[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73147-73148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29748]
========================================================================
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.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 226 / Tuesday, November 24, 2015 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 73147]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-4070; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-31-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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines. This proposed AD
was prompted by reports of uncommanded in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs).
This proposed AD would require removing the tachometer box on affected
engines. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the tachometer
box, which could lead to failure of the engine, IFSD, and loss of
control of the helicopter.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 25,
2016.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
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
Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
4070; 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 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 in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in
the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Haberlen, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7770;
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-2015-4070;
Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-31-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM 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 NPRM.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD 2015-0175, dated August 24, 2015 (referred to hereinafter as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
There have been reports of Arriel 1E2 engines having experienced
an uncommanded in-flight shut-down (IFSD) due to an untimely
activation of the tachometer box shut-off system which was activated
by the power turbine monitoring function of the tachometer box.
This condition, if not corrected, could potentially lead to
further cases of IFSD, possibly resulting in a forced landing.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-4070.
Related Service Information
Turbomeca S.A. has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 292 77
0844, Version B, dated July 6, 2015. The service information describes
procedures for removing pre-TU 369 tachometer boxes. This service
information is reasonably available because the interested parties have
access to it through their normal course of business or by the means
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed 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 the European Community, EASA has notified us
of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 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. This NPRM would require removing the pre-TU 369 tachometer box
from the engine.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 200 engines installed on
helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about
3 hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor
rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of
this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $51,000.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue
[[Page 73148]]
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),
(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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2015-4070; Directorate Identifier
2015-NE-31-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by January 25, 2016.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
(1) This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1E2 turboshaft
engines with tachometer boxes with the following part number (P/N)
and serial number (S/N) combinations:
(i) P/N 9580116170--all S/Ns
(ii) P/N 9580116260--all S/Ns
(iii) P/N 9580116900--all S/Ns
(iv) P/N 9580117110--all S/Ns
(v) P/N 9580117550--all S/Ns 1499 and below with or without
suffix letters and all S/Ns 1500 and above that do not contain the
suffix letters EL.
(2) This AD applies only to Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1E2 turboshaft
engines with tachometer boxes identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this
AD that also have installed electrical connectors labeled as P10106,
P10098, and P10108 or P11F, P13F, and P15F.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by reports of uncommanded in-flight
shutdowns (IFSDs). We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the
tachometer box, which could lead to failure of the engine, IFSD, and
loss of control of the helicopter.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(1) Within 1,600 flight hours after the effective date of this
AD, remove the affected tachometer box from the engine.
(2) Reserved.
(f) Credit for Previous Action
You may take credit for the action required by paragraph (e) of
this AD if you performed the action before the effective date of
this AD in accordance with Turbomeca S.A. MSB 292 77 0844, Version
A, dated March 4, 2015 or earlier version.
(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 to make your
request. You may email your request to: [email protected].
(h) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Philip Haberlen,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; phone: 781-238-7770; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2015-0175,
dated August 24, 2015, which includes Mandatory Service Bulletin No.
292 77 0844, Version B, dated July 6, 2015, 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-2015-4070.
(3) 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 November 12, 2015.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-29748 Filed 11-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P