[Federal Register: November 10, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 217)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 68381-68384]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10no05-23]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22594; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-28-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly
Allison Engine Company, Allison Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit
Diesel Allison) 250-B and 250-C Series Turboprop and Turboshaft Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for Rolls-Royce Corporation 250-B and 250-C series turboprop and
turboshaft engines with certain part numbers (P/Ns) of gas producer
rotor assembly tie bolts manufactured by EXTEX Ltd., Pacific Sky Supply
Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC), and Superior Air Parts Inc. This
proposed AD would require operators to remove from service affected gas
producer rotor assembly tie bolts. This proposed AD results from eleven
reports of RRC tie bolt failure due to high cycle fatigue. We are
proposing this AD to prevent tie bolt failure that could cause loss of
engine power, resulting in a first stage turbine wheel overspeed and an
uncontained engine failure.
DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by January 9,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD.
[[Page 68382]]
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You may examine the comments on this proposed AD in the AD docket
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Baitoo, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 3960
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; telephone: (562) 627-5245,
fax: (562) 627-5210, for questions about, EXTEX Ltd., or Pacific Sky
Supply Inc. gas producer rotor assembly tie bolts.
John Tallarovic, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago Aircraft
Certification Office, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL
60018-4696; telephone (847) 294-8180; fax (847) 294-7834, for questions
about RRC gas producer rotor assembly tie bolts.
Jurgen Priester, Aerospace Engineer, Rotorcraft
Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76137-4298,
telephone (817) 222-5159, fax (817) 222-5785, for questions about
Superior Air Part Inc. gas producer rotor assembly tie bolts.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-22594;
Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-28-AD'' in the subject line of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the
DOT Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union,
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the proposal, any comments
received and, any final disposition in person at the DOT Docket Offices
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on
the plaza level of the Department of Transportation Nassif Building at
the street address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management Facility receives
them.
Discussion
The FAA has received eleven reports of failures of RRC manufactured
tie bolts due to high cycle fatigue. The FAA believes that all of these
failures are due to the inherent design of the part, which is also
common to all of the PMA parts. Therefore, this AD requires removal of
all RR and PMA tie-bolts. RRC has redesigned the tie bolt to minimize
the risk of failure by high cycle fatigue. RRC manufactured these tie
bolts under type and production certificate authority. EXTEX Ltd.,
Pacific Sky Supply Inc., and Superior Air Parts Inc. each independently
manufactured replacement gas producer rotor assembly tie bolts under
Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) authority. There have been no
reported failures of PMA parts. The engines are installed in single-
engine helicopters, along with several turboprop airplanes. This
condition, if not corrected, could cause loss of engine power,
resulting in a first stage turbine wheel overspeed and an uncontained
engine failure.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information from the four
manufacturers' safety assessments and have identified an unsafe
condition that is likely to exist or develop in other RRC 250-B17, -
B17B, -B17C, -B17D, -B17E, -B17F, -B17F/1, -B17F/2, 250-C18, -C20, -
C20B, -C20F, -C20J, -C20R, -C20R/1, -C20R/2, -C20R/4, -C20S, and -C20W
series turboprop and turboshaft engines that have any of the following
gas producer rotor assembly tie bolts installed:
EXTEX Ltd.: P/N A23008020, and E23008020
Pacific Sky Supply Inc.: P/N 23008020P
Rolls-Royce Corporation: P/Ns 23008020, 6843388 and
6876991
Superior Air Parts Inc.: P/N A23008020
We are proposing this AD, which would remove these P/N gas producer
rotor assembly tie bolts as specified in the compliance section of this
proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
About 4,000 RRC 250-B and 250-C Series turboprop and turboshaft
engines with affected P/Ns of gas producer rotor assembly tie bolts
manufactured by EXTEX Ltd., Pacific Sky Supply Inc., Rolls-Royce
Corporation (RRC), and Superior Air Parts Inc. are in the worldwide
fleet. We estimate that 700 engines installed on aircraft of U.S.
registry would be affected by this proposed AD. We also estimate that
it would take about 20 work hours per engine to perform the proposed
actions, and that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required
parts would cost about $421 per engine. Based on these figures, we
estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be
$1,204,700.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
[[Page 68383]]
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location
to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the
Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly Allison Engine Company, Allison
Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit Diesel Allison): Docket No. FAA-
2005-22594; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-28-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by January 9,
2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly Allison
Engine Company, Allison Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit Diesel
Allison) 250-B17, -B17B, -B17C, -B17D, -B17E, -B17F, -B17F/1, -B17F/
2, 250-C18, -C20, -C20B, -C20F, -C20J, -C20R, -C20R/1, -C20R/2, -
C20R/4, -C20S, and -C20W series turboprop and turboshaft engines
with the gas producer rotor assembly tie bolt part numbers (P/Ns)
listed in the following Table 1, installed:
Table 1.--Affected Gas Producer Rotor Assembly Tie Bolts
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Manufacturer Affected part Nos.
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EXTEX Ltd. (EXTEX)..................... A23008020 and E23008020.
Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC).......... 23008020, 6843388 and 6876991.
Superior Air Parts Inc. (SAP).......... A23008020.
Pacific Sky Supply Inc................. 23008020P.
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These engines are installed on, but not limited to, aircraft in
the following Table 2:
Table 2.--Applicable Aircraft
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Helicopter Models
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Agusta................................. A109, A109A, A109A II, A109C.
Arrow Falcon Exporters................. OH-58A+ and OH-58C.
Bell Textron........................... 206A, 206B, 206L.
Enstrom................................ TH-28, 480, 480B.
Eurocopter France...................... AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1,
AS355F2.
Eurocopter Deutschland................. BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105S.
FH-1100 Manufacturing Corp............. FH-1100.
Garlick................................ OH-58A+ and OH-58C.
McDonnell Douglas Company.............. 369D, 369E, 369F, 369H, 369HM,
369HS, 369HE, 500N.
San Joaquin............................ OH-58A+ and OH-58C.
Schweizer.............................. 269D.
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Aircraft Models
----------------------------------------
B-N Group Ltd.......................... BN-2T and BN-2T-4R.
SIAI Marchetti s.r.l................... SF600, SF600A.
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Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from eleven reports of RRC tie bolt failure
due to high cycle fatigue. We are issuing this AD to prevent tie
bolt failure that could cause loss of engine power, resulting in a
first stage turbine wheel overspeed and an uncontained engine
failure.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the
actions have already been done.
Remove Gas Producer Rotor Assembly Tie Bolts
(f) Remove the P/N gas producer rotor assembly tie bolts listed
in Table 1 of this AD from service the next time they are
disassembled for any reason, or by October 31, 2011, whichever
occurs first.
(g) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any gas
producer rotor assembly tie bolt P/Ns listed in Table 1 of this AD
in any RRC 250-B and 250-C Series turboprop and turboshaft engines.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(h) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, has
the authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for
EXTEX, and Pacific Sky Supply Inc. gas producer rotor assembly tie
bolts addressed in this AD, if requested, using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. The Manager,
[[Page 68384]]
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, has the authority to approve
alternative methods of compliance for RRC gas producer rotor
assembly tie bolts addressed in this AD, if requested, using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. The Manager, Southwest Special
Certification Office, has the authority to approve alternative
methods of compliance for SAP gas producer rotor assembly tie bolts
addressed in this AD, if requested, using the procedures found in 14
CFR 39.19.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) None.
Related Information
(j) RRC Commercial Engine Bulletin (CEB) CEB A-304, CEB A-1371,
CEB A-72-4076, TP CEB A-176, TP CEB A-1319, TP CEB A-72-2027,
Revision N/C dated May 23, 2005, and EXTEX Service Bulletin T-090,
Revision N/C, dated May 23, 2005, pertain to the subject of this AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 4, 2005.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-22437 Filed 11-9-05; 8:45 am]
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