[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 19, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42609-42610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18170]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0691; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-26-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Lycoming Engines Model TIO 540-A Series
Reciprocating Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); rescission.
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SUMMARY: We propose to rescind an airworthiness directive (AD) for
Lycoming Engines model TIO 540-A series reciprocating engines. The
existing AD, AD 71-13-01 (Amendment 39-1231) resulted from a report of
a failed fuel injector tube assembly.
Since we issued AD 71-13-01, we became aware that Lycoming Engines
no longer supports Service Bulletin (SB) No. 335A, which was
incorporated by reference in AD 71-13-01. The intent of the
requirements of that SB is now in Lycoming Engines Mandatory SB No.
342F. This proposal to rescind AD 71-13-01 allows the public the
opportunity to comment on the FAA's determination of the duplication of
requirements in another AD, before we rescind the engine-level AD.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 2,
2011.
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: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 0590-0001.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations office (phone: 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: Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New
York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone:
516-228-7337; fax: 516-794-5531; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD rescission. Send your comments to an
address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-
2011-0691; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-26-AD'' at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this
proposed AD rescission. We will consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this proposed AD rescission based on 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 proposed AD rescission. 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
[[Page 42610]]
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).
Discussion
In June of 1971, the FAA Engine & Propeller Directorate issued AD
71-13-01. That AD requires a one-time visual inspection of external
fuel injector lines on Lycoming Engines model TIO 540-A series
reciprocating engines for fuel stains, cracks, dents, and bend radii
under \5/8\ inch and, if necessary, removal from service and
replacement with serviceable parts. That AD also requires installing if
necessary, fuel injector line support clamps in accordance with
Lycoming Engines SB No. 335 or later version of that SB.
Since we issued AD 71-13-01, Lycoming Engines has informed us that
it no longer supports SB No. 335A. They also pointed out that Lycoming
Engines Mandatory SB No. 342F, dated June 4, 2010, or the Instructions
for Continued Airworthiness section of the Engine Overhaul Manual is
the service information the owners, operators, and certificated repair
facilities must use for initial and repetitive visual inspections of
external fuel lines, on all affected Lycoming Engines reciprocating
engines.
We incorporated by reference Lycoming Engines Mandatory SB No.
342E, dated May 18, 2004, in AD 2008-14-07 (73 FR 39574, July 10,
2008). We are in the process of issuing a supersedure to that AD, which
will incorporate by reference Lycoming Engines Mandatory SB No. 342F,
dated June 4, 2010.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD Rescission
We are proposing this AD rescission of AD 71-13-01 because we
evaluated all information and determined that the requirements of that
AD are no longer supported by Lycoming Engines SB No. 335A, but are
supported by Mandatory SB No. 342E, Mandatory SB 342F, and the
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness section of the Engine Overhaul
Manual.
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 proposed AD rescission would not have
federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD
rescission 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 this proposed rescission
of a 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. 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 proposed AD rescission and placed it in the AD docket.
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 FAA 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 rescinding airworthiness directive
(AD) 71-13-01, Amendment 39-1231:
Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming Division, AVCO
Corporation): Docket No. FAA-2011-0691; Directorate Identifier 2011-
NE-26-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by September 2, 2011.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD rescinds AD 71-13-01.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Lycoming Engines model TIO 540-A series
reciprocating engines, with serial numbers lower than 1931-61.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 13, 2011.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-18170 Filed 7-18-11; 8:45 am]
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