[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9007-9009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02731]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0024; Directorate Identifier 2000-NE-12-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive
(AD) that applies to all Turbomeca S.A. Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F
turboshaft engines. The existing AD currently requires replacement of
injector manifolds and borescope-inspection of the flame tube and the
high-pressure (HP) turbine area for possible damage. Since we issued
that AD, we received a report that the corrective actions of the
existing AD were insufficient to eliminate the unsafe condition. This
proposed AD would require, depending on the engine model, repetitive
replacements of fuel injection manifolds and the privilege injector,
or, repetitive replacements of the privilege injector. We are proposing
this AD to prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of Arrius 2B1 and
2F turboshaft engines and damage to the helicopter.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 8, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Turbomeca,
40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; telex: 570 042; fax:
33 (0)5 59 74 45 15. You may view this 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 Management Facility
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 Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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 & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7176;
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
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-2013-0024;
Directorate Identifier 2000-NE-12-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 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 we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
On January 9, 2006, we issued AD 2001-08-14R1, Amendment 39-14423
(71 FR 2993, January 19, 2006), for all Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F
turboshaft engines. That AD requires replacement of injector manifolds
and borescope inspection of the flame tube and the HP turbine area.
That AD resulted from reports from the Direction Generale de L'Aviation
Civile (DGAC), which was the airworthiness authority for France, of
partially or totally blocked fuel injection manifolds found during
inspections at a repair workshop. We issued that AD to prevent engine
flameout during rapid deceleration, or the inability to maintain the
2.5 minutes
[[Page 9008]]
OEI rating, and to prevent injector air path cracks, due to blockage of
the fuel injection manifolds.
Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued
Since we issued AD 2001-08-14R1, Amendment 39-14423 (71 FR 2993,
January 19, 2006), Turbomeca reported that the corrective actions in
that AD were insufficient to eliminate the unsafe condition. During
inspections carried out at the repair workshop, some main injectors
were found totally or partially blocked. In response, the European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the
Member States of the European Community, issued EASA AD 2012-0249,
dated November 21, 2012, to mandate replacements of the fuel injection
manifolds and privilege injector on Arrius 2B1 turboshaft engines, and,
EASA AD 2012-0150, dated August 8, 2012, to mandate replacements of the
privilege injector on Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. Also, since we
issued AD 2001-08-14R1, the Arrius 2B engine model is no longer in
service and has been removed from the engine Type Certificate Data
Sheet No. E34NE, as requested by the manufacturer.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed Turbomeca S.A. Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB)
No. A319 73 2012, Version I, dated November 12, 2012. That Alert MSB
describes Arrius 2B1 engine procedures for replacing, checking, or
cleaning the injector manifolds and the privilege injector. We also
reviewed Turbomeca S.A. Alert MSB No. A319 73 4001, Version K, dated
February 10, 2012. That Alert MSB describes procedures for cleaning or
replacing the Arrius 2F privilege injector.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require, for Arrius 2B1 turboshaft engines,
initial and repetitive replacement of the fuel injection manifold and
the privilege injector within 200 hours time-since-new (TSN) or since
the last accomplishment of Turbomeca S.A. Alert MSB No. A319 73 2012,
Version I, dated November 12, 2012, whichever occurs first. This
proposed AD would also require, for Arrius 2F turboshaft engines,
initial and repetitive replacement of the privilege injector before
exceeding 400 hours TSN or since the last accomplishment of Turbomeca
S.A. Alert MSB No. A319 73 4001, Version K, dated February 10, 2012,
whichever occurs first.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 38 Arrius 2B1
engines and about 93 Arrius 2F engines installed on helicopters of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about two hours per
engine to replace the injector manifolds and about one hour per engine
to replace the privilege injector. The average labor rate is $85 per
hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD
on U.S. operators to be $663,615.
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),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and
(4) 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.
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
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 removing airworthiness directive (AD)
2001-08-14R1, Amendment 39-14423 (71 FR 2993, January 19, 2006), and
adding the following new AD:
Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0024; Directorate Identifier
2000-NE-12-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by April 8,
2013.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD supersedes AD 2001-08-14R1, Amendment 39-14423 (71 FR
2993, January 19, 2006).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Turbomeca S.A. Arrius models 2B1 and 2F
turboshaft engines.
(d) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report that the corrective actions of
AD 2001-08-14R1, Amendment 39 14423 (71 FR 2993, January 19, 2006)
were insufficient to eliminate the unsafe condition. We are issuing
this AD to prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of Arrius 2B1
and 2F turboshaft engines and damage to the helicopter.
(e) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(f) Arrius 2B1 Turboshaft Engines
(1) Replace the fuel injector manifolds and privilege injector
with parts eligible for installation before exceeding 200 operating
hours time-since-new (TSN) or since last inspection of the fuel
injection manifolds or privilege injector, whichever comes first.
(2) Borescope-inspect the flame tube and the high-pressure
turbine area for turbine distress.
(3) Thereafter, within every 200 operating hours time-in-service
(TIS) since last fuel injector manifolds and privilege injector
[[Page 9009]]
replacement, replace the fuel injector manifolds and the privilege
injector with parts eligible for installation.
(g) Arrius 2F Turboshaft Engines
(1) Replace the privilege injector with a privilege injector
eligible for installation before exceeding 400 operating hours TSN
or since last inspection on the privilege injector, whichever occurs
first.
(2) Borescope-inspect the flame tube and the high-pressure
turbine area for turbine distress.
(3) Thereafter, within every 400 operating hours TIS since last
privilege injector replacement, replace the privilege injector with
parts eligible for installation.
(h) Definition
For the purposes of this AD, time-in-service (TIS) is defined as
the number of engine operating hours on the manifolds since the
manifolds were new or since the manifolds were last cleaned,
whichever is more.
(i) Installation Prohibitions
(1) For Arrius 2B1 turboshaft engines, after the effective date
of this AD, do not install fuel injector manifolds or a privilege
injector on an engine, or an engine on a helicopter, unless the fuel
injection manifold and privilege injector have accumulated fewer
than 200 operating hours since new, or since last inspection.
(2) For Arrius 2F turboshaft engines, after the effective date
of this AD, do not install a privilege injector on an engine, or an
engine on a helicopter, unless the privilege injector has
accumulated fewer than 400 operating hours since new, or since last
inspection.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for
this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your
request.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact James Lawrence,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) See European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2012-0150, dated
August 8, 2012, and AD 2012-0249, dated November 21, 2012, Turbomeca
S.A. Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. A319 73 2012,
Version I, dated November 12, 2012, and Turbomeca S.A. Alert MSB No.
A319 73 4001, Version K, dated February 10, 2012, for related
information.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; telex:
570 042; fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 15. You may view this 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 January 30, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-02731 Filed 2-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P