[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 37 (Friday, February 26, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11651-11653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03814]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0103; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00604-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW210A and PW210S model 
turboshaft engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a report from the 
manufacturer that the Automated Damage Tracking System (ADTS) may 
under-count the number of cycles accrued by the impeller and the high-
pressure compressor (HPC) rotor. The impeller and HPC rotor are both 
life-limited components and exceeding their published life limits could 
result in the failure of these components. This proposed AD would 
require the use of the manual low-cycle fatigue (LCF) counting method 
in place of the ADTS counting method to determine the number of cycles 
accrued by the impeller and HPC rotor. The FAA is proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 12, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Pratt & 
Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, J4G 1A1 
Canada; phone: (800) 268-8000. You may view this service information at 
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7759.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0103; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7146; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e4c4f5c4c4f5c4f004d4f5b48474b424a6e484f4f00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c1e1d0e1e1d0e1d521f1d091a151910183c1a1d1d521b130a">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0103; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-00604-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact we receive about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (Transport Canada), which is the 
aviation authority for Canada, has issued Transport Canada AD CF-2020-
13, dated April 28, 2020 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to 
address the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI states:

    The engine manufacturer has discovered that the Automated Damage 
Tracking System (ADTS) may under-count the number of cycles accrued 
by the impeller and the High Pressure (HP) compressor rotor. The 
impeller and HP compressor rotor are both life limited components 
and exceeding their published life limits could result in the 
failure of these components.
    Failure of the impeller or HP compressor rotor could result in 
the uncontained release of the impeller or the HP compressor rotor, 
and subsequently could result in damage to the engine, damage to the 
helicopter, and loss of control of the helicopter.
    This [Transport Canada] AD mandates the use of the Manual Low 
Cycle Fatigue (LCF) Counting method to ensure that the impeller and 
HP compressor rotor do not exceed their published life limits.


[[Page 11652]]


    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0103.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of Canada 
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our 
bilateral agreement with Canada, Transport Canada has notified the FAA 
of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information. 
The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency evaluated all the 
relevant information provided by Transport Canada and determined the 
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in 
other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) No. PW210-72-A57142, Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 
2020 (ASB No. PW210-72-A57142); and Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. ASB 
No. PW210-72-A57143, Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 2020 (ASB No. 
PW210-72-A57143). ASB No. PW210-72-A57142 specifies procedures for 
calculating the correct, current LCF cycle count for the impeller and 
HPC rotor on PW210A model turboshaft engines. ASB No. PW210-72-A57143 
specifies procedures for calculating the correct, current LCF cycle 
count for the impeller and HPC rotor installed on PW210S model 
turboshaft engines.
    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.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Task 00-00-00-860-801 
and Task 00-00-00-860-803 of Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Engine 
Maintenance Manual (EMM), Manual Part No. 30L2392, Airworthiness 
Limitations Section (ALS), both at Revision 13, dated September 28, 
2020.
    Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Task 00-00-00-860-801 of Pratt & 
Whitney Canada Corp. EMM, Manual Part No. 30L2392, identifies the LCF 
life limits for the impeller and HPC rotor. Pratt & Whitney Canada 
Corp. Task 00-00-00-860-803 of Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. EMM, Manual 
Part No. 30L2392, specifies procedures for manually calculating the 
correct, current LCF cycle count for the impeller and HPC rotor and 
provides the formula for manually calculating the accumulated total 
cycles for the impeller and HPC rotor.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require the use of the manual LCF counting 
method in place of the ADTS counting method to determine the number of 
cycles accrued by the impeller and HPC rotor.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action. 
If final action is later identified, the FAA might consider additional 
rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 66 engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manually calculate LCF cycles.........  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $5,610
                                         hour = $85.
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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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Docket No. FAA-2021-0103; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2020-00604-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by April 12, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW210A 
and PW210S model turboshaft engines.

[[Page 11653]]

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report from the manufacturer that the 
Automated Damage Tracking System (ADTS) may under-count the number 
of cycles accrued by the impeller and the high-pressure compressor 
(HPC) rotor, which could result in the failure of these components. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the impeller and 
the HPC rotor. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result 
in the uncontained release of the impeller or the HPC rotor, damage 
to the engine, damage to the helicopter, and loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Before exceeding 7,000 starts or 14,000 flight cycles since new 
(CSN) on the affected engine, or prior to removal of the engine from 
the aircraft for the purpose of sending the engine to a repair or 
overhaul facility, whichever occurs first after the effective date 
of this AD:
    (1) Use the manual low-cycle fatigue (LCF) counting method to 
determine the accumulated LCF cycles for the impeller and the HPC 
rotor using paragraph 3., Accomplishment Instructions, of P&WC Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) PW210-72-A57142, Revision 1, dated March 26, 
2020 or PW210-72-A57143, Revision 1, dated March 26, 2020, as 
applicable for the engine model.
    (2) After performing the actions required by paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD, use the manual LCF counting method specified in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD to count subsequent LCF cycles on the impeller and 
HPC rotor. Do not use the ADTS to count subsequent LCF cycles on the 
impeller or the HPC rotor.

(h) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a ``start'' is an engine start 
followed by one or more flights.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, 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 
Related Information.
    (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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7146; fax: (781) 238-
7199; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f694978494978497d8959783909f939a92b6909797d8919980"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c9aba8bbaba8bba8e7aaa8bcafa0aca5ad89afa8a8e7aea6bf">[email protected]</span></a>.
    (2) Refer to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD CF-2020-
13, dated April 28, 2020, for more information. You may examine the 
TCCA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2021-0103.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, J4G 
1A1, Canada; phone: (800) 268-8000. You may view this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (781) 238-7759.

    Issued on February 19, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-03814 Filed 2-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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