[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73494-73496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30574]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-1031; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-27-AD;
Amendment 39-16871; AD 2011-24-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B 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:
Non-conformities on adjustment of some hydromechanical units
(HMUs) have been reported by a Turbomeca repair centre. The
technical investigations carried out by Turbomeca are showing that
only a limited number of HMUs are potentially affected by this non-
conformity to HMU adjustment.
Twenty nine HMUs have been identified with the non-conformities. We
are issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded inflight shutdown, which
could result in an emergency autorotation landing.
DATES: This AD becomes effective December 14, 2011.
We must receive comments on this AD by December 29, 2011.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of December 14,
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: 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.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Turbomeca S.A.,
40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33-05-59-74-40-00, fax: 33-05-59-74-45-15.
You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
(781) 238-7125.
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 (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: Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7758;
fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].
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 2011-0128-E, dated July 6, 2011 (referred to
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
Non-conformities on adjustment of some hydromechanical units
(HMUs) have been reported by a Turbomeca repair centre. The
technical investigations carried out by Turbomeca are showing that
only a limited number of HMUs are potentially affected by this non-
conformity to HMU adjustment.
Twenty nine HMUs have been identified with potential non-
conformities in the proper adjustment of
[[Page 73495]]
the metering valve. The exact location of these 29 HMUs is unknown.
This AD requires actions to be done before further flight. You may
obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Turbomeca S.A. has issued Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) No.
A292 73 2841, Version A, dated July 4, 2011, SB No. 292 73 2143, dated
July 24, 2007, and SB No. 292 73 2840, Version A, dated June 28, 2011.
The actions described in this service information are intended to
correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI. The one-time
functional test required by the service bulletin is not a normal engine
run-up test: the one-time functional test involves additional
requirements including mode switching, that are not part of a normal
engine run-up after start.
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, EASA has 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 and is
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
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 this
AD requires either replacing, or functional testing of the HMU 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-2011-1031; Directorate
Identifier 2011-NE-27-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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
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:
2011-24-07 Turbomeca S.A.: Amendment 39-16871; Docket No. FAA-2011-
1031; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-27-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective December
14, 2011.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft engines
with a hydromechanical unit (HMU) that has a part number (P/N) and
serial number (S/N) listed in Table 1 of this AD installed.
Table 1--Affected HMUs
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P/Ns S/Ns
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0292860750 1008B
0292860750 1068B
0292860750 1142B
0292860750 1143B
0292860750 1183B
0292860750 1230B
0292860750 272B
0292860750 275B
0292860750 342B
0292860750 363B
0292860750 422B
0292860750 436B
0292860750 499B
0292860750 524B
0292860750 536B
0292860750 560B
0292860750 598B
0292860750 606B
0292860750 647B
0292860750 652B
0292860750 716B
0292860750 749B
0292860750 763B
0292860750 806B
[[Page 73496]]
0292860750 830B
0292860750 861B
0292860750 944B
0292860750 967B
0292861020 632B
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Reason
(d) 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:
Non-conformities on adjustment of some hydromechanical units
(HMUs) have been reported by a Turbomeca repair centre. The
technical investigations carried out by Turbomeca are showing that
only a limited number of HMUs are potentially affected by this non-
conformity to HMU adjustment.
Twenty nine HMUs have been identified with potential non-
conformities in the proper adjustment of the metering valve. The
exact location of these 29 HMUs is unknown. We are issuing this AD
to prevent an uncommanded inflight shutdown, which could result in
an emergency autorotation landing.
Actions and Compliance
(e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
(f) Before further flight, perform a one-time functional test of
the engine to confirm proper engine operation. This one-time
functional test is not a normal engine run-up test. Use the
instructions in paragraph 2.B.(1)(a) of Turbomeca Alert Mandatory
Service Bulletin No. A292 73 2841, Version A, dated July 4, 2011, to
perform the functional test.
(1) If the engine fails the functional test, replace the HMU
with an HMU eligible for installation.
(2) If the engine passes the functional test, do the following:
(i) Within four months after the effective date of this AD,
install software modification TU143 on the Engine Electronic Control
Unit of the engine. Use paragraph 2.B. of Turbomeca Service Bulletin
No. 292 73 2143, dated July 24, 2007 to do the installation; and
(ii) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD,
replace the HMU with an HMU eligible for installation.
Definition
(g) For the purpose of this AD, an HMU eligible for installation
is defined as one with a serial number not listed in Table 1 of this
AD, or, an HMU that passed when tested using Turbomeca Service
Bulletin No. 292 73 2840.
FAA AD Differences
(h) None.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(i) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve
AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make
your request.
Related Information
(j) Refer to MCAI Airworthiness Directive 2011-0128-E, dated
July 6, 2011, for related information.
(k) Contact Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification
Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7758; fax:
(781) 238-7199, email: [email protected]; for more information
about this AD.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(l) You must use the following service information to do the
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the
following service information on the date specified:
(1) Turbomeca Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin No. A292 73 2841,
Version A, dated July 4, 2011, approved for IBR December 14, 2011.
(2) Turbomeca Service Bulletin No. 292 73 2143, dated July 24,
2007, approved for IBR December 14, 2011.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33-05-59-74-40-00, fax:
33-05-59-74-45-15.
(4) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA,
New England Region, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (781) 238-7125.
(5) You may also review copies of the service information that
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at an NARA facility, call (202) 741-6030 or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on November 14, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30574 Filed 11-28-11; 8:45 am]
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