SAIB CE-04-60

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

CE-04-60 March 30, 2004 www.faa.gov/certification/aircraft This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin alerts you, owners and operators of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes with Manufacturer Serial Numbers (MSN) 101 through 230, that Pilatus has issued mandatory PC-12 Service Bulletin (SB) 31-005, dated February 10, 2003, for modifications to introduce magnetic chip detector warning during all flight phases. Currently, these airplanes in MSN range have a magnetic chip detector that provides warning on the ground only.

PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes with MSN 231 and subsequent have a production introduced magnetic chip detector that provides warning during all flight phases. This was also a requirement for all PC- 12 airplanes registered in Canada.

Background

The FAA has received a recommendation that all PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes with MSN 230 and below be equipped with a central advisory and warning system (CAWS) that will display engine magnetic chip detector warnings during all phases of flight. The recommendation is requiring a system that is similar to that introduced by Pilatus on SB 31-005.

Recommendation

We are recommending, but not requiring, that owners and operators of Pilatus PC-12 and PC- 12/45 airplanes with MSN 230 and below consider incorporating Pilatus PC-12 SB 31-005 as soon as possible.

For Further Information Contact

Doug Rudolph, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, ACE 112, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090

For copies of Pilatus SB 31-005, contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 STANS, Switzerland; phone: 011 41 41 619 6319; fax: 011 41 41 619 6224.