[Federal Register: November 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 216)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65430-65432]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08no06-19]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2005-22039; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-33-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F 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 revise an existing airworthiness directive
(AD) for Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. That AD currently
requires replacing certain O-rings on the check valve piston in the
lubrication unit, at repetitive intervals. This proposed AD would
require the same actions except reduce the applicability from all
Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines, to Turbomeca S.A. Arrius
2F turboshaft engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75.
This proposed AD results from Turbomeca S.A. introducing a check valve
piston design requiring no O-ring. We are proposing this AD to prevent
an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine, which could result in
a forced autorotation landing and damage to the helicopter.
DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by January 8,
2007.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD.
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.
Contact Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone 33 05 59 74
40 00, fax 33 05 59 74 45 15, for the service information identified in
this AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Spinney, Aerospace
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803,
telephone (781) 238-7175; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-22039;
Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-33-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
DMS 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 DMS Docket Office
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
[[Page 65431]]
in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.
Discussion
On August 17, 2005, we issued AD 2005-17-17, Amendment 39-14328 (70
FR 50164, August 26, 2005). That AD requires replacing certain O-rings
on the check valve piston in the lubrication unit, at repetitive
intervals. That AD resulted from an uncommanded in-flight engine
shutdown (IFSD) of an Arrius 2F engine, resulting in the forced landing
of a Eurocopter EC120B helicopter. Investigation of the engine found
that an interruption of engine lubrication due to excessive swelling of
the check valve O-ring in the lubrication unit caused the IFSD. The
amount of swelling of the O-ring depends on the class of oil used,
standard (STD) or high-thermal stability (HTS), and the engine
operating time.
Actions Since AD 2005-17-17 Was Issued
Since AD 2005-17-17 was issued, Turbomeca S.A. issued Service
Bulletin (SB) No. 319 79 4075, dated February 27, 2006, that introduces
modification Tf75. That modification replaces the check valve piston
with a piston not requiring the O-ring. Arrius 2F engines with
modification Tf75 incorporated, no longer need repetitive replacements
of a check-valve piston O-ring, because there is no O-ring installed.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Turbomeca
S.A. SB No. 319 79 4802, dated April 3, 2006, that describes procedures
for replacing the O-ring on the check valve piston in the lubrication
unit on Arrius 2F engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75.
EASA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD No.
2006-0141, dated May 29, 2006, in order to ensure the airworthiness of
these engines in Europe.
Bilateral Agreement Information
This engine model is manufactured in France and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
Section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. In keeping with this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, EASA kept us informed of the
situation described above. We have examined the findings of EASA,
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.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products
of this same type design. We are proposing this AD, which would require
replacing certain O-rings on the check valve piston in the lubrication
unit, at repetitive intervals on Arrius 2F turboshaft engines that have
not incorporated modification Tf75. The proposed AD would require that
you do these actions using the service information described
previously.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 124 engines
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would
take about 1 work-hour per engine to perform the proposed actions, and
that the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would
cost about $100 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the
cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators, for one O-ring replacement
to be $22,320 for the fleet, or $180 per engine.
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
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
Accordingly, 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 removing Amendment 39-14238 (70 FR
50164, August 26, 2005) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, to
read as follows:
Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2005-22039; Directorate Identifier
2005-NE-33-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by January 8,
2007.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD revises AD 2005-17-17.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft
engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75. These engines
are installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter EC120B helicopters.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from Turbomeca S.A. introducing a check
valve piston design requiring no O-ring. We are issuing this AD to
prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine, which could
result in a forced autorotation landing and damage to the
helicopter.
[[Page 65432]]
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.
O-Ring Replacement
(f) Replace the O-ring on the check valve piston in the
lubrication unit at the intervals specified in Table 1 of this AD.
Use the ``Instructions to be Incorporated,'' 2.A. through 2.C. (2)
of Turbomeca Alert Service Bulletin No. A319 79 4802, dated April 3,
2006, to replace the O-ring.
Table 1.--Compliance Times for O-ring Replacement
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Then replace the O- Thereafter, replace
If the class of oil is . . ring by the later of the O-ring within .
.* . . . . .
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(1) HTS or unknown.......... 300 hours time-since- 300 hours time-since-
new (TSN) or 50 last replacement
hours after the (TSR).
effective date of
this AD.
(2) STD..................... 450 hours TSN or 50 500 hours TSR.
hours after the
effective date of
this AD.
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Alternative Methods of Compliance
(g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(h) European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directive No.
2006-0141, dated May 29, 2006, also addresses the subject of this
AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 1, 2006.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18839 Filed 11-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P