AD 2006-15-03 Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 Airplanes

Makes named: pilatus. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD affects the following Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes that are equipped with turbo-prop engines and are certificated in any category: (1) Group 1 (maintains the actions from AD 2003-13-04): All manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) up to and including 939. (2) Group 2: MSN 2001 through 2092. Note: These airplanes are also identified as Fairchild Republic Company PC-6 airplanes, Fairchild Industries PC-6 airplanes, Fairchild Heli Porter PC-6 airplanes, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation PC-6 airplanes.

To address this problem, you must do the following: Actions Compliance Procedures (1) Inspect: (i) The ribs in the inboard integral fuel tanks and related structure in the left and right wings for crack damage; (A) For Group 1 Airplanes: Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after August 15, 2003 (the effective date of AD 2003-13-04), unless already done Follow Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-002, dated November 27, 2002. (ii) The upper and lower wing skins for damage; and (iii) The inboard fuel tank area to determine if the inboard fuel tank ventilating system is installed (B) For Group 2 Airplanes: Within the next 90 days or 100 hours TIS, whichever occurs first, after August 23, 2006 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done (2) If any crack damage is found: (i) Correct the crack damage designated as repairable in the service bulletin (ii) For other crack damage, obtain a repair scheme from the manufacturer through FAA at the address specified in paragraph (f) of this AD and incorporate this repair scheme Before further flight after the inspections required in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD Follow Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-002, dated November 27, 2002. (3) If wing distortion is found, obtain a repair scheme from the manufacturer through FAA at the address specified in paragraph (f) of this AD and incorporate this repair scheme. Before further flight after the inspections required in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD Follow Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-002, dated November 27, 2002. (4) If the inboard fuel tank ventilating system is not installed, install the inboard fuel tank ventilating system Before further flight after the inspections required in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD Follow Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 118, dated December 1972. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (f) The Manager, Standards Office, ATTN: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. (g) AMOCs approved for AD 2003-13-04 are approved for this AD. Related Information (h) Swiss AD Numbers HB 2003-092, dated February 17, 2003, and HB 2005-289, effective date August 23, 2005, also address the subject of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must do the actions required by this AD following the instructions in Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-002, dated November 27, 2002, and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 118, dated December 1972. (1) As of August 15, 2003 (68 FR 37394, June 24, 2003), the Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-002, dated November 27, 2002; and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 118, dated December 1972, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) To get a copy of this service information, contact Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison Manager, CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland; telephone: +41 41 619 63 19; facsimile: +41 41 619 6224. To review copies of this service information, go to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call (202) 741-6030. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 11, 2006. Steven W. Thompson, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E6-11339 Filed 7-18-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland that requires retaining the actions of AD 2003-13-04 and adding MSN 2001 through 2092 for all the models of the PC-6 airplanes listed in the type certificate data sheet of Type Certificate (TC) No. 7A15. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the ribs of the inboard integral fuel tanks in the left and right wings, which could lead to wing failure during flight with consequent loss of control of the airplane.