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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37283-37284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15182]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0057; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-04-AD; 
Amendment 39-17100; AD 2012-12-20]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2C1, 2C2, and 2S2 turboshaft engines. This AD 
requires replacement of affected digital engine control units (DECUs). 
This AD was prompted by a report of a helicopter experiencing a DECU 
malfunction during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of 
automatic control on one or both engines installed on the same 
helicopter, which could result in an uncommanded in-flight engine 
shutdown, forced autorotation landing, or accident.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rose Len, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7772; fax: 
781-238-7199; email: rose.len@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 21, 2012 
(77 FR 9874). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2011-0249 
states:

    An incident has been reported of a helicopter which experienced 
a Digital Engine Control Unit (DECU) malfunction in flight from one 
of its Arriel 2C1 engines. The indicating system of the helicopter 
displayed a ``FADEC FAIL'' message, with a concurrent loss of 
automatic control of the engine. The mission was aborted and the 
helicopter returned to its base without any further incident.
    The subsequent technical investigations carried out by Turbomeca 
revealed that a Digital Engine Control Unit (DECU) assembly non-
conformity was at the origin of this event. Further investigations 
performed with the supplier of the DECU led to the conclusion that 
only a limited number of DECU are potentially affected by the non-
conformity.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 9874, February 21, 
2012).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will 
affect about two engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry. We 
also estimate that it will take about one work-hour per engine to 
comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 
Required parts will cost about $12,551 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to be 
$25,272. Our cost estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue

[[Page 37284]]

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); and
    3. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; 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 regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (phone: (800) 647-5527) is provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

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 AD:

2012-12-20 Turbomeca S.A.: Amendment 39-17100; Docket No. FAA-2012-
0057; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-04-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective July 26, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2C1, 2C2, and 2S2 
turboshaft engines with any of the digital engine control units 
(DECUs) listed in Table 1 of this AD installed.

                Table 1--Serial Numbers of Affected DECUs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 529                558                560               655
 696                869                878               939
 983               1039               1050              1052
1150               1195               1208              1236
1302               1304               1329              1330
1350               1384               1408              1412
1416               1429               1430              1440
1464               1468               1472              1499
1508               1528               1557              1558
1560               1567               1578              1615
1616               1656               1689              N/A
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of a helicopter experiencing a 
DECU malfunction during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
loss of automatic control on one or both engines installed on the 
same helicopter, which could result in an uncommanded in-flight 
engine shutdown, forced autorotation landing, or accident.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) For any helicopter fitted with two DECUs listed in Table 1 
of this AD:
    (i) Within 50 engine hours after the effective date of this AD, 
replace one of the two DECUs with a DECU that is not listed in Table 
1 of this AD.
    (ii) Within 1,000 engine hours or 12 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace the other DECU with 
a DECU that is not listed in Table 1 of this AD.
    (2) For any helicopter fitted with one DECU listed in Table 1 of 
this AD, within 1,000 engine hours or 12 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace the DECU with a 
DECU that is not listed in Table 1 of this AD.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    From the effective date of this AD, do not install a DECU listed 
in Table 1 of this AD onto any engine, and do not install any engine 
having a DECU listed in Table 1 of this AD, onto a helicopter.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for 
this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Rose Len, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7772; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
rose.len@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2011-0249, dated 
December 22, 2011, and Turbomeca Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin 
No. A292 73 2845, Version A, dated December 19, 2011, for related 
information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 05 59 74 40 00; fax: 33 
05 59 74 45 15. You may review copies of the referenced 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.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 14, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-15182 Filed 6-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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