[Federal Register: February 12, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 29)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7084-7086]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe03-12]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2002-NE-43-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 Turboshaft
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Turbomeca S.A.
Arriel 1 series turboshaft engines. This proposal would require initial
and repetitive visual inspections for ingestive erosion, and cleaning
if necessary, of M02 and M03 modules. This proposal is prompted by
reports from the manufacturer of ingestive erosion of M02 and M03
modules. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to
prevent an unbalance of the gas generator rotating assembly which may
lead to deterioration of the gas generator rear bearing and uncommanded
engine shutdown.
DATES: Comments must be received by April 14, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NE-43-AD, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299. Comments may be inspected at
this location, by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Comments may also be sent via
the Internet using the following address: ``9-ane-adcomment@faa.gov''.
Comments sent via the Internet must contain the docket number in the
subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Antonio Cancelliere, Aerospace
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299;
telephone (781) 238-7751; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this action may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this action must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket Number 2002-NE-43-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRM's
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-NE-43-AD, 12 New England Executive
Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299.
[[Page 7085]]
Discussion
The Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the
airworthiness authority for France, recently notified the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) that an unsafe condition may exist on
Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 A, 1 A1, 1 A2, 1 B, 1 C, 1 C1, 1 C2, 1 D, 1 D1,
1 E, 1 E2, 1 K, 1 K1, 1 S, and 1 S1 turboshaft engines. The DGAC
advises that approximately 225 of the Arriel engine fleet operates in a
dusty or erosive atmospheric environment, containing substances such as
laterite, sand, volcanic ash, and chemical particles. This atmospheric
environment can lead to dust accumulation and unbalance of the gas
generator rotating assembly, which may lead to deterioration of the gas
generator rear bearing and also to uncommanded engine shutdown.
Bilateral Agreement Information
This engine model is manufactured in France and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of
the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD
action is necessary for products of this type design that are
certificated for operation in the United States.
Proposed Requirements of This AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 turboshaft engines of
the same type design that are used on helicopters registered in the
United States, the proposed AD would require initial and repetitive
visual inspections for ingestive erosion, and cleaning if necessary, of
M02 and M03 modules.
Economic Analysis
There are approximately 3,560 engines of the affected design in the
worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that about 225 of the 900 engines
installed on aircraft of U.S. registry would be affected by this
proposed AD. The FAA also estimates that it would take approximately
0.2 work hour per engine to perform each axial compressor erosion
inspection, and take approximately 40 work hours per engine to perform
the gas generator rotor assembly cleaning, and that the average labor
rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the total cost of
the proposed AD to perform one inspection and one cleaning to U.S.
operators is estimated to be $542,700.
Regulatory Analysis
This proposed rule does not have federalism implications, as
defined in Executive Order 13132, because it would not have a
substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
Accordingly, the FAA has not consulted with State authorities prior to
publication of this proposed rule.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact,
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under
the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. 2002-NE-43-AD.
Applicability: This airworthiness directive (AD) is applicable
to Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 A, 1 A1, 1 A2, 1 B, 1 C, 1 C1, 1 C2, 1 D,
1 D1, 1 E, 1 E2, 1 K, 1 K1, 1 S, and 1 S1 turboshaft engines. These
engines are installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter AS 350, AS
350B1, AS 350B2, AS 365C, AS 365C2, AS 365N, AS 365N1, AS 365N2, BK
117C1, BK 117C2, Augusta A109 K2, and Sikorsky S76 C helicopters.
Note 1: This AD applies to each engine identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For engines that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance
Compliance with this AD is required as indicated, unless already
done.
To prevent an unbalance of the gas generator rotating assembly
which may lead to deterioration of the gas generator rear bearing
and also to uncommanded engine shutdown, do the following:
Initial Inspections and Cleaning
(a) For engines that have been operated in a dusty or erosive
atmospheric environment containing substances such as laterite,
sand, volcanic ash, and chemical particles, and engines for which
the operating environment cannot be determined, do the following:
(1) Perform an initial visual inspection for erosion of the
axial compressor, within 50 operating hours after the effective date
of this AD. Information on inspecting can be found in Turbomeca S.A.
Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 292 72 0230, dated October 16,
1998.
Modification TU 175 Not Incorporated
(2) For engines that do not have Modification TU 175
incorporated, if axial compressor erosion is above 1.5 millimeters
in area ``D'' as defined in the engine maintenance manual, and if
the M03 module has operated more than 200 hours with this M02
module, clean the M03 module within the next 50 operating hours.
Information on cleaning can be found in Turbomeca S.A. MSB No. 292
72 0230, dated October 16, 1998.
Modification TU 175 Incorporated
(3) For engines that have Modification TU 175 incorporated, if
axial compressor erosion inspection requires the M02 module to be
removed, and if the M03 module has operated more than 400 hours with
this M02 module, clean the M03 module within the next 50 operating
hours. Information on cleaning can be found in Turbomeca S.A. MSB
No. 292 72 0230, dated October 16, 1998.
Reconditioning and Checks
(b) Perform reconditioning and checks of the engines.
Information on reconditioning and checks can be found in Turbomeca
S.A. MSB No. 292 72 0230, dated October 16, 1998.
Repetitive Inspections
(c) Repeat axial compressor erosion inspections within every 200
operating
[[Page 7086]]
hours-since-last-inspection (HSLI) for engines that do not have
Modification TU 175 incorporated, and within every 400 operating
HSLI, for engines that have Modification TU 175 incorporated, as
specified in paragraph (a) of this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Engine Certification Office (ECO).
Operators must submit their request through an appropriate FAA
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send
it to the Manager, ECO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive,
if any, may be obtained from the ECO.
Note 3: A list of authorized repair centers qualified to carry
out gas generator rotating assembly maintenance and cleaning may be
obtained from Turbomeca S.A. or the ECO.
Special Flight Permits
(e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
Sec. Sec. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be done.
Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction
Generale de L'Aviation Civile airworthiness directive 1990-064(A),
Revision 1, dated March 21, 2000.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 5, 2003.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-3473 Filed 2-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P