FAA Issued Safety Directive on Montana Plane

Just 12 days before the fatal crash of a Pilatus PC-12 killed 14 people in Montana, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) issued an airworthiness directive on the plane, requiring that a safety inspection be performed to check for a problem that could reduce the effectiveness of the plane's controls. 

The directive is not effective until March 30th, at which date the owner would be required to do the inspection within 150 flight hours.

Prior to the FAA directive, the plane's manufacturer sent out a service bulletin in January and the European Aviation Safety Agency issued its own directive in late February, regarding potential problems with the plan's stick-pusher.