[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53154-53155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21524]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2012 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 53154]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Models
TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 Reciprocating Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines. This proposed
AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown of an airplane equipped with a
TAE 125-02-99 engine. This proposed AD would require inspection of the
oil filler plug vent hole at the next scheduled maintenance or within
110 flight hours after the effective date of this AD. If chips are
found to be blocking the vent hole, additional corrective action is
required before next flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent engine
in-flight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting in reduced control
of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 30,
2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking 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 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 proposed AD, contact
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350,
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-696-
2912; email: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com. You may review copies of the
referenced 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 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: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email:
[email protected]; telephone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0885;
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD 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. 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).
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 No. 2012-0112, dated June 22, 2012 (referred to
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
An engine in-flight shutdown has been reported on an aeroplane
equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine. The results of the
investigation showed that this was due to blockage of the gearbox
oil filling plug vent hole, which caused pressurisation in the
gearbox, resulting in oil leakage and a slipping clutch. This
condition, if not corrected, could result in further cases of engine
in-flight shutdown and consequent loss of control of the aeroplane.
Further investigation revealed that the blockage to the oil cap
vent was the result of a residual chip from machining the oil cap vent
hole. The chip is from the manufacturing process and did not fall off
the oil plug. This is not the result of material in the oil system
causing the blockage. You may obtain further information including the
affected gearbox serial number list by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
Thielert Aircraft Engines has issued Service Bulletin TM TAE 125-
1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated April 27, 2012. The actions described in
this service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition
identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by Germany and is approved for
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement
with Germany, EASA has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI and
[[Page 53155]]
service information referenced above. We are proposing 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. The proposed AD would require inspection of the
oil filler plug vent hole at the next scheduled maintenance or within
110 flight hours after the effective date of this AD. If chips are
found to be blocking the vent hole, additional corrective action is
required before next flight.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 45 engines
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would
take about 2.5 work-hours per product to comply with this proposed AD.
The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost
about $30 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of
the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $10,913.
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 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 this 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. 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 and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, 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 adding the following new AD:
Thielert Aircraft Engines: Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate
Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by October 30, 2012.
(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all TAE 125-09-99 and TAE 125-02-114
reciprocating engines.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown of an airplane
equipped with an TAE 125-02-99 engine. We are issuing this AD to
prevent engine in-flight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting
in reduced control of the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, within 110 flight hours after the effective
date of this AD, or at the next scheduled maintenance, do the
following.
(1) Remove the oil filler plug and check for chips blocking the
vent hole in accordance with TAE Service Bulletin (S/B) TM TAE 125-
1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated April 27, 2012.
(2) If chips are found during the inspection in paragraph (e)(1)
of this AD, disassemble the gearbox and check the radial shaft
sealing rings (at the clutch and the propeller shaft) for leakage.
If leakage is noted, replace the gearbox before the next flight.
(f) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install a gearbox
with an S/N listed in TAE S/B TM TAE 125-1015, Initial Issued, dated
April 27, 2012, into any engine unless the oil filler plug has
passed the inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
(h) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Frederick Zink,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; email: [email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7779; fax
(781) 238-7199.
(2) Refer to MCAI Airworthiness Directive No. 2012-0112, dated
June 22, 2012, and TAE S/B TM TAE 125-1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated
April 27, 2012 for related information.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350,
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-
696-2912; email: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com. You may review copies
of the referenced 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.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 24, 2012.
Robert G. Mann,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21524 Filed 8-30-12; 8:45 am]
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