[Federal Register: April 14, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 70)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 17075-17077]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ap09-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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[[Page 17075]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2009-0302; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-09-AD;
Amendment 39-15881; AD 2009-08-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, 2B, and
2B1 Turboshaft Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:
During production of Arriel 1 and Arriel 2 power turbine (PT)
wheels, geometric non-conformances on blade fir tree roots have been
detected by Turbomeca. Potentially non-conforming PT blades have
been traced as having been installed on Module M04 (PT) listed in
Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) A292 72 0827 for Arriel 1
engines and A292 72 2833 for Arriel 2 engines. The geometric non-
conformities of the blades may potentially lead to a reduction in
the fatigue resistance of PT blades to a lower level than their
authorized in service use limit. This reduction of fatigue
resistance can potentially result in blade release, which could
cause an uncommanded in-flight shutdown.
Uncommanded in-flight shutdown could result in an emergency
autorotation landing. We are issuing this AD to prevent release of PT
blades, which could result in uncommanded in-flight shutdown and
emergency autorotation landing.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 29, 2009.
We must receive comments on this AD by May 14, 2009.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of Turbomeca Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. A292
72 0827, Version A, dated March 20, 2009, and Turbomeca Alert MSB No.
A292 72 0827, Version A, dated March 20, 2009, listed in the AD as of
April 29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC
20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is the same as
the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
james.lawrence@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7176, fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2009-0068-E, dated March 25, 2009 (referred to
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
During production of Arriel 1 and Arriel 2 power turbine (PT)
wheels, geometric non-conformances on blade fir tree roots have been
detected by Turbomeca. Potentially non-conforming PT blades have
been traced as having been installed on Module M04 (PT) listed in
Alert MSB A292 72 0827 for Arriel 1 engines and A292 72 2833 for
Arriel 2 engines. The geometric non-conformities of the blades may
potentially lead to a reduction in the fatigue resistance of PT
blades to a lower level than their authorized in service use limit.
This reduction of fatigue resistance can potentially result in blade
release, which could cause an uncommanded in-flight shutdown.
Uncommanded in-flight shutdown could result in an emergency
autorotation landing. You may obtain further information by examining
the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Turbomeca has issued Alert MSB No. A292 72 0827, Version A, dated
March 20, 2009, for Arriel 1 series turboshaft engines, and issued
Alert MSB No. A292 72 2833, Version A, dated March 20, 2009, for Arriel
2 series turboshaft engines. The power turbine modules M04 having the
affected PT blades, are listed by serial number (SN) in Figure 1 of
these MSBs, as applicable. We have incorporated by reference these MSBs
to identify the affected parts.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we required different actions
in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any
such differences are described in a separate paragraph of the AD. These
requirements take precedence over the actions copied from the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of France
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our
bilateral agreement with France, they have notified us of the unsafe
condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced
above. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information
provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists
[[Page 17076]]
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design. This AD requires removing the affected PT blades from service.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because
depending on the number of cycles already accumulated on some engines,
the actions specified in this AD might require immediate incorporation
before further flight. Therefore, we determined that notice and
opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable
and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer
than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-0302; Directorate
Identifier 2009-NE-09-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of
those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets,
including, if provided, 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).
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 determined that this AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
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. 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2009-08-08 Turbomeca: Amendment 39-15881; Docket No. FAA-2009-0302;
Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-09-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April
29, 2009.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to:
(1) Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 turboshaft engines with the
power turbine modules M04 installed, as listed by serial number (SN)
in Figure 1 of Turbomeca Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No.
A292 72 0827, Version A, dated March 20, 2009; and
(2) Turbomeca Arriel 2B, and 2B1 turboshaft engines with the
power turbine modules M04 installed, as listed by SN in Figure 1 of
Turbomeca Alert MSB No. A292 72 2833, Version A, dated March 20,
2009.
(3) These engines are installed on, but not limited to,
Eurocopter AS 350 B, AS 350 BA, AS 350 B1, AS 350 B2, AS 350 B3, and
EC 130 B4 helicopters.
Reason
(d) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2009-0068-E,
dated March 25, 2009, states:
During production of Arriel 1 and Arriel 2 power turbine (PT)
wheels, geometric non-conformances on blade fir tree roots have been
detected by Turbomeca. Potentially non-conforming PT blades have
been traced as having been installed on Module M04 (PT) listed in
Alert MSB A292 72 0827 for Arriel 1 engines and A292 72 2833 for
Arriel 2 engines. The geometric non-conformities of the blades may
potentially lead to a reduction in the fatigue resistance of PT
blades to a lower level than their authorized in service use limit.
This reduction of fatigue resistance can potentially result in blade
release, which could cause an uncommanded in-flight shutdown.
Uncommanded in-flight shutdown could result in an emergency
autorotation landing. We are issuing this AD to prevent release of
PT blades, which could result in uncommanded in-flight shutdown and
emergency autorotation landing.
Actions and Compliance
(e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) For engines with an affected Module M04 (PT module) which
has accumulated 1,000 total PT cycles or more on the effective date
of this AD, remove the PT blades from service before further flight.
(2) For engines with an affected Module M04 (PT module) which
has accumulated fewer than 1,000 total PT cycles on the effective
date of this AD, remove the PT blades from service before
accumulating 1,000 total PT cycles.
(3) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any PT
blades removed as specified in paragraph (e)(1) or (e)(2) of this
AD, into any engine.
FAA AD Differences
(f) Although the compliance section of EASA AD No. 2009-0068-E,
dated March 25, 2009, states to replace the Module M04, or PT wheel
assembly, or PT blades, this AD states to remove the PT blades from
service.
(g) Although EASA AD No. 2009-0068-E, dated March 25, 2009,
applies to the Arriel
[[Page 17077]]
2B1A engine, this AD does not apply to that model because it has no
U.S. type certificate.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(i) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2009-0068-E,
dated March 25, 2009, for related information.
(j) Contact James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
james.lawrence@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7176, fax (781) 238-
7199, for more information about this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(k) You must use the service information specified in Table 1 of
this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD
specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone 33 05 59 74 40 00, fax 33
05 59 74 45 15.
(3) You may review copies at the FAA, New England Region, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go
to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Table 1--Material Incorporated by Reference
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Turbomeca Alert Mandatory Service
Bulletin No. Page Version Date
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A292 72 0827..................... All.................. A.................... March 20, 2009.
Total pages: 17
A292 72 2833..................... All.................. A.................... March 20, 2009.
Total Pages: 17
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Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 6, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-8329 Filed 4-13-09; 8:45 am]
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