SAIB CE-02-29

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. CE-02-29 May 30, 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 the Pilatus PC-6 aircraft, that Pilatus has issued PC-6 Service Bulletin (SB) No. 180, Revision 1, dated September 27, 2001. This Service Bulletin is written to alert owners/operators that Pilatus has developed a Horizontal Stabilizer Trim Warning System for installation on the PC-6 aircraft. The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) of Switzerland reports several aircraft accidents that could attributed to pilots taking off with the horizontal stabilizer incorrectly trimmed. With this condition, the pilot will experience higher than usual stick forces with the increasing airspeed, and unless the pilot takes prompt and proper action, aircraft control could be lost. The trim warning system provide by this SB gives both aural signal and visual warning to the pilot when the aircraft is on the ground and the trim is not in the safe-for-takeoff range. The FOCA believes that the installation of the trim warning system per SB No. 180, Rev. 1, will improve safety even though the unmodified aircraft still meet compliance for the applicable airworthiness requirements.

Background The FOCA has issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) number HB 2002-134 dated April 5, 2002, mandating Pilatus SB No. 180, Rev. 1, dated September 27, 2001 be accomplished and PC-6 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Supplement Report No. 02207, Rev. 1, dated March 25, 2002 be incorporated into the AFM within the next 200 flight hours time in service after the effective date of the FOCA AD, which is April 5, 2002, but no later than December 31, 2002, whichever occurs first.

Per the Pilatus SB and the FOCA AD, all PC-6 Series aircraft with Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) up to and including MSN 939 are effected.

Recommendation We recommend that you accomplish the actions of Pilatus PC-6 SB No. 180, dated September 27, 2001, as soon as possible.

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; e-mail: doug.rudolph@faa.gov Copies of Pilatus Service Bulletin No. 180, Revision 1 dated September 27, 2001, can be obtained from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans; Switzerland;

Telephone: +41 41 619 6580; Fax: +41 41 610 3351; E-mail: fodermatt@pilatus-aircraft.com.