2026-09771: Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 94 (Friday, May 15, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 2026)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 27878-27881] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-09771] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2026-0018; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01384-A] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes

Agency

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

Action

Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM). -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would have applied to certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-12 airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by changing the applicability. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM for different airplanes, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

Dates

The FAA must receive comments on this SNPRM by June 29, 2026.

Addresses

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Fax: (202) 493-2251. Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. [[Page 27879]] Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0018; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this SNPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. Material Incorporated by Reference: For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material identified in this proposed AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: [email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0018. You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1100 Main, Kansas City, MO 64105. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

For Further Information Contact

Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329-4059; email: [email protected].

Supplementary Information

Comments Invited The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments using a method listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-0018; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01384-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may again revise this proposal because of those comments. Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this SNPRM. Confidential Business Information CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this SNPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this SNPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this SNPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Background The FAA issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would have applied to certain Pilatus Model PC-12 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2026 (91 FR 2512). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2025-0182, dated August 25, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0182) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition on certain Pilatus Model PC-12/47E airplanes. The MCAI states that there was a report that the emergency exit door could not be opened from inside an airplane. Further investigation revealed that incorrect installation of the passenger service unit (PSU) trim panel, which is installed above the emergency exit door, could block the opening of the emergency exit if the PSU trim panel is positioned too far inboard. This condition, if not addressed, could prevent the opening of the emergency door, which could result in injury to occupants during an emergency evacuation. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a visual inspection of the PSU trim panel for dual lock fastener tapes and modification if dual lock fastener tapes are not installed. The NPRM also proposed to prohibit the installation of affected parts. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0018. Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued Since the FAA issued the NPRM, the FAA has determined that the applicability of the NPRM referenced the incorrect airplane model. Therefore, this proposed AD revises the NPRM to correct the affected airplane from Model PC-12 to Model PC-12/47E. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Comments The FAA received a comment from the Air Line Pilots Association, International. The commenter supported the NPRM without change. Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51 The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0182, which specifies procedures for modifying the PSU trim panel if dual lock fastener tapes are not installed. EASA AD 2025-0182 also prohibits the installation of an affected part. EASA AD 2025-0182 also refers to instructions to determine whether dual lock fastener tapes are installed on a PSU trim panel. This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section. FAA's Determination These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this SNPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. Certain changes described above expand the scope of the NPRM. As a result, it is necessary to reopen the comment period to provide additional opportunity for the public to comment on this SNPRM. Proposed AD Requirements in This SNPRM This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in the material already described, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. See ``Differences Between this SNPRM and the MCAI'' for a [[Page 27880]] discussion of the general differences included in this proposed AD. Differences Between This SNPRM and the MCAI Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2025-0182 does not specify an inspection to determine whether dual lock fastener tapes are installed on a PSU trim panel, for this proposed AD an inspection would be required in accordance with section B. Part 1 of the material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0182 to determine whether an airplane has the dual lock fastener tapes installed on a PSU trim panel and is either a Group 1 or Group 2 airplane as defined in EASA AD 2025-0182. Explanation of Required Compliance Information In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has since coordinated with other manufacturers and CAAs to use this process. As a result, the FAA proposes to incorporate by reference EASA AD 2025-0182 in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2025-0182 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2025-0182 does not mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to ``all required actions and compliance times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 2025-0182. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0182 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA- 2026-0018 after the FAA final rule is published. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 276 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD: Estimated Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Cost on U.S. Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inspect PSU trim panel................ 1 work-hour x $85 per $0 $85 $23,460 hour = $85. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary modification that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might need this modification: On-Condition Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Action Labor cost Parts cost product ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Modify PSU trim panel......................... 2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $100 $270 $170. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators. Authority for This Rulemaking Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority. The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action. Regulatory Findings The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed regulation: (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. List of Subjects in 14 CFR part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. The Proposed Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows: PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 0