{"id":"F2008L03344","name":"AD/PC-12/53 - Pitch Trim Actuator Attachment Parts","slug":"ad-pc-12-53-pitch-trim-actuator-attachment-parts","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":120223,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L03344-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Pilatus PC-12 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/PC-12/53 | Pitch Trim Actuator Attachment Parts | 11/2008 DM |\n| ----------- | ------------------------------------ | ---------- |\n\n| Applicability: | PC-12, PC-12/45 and PC-12/47 aircraft, all serial numbers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |\n| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Amend the approved aircraft maintenance program to incorporate the latest revision of the Airworthiness Limitations section contained in Pilatus PC-12 document 12-A-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, dated 20 June 2008 or later approved revision.2. For aircraft with Pitch Trim Actuator parts that have accumulated or exceeded 9900 Flight Hours, replace the parts with serviceable units.3. Accomplish tasks described in PC-12 AMM Chapter 4.Note: EASA AD 2008-0163, dated 27 August 2008 refers.As an Alternative Method of Compliance to requirement 1 of this AD, operators may use the CD version of the reference Pilatus PC-12 document, revision 10, dated1 March 2008, which incorporates the 20 November 2007 version of PC-12 AMM Chapter 4 and the corresponding version of Chapter 5. |\n| Compliance:    | 1. Within 30 days of the effective date of this AD.2. Within next 100 flight hours or 2 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.3. In accordance with the thresholds and intervals indicated in Pilatus PC-12 document 12-A-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, dated 20 June 2008 or later approved revision.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 10 September 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |\n| Background:    | Based on the result of a fatigue life evaluation for the pitch trim actuator attachment, a new life limit of 10,000 flight hours is introduced for the pitch trim actuator attachment parts. This Airworthiness Directive requires the implementation of the latest revision of the PC-12 AMM Chapter 4 - Airworthiness Limitations, including the new life for the pitch trim actuator attachment parts.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |\n\n|     | In addition to the new life limit of 10,000 hours on the attachment parts, the revision to the airworthiness limitations section incorporates the following:Time between overhaul (TBO) for the pitch trim actuator is reduced from 6,000 hours TIS or 5 years, whichever occurs first, to 5,000 hours time in service (TIS) or 5 years, whichever occurs first.The life limit for the pitch trim actuator is increased from 10,000 hours TIS or 13,500 flights, whichever occurs first, to 20,000 hours TIS or 27,000 flights, whichever occurs first. |\n| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n29 August 2008","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/PC-12/53","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/PC-12/53","content":"## AD/PC-12/53","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Pitch Trim Actuator Attachment Parts","sectionType":"part","heading":"Pitch Trim Actuator Attachment Parts","content":"## Pitch Trim Actuator Attachment Parts","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"11/2008 DM","sectionType":"part","heading":"11/2008 DM","content":"## 11/2008 DM","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The directive changes prior maintenance scope by imposing a new finite life on pitch trim actuator attachment parts (10,000 FH) and requiring replacement when parts have reached or exceeded 9,900 FH, mandates an AMM update to the Pilatus Airworthiness Limitations (Requirement 1–2; Compliance 2), shortens the actuator TBO to 5,000 TIS or 5 years and simultaneously increases actuator life to 20,000 TIS or 27,000 flights (Background). These changes expand maintenance obligations and create immediate replacement liabilities for operators with parts near the new life limit (Requirement 2; Compliance 2)."},"complexity_factors":["Broad applicability: covers all PC‑12, PC‑12/45 and PC‑12/47 aircraft, all serial numbers (Applicability).","Regulatory actions required: operators must amend approved maintenance programs to incorporate a specific Pilatus document revision (Requirement 1).","Near‑term compliance deadlines: AMM update within 30 days; replacement of parts with ≥9,900 flight hours within next 100 flight hours or 2 months, whichever is first (Compliance 1–2).","Concrete replacement trigger: parts that have ‘accumulated or exceeded 9,900 Flight Hours’ must be replaced with serviceable units (Requirement 2).","Technical life‑limit changes: introduces a 10,000 flight‑hour life limit for the attachment parts; reduces pitch trim actuator TBO to 5,000 TIS or 5 years; increases actuator life to 20,000 TIS or 27,000 flights (Background and following paragraph).","Compliance mechanics and intervals are delegated to the referenced Pilatus document (12‑A‑04‑00‑00‑00A‑000A‑A, dated 20 June 2008 or later) so correct document control is essential (Requirement 1; Compliance 3).","Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) available for Requirement 1 via a specified CD revision, creating a narrow permissible substitution (Requirement note).","Operational cost bearer: operators bear direct costs of parts replacement, increased maintenance/overhaul activity, and program amendment work (Requirement 2; Compliance 2; Requirement 1).","Interaction with maintenance providers: independent maintenance organisations must follow the updated AMM Chapter 4 tasks and intervals (Requirement 3; Note referencing PC‑12 AMM Chapter 4).","Cross‑jurisdictional reference: AD refers to EASA AD 2008‑0163, implying coordination with an external regulator’s findings (Requirement note)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires all Pilatus PC‑12, PC‑12/45 and PC‑12/47 operators to adopt the latest Airworthiness Limitations (Pilatus AMM Chapter 4), replace pitch‑trim actuator attachment parts that have reached or exceeded 9,900 flight hours, and follow revised overhaul/life limits for the pitch trim actuator. It matters because it creates mandatory part life limits and tighter maintenance intervals that operators must schedule and pay for to keep aircraft airworthy."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This AD maintains its original scope as a targeted safety directive addressing fatigue life limits for specific components. It does not expand beyond its original purpose of mandating maintenance program updates and component replacement for the pitch trim actuator attachment parts."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple compliance deadlines with 'whichever occurs first' conditional logic","Cross-references to external technical documents (Pilatus PC-12 document 12-A-04-00-00-00A-000A-A, EASA AD 2008-0163, PC-12 AMM Chapter 4)","Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) provision allowing CD version substitution with specific revision dates","Technical aviation terminology requiring domain knowledge (TIS, TBO, flight hours vs flights, airworthiness limitations)","Nested applicability covering three aircraft variants with 'all serial numbers'","Distinguishing between attachment parts (10,000 hour limit) and the actuator itself (separate TBO and life limit changes)"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of Pilatus PC-12 series aircraft in Australia to update maintenance records and adopt new life limits for the pitch trim actuator attachment. Parts with 9,900+ flight hours must be replaced promptly, attachments are limited to 10,000 hours, actuator overhauls move from 6,000 to 5,000 hours, and the main actuator life is increased to 20,000 hours. The changes prevent fatigue-related failures and mandate short compliance deadlines."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-53-pitch-trim-actuator-attachment-parts","history":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-53-pitch-trim-actuator-attachment-parts/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-53-pitch-trim-actuator-attachment-parts/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-53-pitch-trim-actuator-attachment-parts/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-53-pitch-trim-actuator-attachment-parts/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-pc-12-53-pitch-trim-actuator-attachment-parts/documents"}}