AD 2012-06-16 Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. 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-Hl, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-Hl, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-Hl, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/Bl-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/Cl-H2 airplanes, all Pilatus manufacturer serial numbers (MSN), and MSN 2001 through 2092, certificated in any category. Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: 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 airplanes that have not been modified before May 4, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 55-001 at initial issue, within 2 months after May 4, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), install new elevator and rudder hinge bolt locking screws and modify the installation of the hinge bolt following the Accomplishment Instructions in Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 55-001, Rev. No. 1, dated November 25, 2011. (2) For airplanes that have been modified before May 4, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) following Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 55-001 at initial issue, within 6 months after May 4, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), install new elevator and rudder hinge bolt locking screws following the Accomplishment Instruction of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 55-001, Rev. No. 1, dated November 25, 2011.

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; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov. 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.

This AD was prompted mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as loose elevator and rudder hinge bolts caused by incorrect torquing and locking of the bolts. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight failure of the elevator or rudder attachment, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

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