Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 Airplanes
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Models PC-12 and PC-12/ 45 airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively replace the nose landing gear (NLG) drag link right-hand part every 4,000 landings until an improved design NLG drag link right-hand part is installed. This AD also requires you to install an improved design NLG drag link right- hand part as terminating action for the repetitive replacements. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the nose landing gear (NLG) caused by fatigue damage to the NLG drag link right-hand part that develops over time. Such failure could result in either an unintended NLG extension during flight or the NLG not properly locking upon extension, which could lead to loss of airplane control during landing operations.