AD 98-08-26 63 FR 19390

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Models PC-12 and PC- 12/45 airplanes. This AD requires installing aluminum bonding bushings over certain screws in certain fuel tank underwing access panels. Several reports from the field revealing fuel tank access panels insufficiently electrically bonded to the airframe prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent electrical arcing in the fuel tanks and detonation of the fuel-air mixture, which can be created by poor electrical bonding of fuel tank underwing access panels, and could result in a fire on the airplane.