AD 2016-12-01 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. PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes, all serial numbers delivered before January 1, 2015, certificated in any category. Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: The date of delivery may be found as the issue date of the EASA Form 52, which is part of the airplane records.

Do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) through (4) of this AD. If paragraphs (f)(1), (2), and (3) of this AD have already been done before July 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), then only paragraph (f)(4) of this AD applies. (1) For any airplane that has had a wing removed and reinstalled or replaced between June 2007 and July 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD): Within the next 12 months after July 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), inspect the torlon plates in the forward lower wing-to-fuselage attachments (both left hand (LH) and right hand (RH) sides) for correct installation following the accomplishment instructions in PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service Bulletin No: 57-007, dated September 29, 2015. (2) For any airplane that has had a wing removed and reinstalled or replaced, between June 2007 and July 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD): If an incorrect installation of the torlon plates is found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, remove the affected torlon plates, visually inspect the torlon plates and the affected lugs using a mirror and light source (if necessary) for any damage, and reinstall the torlon plates in the correct sequence, following the accomplishment instructions in paragraph 3.C. of PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service Bulletin No: 57-007, dated September 29, 2015. (3) For any airplane that has had a wing removed and reinstalled or replaced, between June 2007 and July 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD): If any damage is found during the inspection of the torlon plates and lugs required in paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, before further flight, contact PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. for FAA-approved repair instructions and accomplish those instructions accordingly. You may find contact information for PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. in paragraph (h) of this AD. (4) For all airplanes: As of July 15, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), do not install or re-install a wing on any airplane, unless concurrent with the wing installation, the torlon plates of the forward lower wing-to-fuselage attachment (both LH and RH sides) of the airplane are inspected and found to be installed correctly in accordance with the accomplishment instructions in paragraph 3.B. of PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12 Service Bulletin No: 57-007, dated September 29, 2015. Note 2 to paragraph (f)(4) of this AD: Installation of a wing on an airplane in accordance with the instructions of PILATUS aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) 02049, Revision 28 or later, or AMM 02300, Revision 11 or later, is an acceptable alternative method to comply with this inspection requirement.

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 by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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 incorrect installation instructions of the torlon plates in the airplane maintenance manual resulting in the incorrect installation of the torlon plates in the forward wing-to-fuselage attachment. We are issuing this AD to identify and correct incorrectly installed torlon plates which could cause additional loads affecting the fatigue life at the wing-to-fuselage interface.

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