[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39958-39959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16187]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD;
Amendment 39-17896; AD 2014-14-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop
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
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, PW121, PW121A, PW124B,
PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines. This AD
requires removal of the O-ring seal from the fuel manifold fitting.
This AD was prompted by reports of fuel leaks at the interface between
the fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle that resulted in engine fire. We
are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight fuel leakage, which could lead
to engine fire, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective August 15, 2014.
ADDRESSES: 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: www.pwc.ca.
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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
1059; 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 AD, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is
Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Dickert, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7117;
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 21, 2014 (79 FR
15707). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
There have been reported incidences of fuel leaks at the
interface between the flexible fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle. On
occasion, these events resulted in an engine fire on PW100 series
engine installations. The data indicates that nearly all of the
subject manifold fuel leaks were caused by inadequate B-nut torque
application during installation, after maintenance work was
performed on the fuel nozzle/manifold.
Sealing of the fitting connections between the fuel manifolds
and the fuel nozzle adapters is achieved through conical metal-to-
metal surface seating. An additional O-ring seal on the fitting was
installed to arrest any fuel leak past the conical sealing surfaces.
In-service experience has indicated that leakage past the sealing
surfaces, as a result of improper torquing during installation of
the manifold, may not be immediately evident until the failure of
the O-ring seal allows the fuel to leak into the nacelle area.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received.
Request To Mandate Incorporation of Service Bulletins
UTair Aviation JSC requested that we mandate incorporation of P&WC
Service Bulletins (SBs) PW100-72-21841, Revision No. 1, dated November
29, 2013; and PW100-72-21848, Revision No. 1, dated November 15, 2013,
in the AD. The commenter suggested that incorporation by reference of
these SBs would improve safety compared to the compliance proposed in
the NPRM (79 FR 15707, March 21, 2014).
We disagree. We note that prior to implementation of these SBs, an
operator would need to remove the affected O-ring seals, which would
fulfill the requirements of this AD. We do not find that requiring
accomplishing these service bulletins through incorporation by
reference in this AD is necessary. We did not change this AD.
[[Page 39959]]
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects about 150 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about
2.5 hours per engine to perform the inspection or replacement required
by this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be
$31,875.
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),
(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.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
2014-14-02 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Amendment 39-17896; Docket
No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective August 15, 2014.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120,
PW121, and PW121A turboprop engines with Post SB21610 configuration;
PW124B, PW127, PW127E, and PW127F turboprop engines with either Post
SB21607 or Post SB21705 configuration, or both; and PW127G and
PW127M turboprop engines.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by reports of fuel leaks at the interface
between the fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle that resulted in
engine fire. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight fuel
leakage, which could lead to engine fire, damage to the engine, and
damage to the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, during the next opportunity when the
affected subassembly is accessible, but no later than 18 months
after the effective date of this AD, remove the O-ring seal from the
fuel manifold fitting.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your
request.
(g) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Kevin Dickert,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; phone: (781) 238-7117; fax: (781) 238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD CF-2013-29, dated October
4, 2013, for related information. You may examine the MCAI in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-1059.
(3) P&WC Service Bulletin PW100-72-21803, Revision No. 4, dated
February 8, 2012, which is not incorporated by reference in this AD,
can be obtained from Pratt & Whitney Canada, using the contact
information in paragraph (g)(4) of this AD.
(4) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin Blvd., Longueuil,
Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Web
site: www.pwc.ca.
(5) 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.
(h) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 30, 2014.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16187 Filed 7-10-14; 8:45 am]
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