2009-14-13: Landing gear

2009-14-13 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.: Amendment 39-15963; Docket No. FAA-2009-0437; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-018-AD. Effective Date (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective August 19, 2009. Affected ADs (b) This AD supersedes AD 2003-14-07, Amendment 39-13226. Applicability (c) This AD applies to the following model and serial number airplanes, certificated in any category: (1) Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, manufacturer serial numbers (MSNs) 101 through 544 and MSNs 546 through 888; and (2) Model PC-12/47E, MSN 545 and MSNs 1001 through 1150. Subject (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing Gear. Reason (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) (two different MCAI) states: FOCA AD HB 2002-271 was issued because the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) Right Hand (RH) upper drag link, Part Number (P/N) 532.20.12.140 was found broken on some aircraft due to fatigue cracking, and therefore a life limit of 4,000 landings was introduced. Recent investigation of a new occurrence revealed that the replacement part NLG RH upper drag link P/N 532.20.12.289 also suffered fatigue cracking, however on a different location. Complete failure of the NLG RH upper drag link could result in NLG collapse during landing. To address that condition, this AD is issued to mandate the implementation of the latest revision of the PC-12 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) chapter 4--airworthiness limitations section--by establishing repetitive inspections for the NLG RH upper drag links P/N 532.20.12.140 and P/N 532.20.12.289. and This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted by reports of several in-service cracked torque tubes. A reduced wall thickness produced during the manufacturing process has been determined to be the initial cause. Additionally, all the involved torque tubes have been found to show fatigue cracking problems. Such a condition, if left uncorrected,could lead to failure of the torque tube and result in loss of the steering control on ground and consequent unsafe condition. For the reason described above, this new AD mandates the replacement of certain torque tubes by new ones of an improved design and the latest revision of chapter 4 "limitations'' of the PC-12 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) which introduces the new life limit for torque tubes with Part Number (P/N) 532.50.12.047. Actions and Compliance (f) Unless already done, do the following actions: (1) Limitations Section Actions: For all airplanes, before further flight after August 19, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), insert Structural and Component Limitations--Airworthiness Limitations, document 12-A-04-00-00-00A-000T-A, dated January 28, 2009 (for PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47), and Structural and Component Limitations--Airworthiness Limitations, document 12-B-04-00-00-00A- 000A-A, dated January 27, 2009 (for PC-12/47E), into the Limitations section of the FAA approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). The limitations section revision does the following: (i) Establishes a life limit for torque tube P/N 532.50.12.047 and does not impose a life limit on torque tube P/N 532.50.12.064; (ii) Requires doing initial and repetitive inspections of nose landing gear right hand upper drag link P/N 532.20.12.140 (for PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes) or P/N 532.20.12.289 (for all airplanes) in accordance with the time limits specified in the revision. The limitations do not allow installation of the upper drag link P/N 532.20.12.140 on PC-12/47 and PC-12/47E airplanes. The 4,000 landing limit for the upper drag link P/N 532.20.12.140 installed on the PC- 12 and PC-12/45 is retained from AD 2003-14-07 through this limitation requirement; and (iii) Does not require doing initial and repetitive inspections of nose landing gear right hand upper drag link P/N 532.20.12.296; therefore, installation of upper drag link P/N 532.20.12.296 terminates the inspection requirement referenced in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this AD. (2) Additional Torque Tube Actions: (i) For PC-12 and PC-12/45, S/N 101 through 299, airplanes: Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after August 19, 2009 (the effective date of this AD) or 1 year after August 19, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, replace the torque tube P/N 532.50.12.047 with torque tube P/N 532.50.12.064 following PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Service Bulletin No: 32-021, dated November 21, 2008. (ii) For all airplanes: As of August 19, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), do not install torque tube P/N 532.50.12.047. FAA AD Differences Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences. Other FAA AD Provisions (h) 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, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056. Special Flight Permit (i) We are limiting the special flight permits for this AD by requiring you to fly with the landing gear extended in order to reach the nearest maintenance facility where the inspection or replacement is done. Consult the airplane flight manual or contact PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. for the additional limitations for flight with landing gear extended. Related Information (j) Refer to MCAI (two different MCAI) AD No.: 2009-0086 dated April 14, 2009, and AD No.: 2009-0060 dated March 11, 2009; PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Service Bulletin No: 32-021, dated November 21, 2008; Structural and Component Limitations--Airworthiness Limitations, document 12-A-04-00-00-00A-000T-A, dated January 28, 2009; and Structural and Component Limitations--Airworthiness Limitations, document 12-B-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, dated January 27, 2009, for related information. Material Incorporated by Reference (k) You must use PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Service Bulletin No: 32- 021, dated November 21, 2008; Structural and Component Limitations-- Airworthiness Limitations, document 12-A-04-00-00-00A-000T-A, dated January 28, 2009; and Structural and Component Limitations-- Airworthiness Limitations, document 12-B-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, dated January 27, 2009, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD., Customer Service Manager, CH-6371 STANS, Switzerland; telephone: +41 (0)41 619 62 08; fax: +41 (0)41 619 73 11; Internet: http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/, or e-mail: SupportPC12@pilatus-aircraft.com. (3) You may review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the Central Region, call (816) 329-3768. (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.