

The FAA reviewed Pilatus PC-24 Service Bulletin No. 28-003, Revision 1, dated January 23, 2020. This service information specifies procedures for modifying the fuel drain pipe routing and installing a drain mast.

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.

The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 36 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 12 work-hours per airplane to do the modification and installation of this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $1,950 per airplane.

Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this AD on U.S. operators would be $106,920 or $2,970 per airplane.

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.

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.

This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 AD:

(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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

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