SAIB CE-02-15

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. CE-02-15 February 13, 2002 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

INTRODUCTION This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, an owner or operator of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes from Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 101 up to and including MSN 399, that Pilatus has issued mandatory service bulletin PC-12 (SB) 25-023, dated July 5, 2001. The SB specifies application of adhesive tape to prevent unwanted movement of firewall insulation, which is attached to the firewall stringers, and are identified as item 3, item 9 or item 10 in Figure 1 of SB 25-023. (Reference Illustrated Parts Catalog, 25-80-01, Fig. 01)

BACKGROUND The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) of Switzerland has issued FOCA AD HB 2001-636, dated November 26, 2001 which requires accomplishment of this SB on all PC-12 and PC-12/45 with MSN 101 through 399 (which are registered in Switzerland) to accomplish Pilatus PC-12 SB 25-023 at the next annual inspection or at next crew seat removal after the effective date of the FOCA AD, which is November 26, 2001.

The FOCA AD and PC-12 Service Bulletin were written due to an instance where restriction of the aileron flight-control system was noticed. It was found that only the lower edge of the firewall insulation material was secured and the remaining edges could be free. If the free edges of the insulation separate from the firewall they can interfere with the aileron controls and may affect full and free movement of the aileron flight control system.

In order to correct this condition, the PC-12 SB 25-023 was written to provide instructions on application of adhesive tape on the insulation to bond the free edges to the structure of the firewall.

RECOMMENDATION The FAA Small Airplane Directorate accomplished a Risk Assessment for this FOCA-AD and did not have enough justification to warrant a U.S. Airworthiness Directive (AD). We recommend those owners or operators of this aircraft type accomplish this modification and keep the FAA informed of any occurrences where the aileron controls were affected by insulation interference. If more findings indicate a fleet wide safety concern, the FAA will reevaluate and may issue an AD. We are recommending, but not requiring, that owners/operators Pilatus PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes accomplish the application of the adhesive tape to the firewall insulation as stated in the PC-12 SB 25-023 dated July 5, 2001 within 12 months or when crew seats are removed; whichever is sooner.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Doug Rudolph, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, ACE 112, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106, telephone (816) 329-4059, fax (816) 329-4090.

Copies of Pilatus PC-12 SB 25-023 can be obtained from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.:

Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 STANS, Switzerland. Telephone: +41 41 619 6319, fax +41 41 619 6224.