AD 2009-18-03 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 applies to 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, all manufacturer serial number (MSN) 101 through 999, and MSN 2001 through 2092, certificated in any category. Note 1: For MSN 2001-2092, 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.

Unless already done, do the following actions: (1) For affected airplanes that have not had both wing strut fittings replaced within the last 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) before September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14), or have not been inspected using an eddy current inspection method following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-004, dated April 16, 2007, within the last 100 hours TIS before September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14): Before further flight after either September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14), or October 1, 2009 (the effective date of AD 2009-18-03), visually inspect the upper wing strut fittings and examine the spherical bearings following the Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008. (2) For all affected airplanes: Within 25 hours TIS after September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14), or within 30 days after September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14), whichever occurs first, visually and using eddy current methods, inspect the upper wing strut fittings and examine the spherical bearings following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008. (3) You may also take “unless already done” credit for any inspection specified in paragraphs (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD if done before October 1, 2009 (the effective date retained from AD 2009-18-03) following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, dated August 30, 2007; or Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 1, dated November 19, 2007. (4) For all affected airplanes: If during any inspection required by paragraphs (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD you find cracks in the upper wing strut fitting or the spherical bearing is not in conformity, before further flight, replace the cracked upper wing strut fitting and/or the nonconforming spherical bearing following Chapter 57-00-02 of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, dated November 30, 2008. Note 1: AD 2011-01-14 requires the incorporation of the updated maintenance requirements into the airworthiness limitations section of the instructions for continued airworthiness. Those updated maintenance requirements include the repetitive inspections for the wing strut fittings and the spherical bearings. This revised AD removes those repetitive inspections. FAA AD Differences Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences. Other FAA AD Provisions (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to Attn: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service. (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200. Related Information (h) Refer to MCAI EASA AD No.: 2007-0241R4, dated August 31, 2010; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 1, dated November 19, 2007; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, dated August 30, 2007; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-004, dated April 16, 2007; and Chapter 57-00-02 of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, dated November 30, 2008, for related information. Material Incorporated by Reference (h) You must use Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008; and Chapter 57-00-02 of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, dated November 30, 2008 (referenced as revision 9 in EASA AD No.: 2007-0241R3), to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) On October 1, 2009 (74 FR 43636, August 27, 2009), the Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008; and Chapter 57-00-02 of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, dated November 30, 2008 (referenced as revision 9 in EASA AD No.: 2007-0241R3). (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD., Customer Service Manager, CH-6371 STANS, Switzerland; telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 65 01; fax: +41 (0) 41 619 65 76; Internet: http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com. (3) You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 816-329-4148. (4) You may also review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 28, 2010. Earl Lawrence, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2010-33333 Filed 1-11-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Unless already done, do the following actions: (1) For affected airplanes that have not had both wing strut fittings replaced within the last 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) before September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14), or have not been inspected using an eddy current inspection method following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-004, dated April 16, 2007, within the last 100 hours TIS before September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14): Before further flight after either September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14), or October 1, 2009 (the effective date of AD 2009-18-03), visually inspect the upper wing strut fittings and examine the spherical bearings following the Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008. (2) For all affected airplanes: Within 25 hours TIS after September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14), or within 30 days after September 26, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-19-14), whichever occurs first, visually and using eddy current methods, inspect the upper wing strut fittings and examine the spherical bearings following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008. (3) You may also take “unless already done” credit for any inspection specified in paragraphs (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD if done before October 1, 2009 (the effective date retained from AD 2009-18-03) following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, dated August 30, 2007; or Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 1, dated November 19, 2007. (4) For all affected airplanes: If during any inspection required by paragraphs (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD you find cracks in the upper wing strut fitting or the spherical bearing is not in conformity, before further flight, replace the cracked upper wing strut fitting and/or the nonconforming spherical bearing following Chapter 57-00-02 of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, dated November 30, 2008. Note 1: AD 2011-01-14 requires the incorporation of the updated maintenance requirements into the airworthiness limitations section of the instructions for continued airworthiness. Those updated maintenance requirements include the repetitive inspections for the wing strut fittings and the spherical bearings. This revised AD removes those repetitive inspections. FAA AD Differences Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences. Other FAA AD Provisions (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to Attn: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service. (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200. Related Information (h) Refer to MCAI EASA AD No.: 2007-0241R4, dated August 31, 2010; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 1, dated November 19, 2007; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, dated August 30, 2007; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-004, dated April 16, 2007; and Chapter 57-00-02 of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, dated November 30, 2008, for related information. Material Incorporated by Reference (h) You must use Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008; and Chapter 57-00-02 of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, dated November 30, 2008 (referenced as revision 9 in EASA AD No.: 2007-0241R3), to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) On October 1, 2009 (74 FR 43636, August 27, 2009), the Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-005, REV No. 2, dated May 19, 2008; and Chapter 57-00-02 of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, dated November 30, 2008 (referenced as revision 9 in EASA AD No.: 2007-0241R3). (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD., Customer Service Manager, CH-6371 STANS, Switzerland; telephone: +41 (0) 41 619 65 01; fax: +41 (0) 41 619 65 76; Internet: http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com. (3) You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 816-329-4148. (4) You may also review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 28, 2010. Earl Lawrence, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2010-33333 Filed 1-11-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P