Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22172 · Rudder actuator
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2023-12-17. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-26- 08, which applied to all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes. AD 2016-26-08 required incorporating revisions into the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the maintenance program and inspecting the main landing gear (MLG) attachment bolts for cracks and corrosion. Since the FAA issued AD 2016-26-08, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded its mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) to add a new life limit for certain MLG actuator bottom attachment bolts and then superseded it again to add new life limits for the rudder bellcrank. This AD requires incorporating new revisions to the ALS of the existing airplane maintenance manual (AMM) or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to establish a 5-year life limit for certain MLG actuator bottom attachment bolts and new life limits for the rudder bellcrank. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) Before further flight, unless already done, revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the existing airplane maintenance manual (AMM) or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for your airplane by incorporating the following documents.
(i) For Model PC-12, PC-12/45, and PC-12/47 airplanes: PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47 Structural, Component and Miscellaneous Limitations—AMM Document No. 02049—Airworthiness Limitations, Document Module Code 12-A-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, of the Pilatus Model type—PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47 MSN-101-888 Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document No. 02049, Revision 41, dated July 16, 2021; or PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47 Structural, Component and Miscellaneous Limitations—AMM Document No. 02049—Airworthiness Limitations, Document Module Code 12-A-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, of the Pilatus Model type—PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47 MSN-101-888 Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document No. 02049, Revision 42, dated December 10, 2021.
(ii) For Model PC-12/47E airplanes with serial numbers 545, 1001 through 1719, and 1721 through 1999: PC-12/47E Structural, Component and Miscellaneous Limitations—AMM Document No. 2300—Airworthiness Limitations, Document Module Code 12-B-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, of the Pilatus Model type—PC-12/47E MSN-545/1001-1719 and 1721-1942 Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document No. 02300, Revision 25, dated July 16, 2021; or PC-12/47E Structural, Component and Miscellaneous Limitations—AMM Document No. 2300—Airworthiness Limitations, Document Module Code 12-B-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, of the Pilatus Model type—PC-12/47E MSN-1001-1942 (except MSN 1720) Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document No. 02300, Revision 26, dated December 10, 2021.
(iii) For Model PC-12/47E airplanes with serial numbers 1720 and 2001 and larger: PC-12/47E Structural, Component and Miscellaneous Limitations—AMM Document No. 02436—Airworthiness Limitations, Document Module Code 12-C-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, of the Pilatus Model type—PC-12/47E MSN 1720, 2001-Up Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document No. 02436, Revision 03, dated July 16, 2021; or PC-12/47E Structural, Component and Miscellaneous Limitations—AMM Document No. 02436—Airworthiness Limitations, Document Module Code 12-C-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, of the Pilatus Model type—PC-12/47E MSN 1720, 2001-Up Aircraft Maintenance Manual Document No. 02436, Revision 04, dated December 10, 2021.
(2) The actions required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD may be performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate and must be entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1) through (4), and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 14 CFR 121.380, or 14 CFR 135.439.
(3) After revising the airworthiness limitations required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, no alternative life limits or inspection intervals may be used unless they are approved as provided in paragraph (g) of this AD.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
