[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11563-11565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03266]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1005; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-27-AD;
Amendment 39-17349; AD 2013-03-14]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp Turboshaft
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
[[Page 11564]]
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6C-67C turboshaft engines. This
AD requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections to verify the
presence of a retaining ring securing the power turbine (PT) baffle
located near the second stage PT disk. If the engine fails the
inspection, this AD also requires removing the engine from service
before further flight. This AD was prompted by five reported incidents
of second stage PT disk damage. We are issuing this AD to prevent
damage to the PT disk which, if undetected, could cause uncontained PT
disk failure and loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD becomes effective March 26, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of March 26,
2013.
ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email:
[email protected]; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products.
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on October 25, 2012 (77
FR 65142). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
states:
There have been 5 reported incidents of second stage Power
Turbine (PT) disk damage caused by the PT baffle moving and
contacting the downstream side of the second stage PT disk. In two
of these incidents, the PT section of the engine failed to rotate
(on ground) as a result of baffle interference.
An investigation has determined that the root cause for the PT
baffle displacement and the resultant PT disk damage was due to the
failure of the retaining ring that holds the PT baffle in its
intended position.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 65142, October 25,
2012).
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed (77 FR 65142,
October 25, 2012).
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will
affect about 220 engines of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it
will take about six hours per engine to comply with this AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. We anticipate that two engines
will fail the initial inspection. Required parts will cost about
$224,636 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of
the AD on U.S. operators to be $561,472. Our cost estimate is exclusive
of possible warranty coverage.
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.
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 provided in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
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:
2013-03-14 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp: Amendment 39-17349; Docket
No. FAA-2012-1005; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-27-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 26,
2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6C-67C
turboshaft engines that have not had P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) No.
PT6C-72-41056 incorporated.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by five reported incidents of second stage
power turbine (PT) disk damage. We are issuing this AD to prevent
damage to the PT disk which, if undetected, could cause uncontained
PT disk failure and loss of control of the helicopter.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions.
[[Page 11565]]
(f) Borescope Inspections
(1) Borescope-inspect to verify the presence of a retaining ring
securing the PT baffle located near the second stage PT disk, as
follows:
(i) For engines with 2,200 PT cycles or more on the effective
date of this AD, inspect within 100 operating hours or 150 PT
cycles, whichever occurs first.
(ii) For engines with more than 1,400 PT cycles but fewer than
2,200 PT cycles on the effective date of this AD, inspect within 250
operating hours, 350 PT cycles, or before exceeding 2,350 PT cycles,
whichever occurs first.
(iii) For engines with 1,400 PT cycles or fewer on the effective
date of this AD, inspect within 500 operating hours, 750 PT cycles,
or before exceeding 1,750 PT cycles, whichever occurs first.
(2) Thereafter, repetitively borescope-inspect to verify the
presence of the retaining ring securing the PT baffle located near
the second stage PT disk, on or before an additional 600 flight
hours or 900 PT cycles, whichever occurs first.
(3) Use P&WC Alert SB No. PT6C-72-A41060, Revision 3, dated
October 11, 2012, paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(6) to do the
borescope inspections required by this AD.
(4) If the retaining ring is missing or the PT baffle is out of
position, then remove the engine from service before further flight.
(g) Optional Terminating Action
Performing the engine improvement modifications in P&WC SB No.
PT6C-72-41056, Revision 5, dated January 17, 2013, paragraphs 3.A.
through 3.C.(12) and 3.E.(1) through 3.E.(15), is an optional
terminating action to the repetitive inspections required by this
AD.
(h) Credit for Previous Actions
(1) If you performed the initial borescope inspection before the
effective date of this AD using P&WC Special Instruction No. 45-
2011R2, dated July 27, 2011, or P&WC Alert SB No. PT6C-72-A41060,
dated August 12, 2011, or Revision 1, dated September 29, 2011, or
Revision 2, dated February 10, 2012, you met the requirements of
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.
(2) If you performed the engine modification before the
effective date of this AD using P&WC SB No. PT6C-72-41056, dated
April 1, 2011, or Revision 1, dated June 17, 2011, or Revision 2,
dated October 6, 2011, or Revision 3, dated February 3, 2012, or
Revision 4, dated February 13, 2012, you met the requirements of
this AD and no further action is required.
(i) 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.
(j) 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; email: [email protected]; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-
238-7199.
(2) Refer to Transport Canada AD CF-2012-24, dated August 2,
2012, for related information.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp (P&WC) Alert Service Bulletin
(SB) No. PT6C-72-A41060, Revision 3, dated October 11, 2012.
(ii) P&WC SB No. PT6C-72-41056, Revision 5, dated January 17,
2013.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec,
Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Web site:
http://www.pwc.ca.
(4) 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.
(5) You may view this service information 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.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 1, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03266 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
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