[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51170-51172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23606]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0838; Product Identifier 2017-NE-33-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, 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 all
Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., Arriel 2E turboshaft engines. This
proposed AD was prompted by reports of ruptured front support pins on
the accessory gearbox front support. This proposed AD would require
replacement of the accessory gearbox front support. We are proposing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
[[Page 51171]]
DATES: We must receive comments on this NPRM by December 18, 2017.
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
Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: (33) 05
59 74 40 00; fax: (33) 05 59 74 45 15. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200
District Avenue, 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-2017-
0838; 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: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, ECO
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7754; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-0838;
Product Identifier 2017-NE-33-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 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 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 No. 2016-0235, dated November 24, 2016 (referred to hereinafter as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
Some cases were reported of ruptured front support pins on
ARRIEL 1E2 engines. That condition, if not detected and corrected,
could lead to the loss of the load path integrity of the engine
front support. Consequently, Turbom[eacute]ca issued Mandatory
Service Bulletin (MSB) 292 72 0842 to provide instructions for the
inspection of the pins and front support replacement, and EASA
issued AD 2015-0064 (later revised) to require those actions. Since
EASA AD 2015-0064R1 was issued, SAFRAN Helicopter Engines developed
a new pin design, in order to increase the mechanical strength of
the pin, through modification TU380, for ARRIEL 1E2 engines.
Although no cases of front support pin rupture have been reported on
ARRIEL 2E engines, since the ARRIEL 1E2 and 2E type designs have the
same front support, SAFRAN Helicopter Engines decided to also apply
this new pin design on ARRIEL 2E engines through modification TU197.
To address this potential unsafe condition, SAFRAN Helicopter
Engines decided, as precautionary measure, to replace the front
support on ARRIEL 2E engines, and published MSB 292 72 2197 to
provide instructions for in-service front support replacement. For
the reasons described above, this AD requires modification of the
affected engines by replacement of each pre-mod TU197 front support.
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-2017-0838.
Related Service Information
We reviewed Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., Mandatory Service
Bulletin (MSB) No. 292 72 2197, Version A, dated September 15, 2016.
The MSB describes procedures for replacement of the accessory gearbox
front support. 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.
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. 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 proposed AD would require for
replacement of the accessory gearbox front support.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 28 engines installed on
aircraft of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Front support replacement............. 2 work-hours x $85 per $19,731 $19,901 $557,228
hour = $170.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
[[Page 51172]]
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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.
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, 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):
Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type Certificate previously held by
Turbomeca, S.A): Docket No. FAA-2017-0838; Product Identifier 2017-
NE-33-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by December 18, 2017.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Safran Helicopter Engines S.A. Arriel 2E
turboshaft engines with front support, part number 0 292 11 715 0,
installed (pre-mod TU 197 configuration).
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 8300, Accessory
Gearboxes.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by reports of ruptured front support pins
on the accessory gearbox front support. We are issuing this AD to
prevent failure of a front support, loss of engine thrust control
and reduced control of the helicopter.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Before the accessory gearbox and transmission shaft module
(Module 01) accumulates 1,600 engine operating hours since new, or
within 80 engine operating hours after the effective date of this
AD, whichever occurs later, replace the front support with a part
eligible for installation.
(h) Definition
For the purpose of this AD, a part eligible for installation is
a Module 01 with a pre-mod TU 197 front support, that has not
accumulated more than 1,680 engine operating hours since new; or a
Module 01 with a post-mod TU 197 front support.
(i) Installation Prohibition
As of the effective date of this AD, you may not install a pre-
mod TU 197 front support on any engine with a post-mod TU 197 front
support installed.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, FAA, ECO Branch, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the
ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in
paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. You may email your request to: [email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green,
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
[email protected].
(2) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2016-0235, dated November 24, 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-2017-0838.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 24, 2017.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-23606 Filed 11-2-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P