AD 2005-22-04 Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 Airplanes

Makes named: pilatus. Models named: PC-12, PC-12/45. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

(c) This AD affects Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes, manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) 101 through MSN 625, that are certificated in any category.

(e) To address this problem, you must do the following:   Actions Compliance Procedures (1) Maintenance Records Check: (i) For MSN 101 through MSN 471 and MSN 473 through MSN 482: Check the maintenance records to determine whether the following replacements have been made: (A) Nose landing gear (NLG) assemblies, part number (P/N) 532.20.12.038 and P/N 532.20.12.039 with serial numbers (S/N) AM 001 through AM 045 and AM 048 through AM 054; (B) Main landing gear (MLG) assemblies, P/N 532.10.12.049 and P/N 532.10.12.050 with S/N AM 001 through AM 027, AM 029 through AM 045, AM 047 through AM 050, AM 052, and AM 053; and Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 12 calendar months after December 12, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, unless already done. No special procedures necessary to check the maintenance records. (C) MLG shock absorber assemblies, P/N 532.10.12.175, with S/N AM 001 through AM 017, AM 019, AM 021 through AM 063, AM 065 through AM 070, AM 072 through AM 074, AM 080, AM 084, AM 086, AM 089, AM 090, AM 093 through AM 096, AM 099, AM 103 through AM 107.     (ii) For MSN 472 and MSN 483 through MSN 625: Verify that the S/N parts identified in paragraphs (e)(1)(i)(A), (e)(1)(i)(B), and (e)(1)(i)(C) of this AD have not been installed.     (iii) The owner/operator holding at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) may make this check. You must make an entry into the aircraft records that shows compliance with this portion of the AD in accordance with section 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).     (2) If you find as a result of the check required by paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this AD that there is no record of the specified assembly replacement, or as a result of the check required by paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this AD that parts have been installed in service, then inspect: (i) The NLG assemblies, P/N 532.20.12.038 and P/N 532.20.12.039, for any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 045 and AM 048 through AM 054. Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 12 calendar months after December 12, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, unless already done. Follow Pilatus PC12 Service Bulletin No. 32-016, dated March 11, 2004. (ii) The MLG assemblies, P/N 532.10.12.049 and P/N 532.10.12.050, for any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 027, AM 029 through AM 045, AM 047 through AM 050, AM 052, and AM 053. (iii) The MLG shock absorber assemblies, P/N 532.10.12.175, for any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 017, AM 019, AM 021 through AM 063, AM 065 through AM 070, AM 072 through AM 074, AM 080, AM 084, AM 086, AM 089, AM 090, AM 093 through AM 096, AM 099, and AM 103 through AM 107. (iv) You may choose to do the inspection without doing the maintenance records check. (3) If during the inspection required by paragraph (e)(2) of this AD, you find: (i) Any NLG assembly, P/N 532.20.12.038 and P/N 532.20.12.039, with any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 045 or AM 048 through AM 054, replace the NLG specific components with new components. (ii) Any MLG assembly, P/N 532.10.12.049 and P/N 532.10.12.050, with any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 027, AM 029 through AM 045, AM 047 through AM 050, AM 052, or AM 053, replace the MLG specific components with new components. Before further flight after the inspection required by paragraph (e)(2) of this AD Follow Pilatus PC12 Service Bulletin No. 32-016, dated March 11, 2004. (iii) Any MLG shock absorber assembly, P/N 532.10.12.175, with any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 017, AM 019, AM 021 through AM 063, AM 065 through AM 070, AM 072 through AM 074, AM 080, AM 084, AM 086, AM 089, AM 090, AM 093 through AM 096, AM 099, or AM 103 through AM 107, replace the MLG shock absorber specific components with new components. (4) Do not install: (i) Any NLG assembly, P/N 532.20.12.038 and P/N 532.20.12.039, with any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 045 or AM 048 effective through AM 054. As of December 12, 2005 (the effective date of this AD) Not Applicable. (ii) Any MLG assembly, P/N 532.10.12.049 and P/N 532.10.12.050, with any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 027, AM 029 through AM 045, AM 047 through AM 050, AM 052, or AM 053. (iii) Any MLG shock absorber assembly, P/N 532.10.12.175, with any S/N that starts with AM 001 through AM 017, AM 019, AM 021 through AM 063, AM 065 through AM 070, AM 072 through AM 074, AM 080, AM 084, AM 086, AM 089, AM 090, AM 093 through AM 096, AM 099, or AM 103 through AM 107. Note 1: AD 2002-14-22, issued on July 8, 2002 (67 FR 46582), and AD 2004-06-05, issued on March 15, 2004 (69 FR 13712), are still applicable. Note 2: The FAA recommends that you send any removed parts or assemblies to Pilatus.

(d) This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect and correct the nose landing gear (NLG), main landing gear (MLG), and MLG shock absorber assemblies that are affected by hydrogen embrittlement, which could result in failure of the landing gear. This failure could lead to nose or main landing gear collapse during operation with consequent loss of airplane control.

(b) None.