[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20222-20224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07843]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2016-3692; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-05-AD;
Amendment 39-18458; AD 2016-07-13]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11 turboprop engines. This AD requires
inspection of the engine power turbine (PT) disk and, if found damaged,
its replacement with a part eligible for installation. This AD was
prompted by discovery of damage to certain engine PT disks during
engine shop visits. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the
engine PT disk, which could result in release of high-energy debris,
damage to the engine, and reduced control of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective April 22, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 22,
2016.
We must receive comments on this AD by May 23, 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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., 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 AD, contact GE Aviation
Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9--Let[ncaron]any,
Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 538 222. You may
view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-
238-7125. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
3692.
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-2016-
3692; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI), 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: Kenneth Steeves, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7765; fax: 781-
238-7199; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-3692; Directorate
Identifier 2016-NE-05-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this 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
with FAA personnel concerning this AD.
[[Page 20223]]
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD 2016-0025-E, dated January 26, 2016 (corrected January 27, 2016)
(referred to hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:
During engine shop visits or overhauls, certain power turbine
(PT) disks may have been damaged in the area of the balance weights.
Additional PT disks with non-conforming geometry of the slot radius
may have also been released to service as a result of incorrect
machining of the PT disk slot.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a PT disk
failure, with subsequent release of high-energy debris, possibly
resulting in damage to, and/or reduced control of, the aeroplane.
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-2016-3692.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB)
No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016. The ASB describe
procedures for inspection of the PT disk. 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 AD.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the
Czech Republic, 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 issuing 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 AD requires inspection of the engine PT disk
and, if found damaged, its replacement with a part eligible for
installation.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, we find that
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and
that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than
30 days.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 0 engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 60 hours per
engine to do the inspection required by this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of
the AD to U.S. operators to be $0.
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):
2016-07-13 GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type Certificate previously
held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.):
Amendment 39-18458; Docket No. FAA-2016-3692; Directorate Identifier
2016-NE-05-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This AD is effective April 22, 2016.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to GE Aviation Czech s.r.o M601E-11 turboprop
engine models with engine power turbine (PT) disk, part number
3220.6 and serial number EE8, EF8, or KR5, installed.
(d) Reason
This AD was prompted by discovery of damage to certain engine PT
disks during engine shop visits. We are issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the engine PT disk, which could result in release of
high-energy debris, damage to the engine, and reduced control of the
airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, perform
visual, dimensional, and fluorescent penetrant inspections of the
engine PT disk. Use Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech
s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated
January 21, 2016, to do the inspections.
(2) If the engine PT disk fails to meet the acceptance criteria
in Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. ASB No. SB-
2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016, replace the PT disk with
a part eligible for installation.
(f) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD:
(1) Do not operate any engine with a PT disk serial number
listed in paragraph (c) of this AD, unless the disk was inspected
per the requirements of paragraph (e) of this AD; and
(2) Do not install a PT disk that does not meet the acceptance
criteria in Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. ASB
[[Page 20224]]
No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016, onto any engine.
(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 Kenneth Steeves,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: 781-238-7765; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2016-0025-
E, dated January 26, 2016 (corrected January 27, 2016), for more
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-2016-3692.
(i) 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) GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin No. SB-2016-
72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For GE Aviation Czech s.r.o service information identified
in this AD, contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65,
199 02 Praha 9--Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538
111; fax: +420 222 538 222.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803.
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 March 24, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-07843 Filed 4-6-16; 8:45 am]
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