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.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

24135

Vol. 65, No. 80

Tuesday, April 25, 2000

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NE–47–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Allison

Engine Company 250–C18 and –C20

Series Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD), applicable to Allison Engine

Company 250–C18 and –C20 series

turboshaft engines. This proposal would

require a one-time visual inspection of

the fuel nozzle screen for

contamination. If contamination is

found, this proposal would require,

prior to further flight, replacement of

the fuel nozzle screen with a serviceable

screen, visual inspection of the entire

fuel system for contamination, and

repair, if necessary. In addition, this

proposal would require reporting the

results of the one-time inspection to the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

to determine if repetitive inspections

should be required by future

rulemaking. This proposal is prompted

by a report of fuel system contamination

that caused blockage of the fuel nozzle

screen. This blockage of the fuel nozzle

screen caused an in-flight engine

shutdown, autorotation, and forced

landing. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent an

in-flight engine shutdown due to

blockage of the fuel nozzle screen,

which can result in autorotation and

forced landing.

DATES: Comments must be received by

June 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),

New England Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 99–NE–47–AD, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA

01803–5299. Comments may also be

sent via the Internet using the following

address: ‘‘9-ane-adcomment@faa.gov’’.

Comments sent via the Internet must

contain the docket number in the

subject line. Comments may be

inspected at this location between 8:00

a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through

Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John

Tallarovic, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago

Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small

Airplane Directorate, 2300 E. Devon

Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone

(847) 294–8180, fax (847) 294–7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 99–NE–47–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, New England Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 99–NE–47–AD, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA

01803–5299.

Discussion

The Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA) has received a report of a

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems

369D helicopter with an Allison Engine

Company Model 250–C20B turboshaft

engine that lost power at approximately

150 feet and autorotated to a forced

landing. The subsequent investigation

revealed contamination at the fuel

pump filter, fuel control unit screen,

and the fuel nozzle screen. Three

additional loss of power events dating

back to 1994 have been associated with

some level of fuel system

contamination. In each case, the fuel

nozzle screen was contaminated. This

condition, if not corrected, could result

in an in-flight engine shutdown due to

blockage of the fuel nozzle screen,

which can result in autorotation and

forced landing.

Proposed Actions

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design, the proposed AD would

require a one-time visual inspection of

the fuel nozzle screen for contamination

at the next scheduled 300-hour

inspection or after 300 hours time-inservice from the effective date of the

AD, whichever occurs first. If

contamination is found, this proposal

would require, prior to further flight,

replacement of the fuel nozzle screen

with a serviceable screen, visual

inspection of the entire fuel system for

contamination, and repair, if necessary.

These proposed actions have been

coordinated with the Rotorcraft

Directorate of the FAA. In addition, this

proposal would require reporting the

results of the one-time inspection to the

FAA to determine if repetitive

inspections may be required by future

rulemaking. The actions would be

required to be accomplished in

accordance with the service information

described previously.

Economic Analysis

There are approximately 14,000

engines of the affected design in the

worldwide fleet. The FAA estimates that

6,000 engines installed on rotorcraft of

US registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 1 work hour per engine

24136 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 25, 2000 / Proposed Rules

to accomplish the visual inspection of

the fuel nozzle screen, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts would cost

approximately $150 per engine. If the

fuel nozzle screen is contaminated, it

must be replaced and the entire fuel

system must be inspected. The FAA

estimates these actions to take 8 work

hours, with a parts cost of $2,600 per

engine. Based on these figures, the total

cost impact of the proposed AD on US

operators is estimated to be $1,814,400.

Regulatory Impact

This proposal does not have

federalism implications, as defined in

Executive Order No. 13132, because it

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.

Accordingly, the FAA has not consulted

with state authorities prior to

publication of this proposal.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this proposed regulation (1)

is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’

under Executive Order No. 12866; (2) is

not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if

promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

Allison Engine Company: Docket No. 99–

NE–47–AD.

Applicability: Allison Engine Company

250-C18 series and 250-C20 series turboshaft

engines, installed on, but not limited to the

following rotorcraft: AGUSTA Models A109,

A109A, A109AII, A109C; Bell Helicopter

Textron Models 47, 206, 206A, 206B, 206L,

206L–1, 206L–4; Enstrom Helicopter Models

TH–28, 480; Eurocopter Canada Limited

Model BO 105 LS A–3; Eurocopter France

Models AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1,

AS355F2; Eurocopter Deutschland Models

BO–105A, BO–105C, BO–105S, BO–105LS

A–1; Hiller Aviation Model FH–1100;

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company

Models 369D, 369E, 369F, 369H, 369HM,

369HS, 369HE, 369FF, 500N; Rogerson Hiller

Corp. Model UH–12E; Schweizer Aircraft

Corporation Model 269D.

Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD)

applies to each engine identified in the

preceding applicability provision, regardless

of whether it has been modified, altered, or

repaired in the area subject to the

requirements of this AD. For engines that

have been modified, altered, or repaired so

that the performance of the requirements of

this AD is affected, the owner/operator must

request approval for an alternative method of

compliance in accordance with paragraph (f)

of this AD. The request should include an

assessment of the effect of the modification,

alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition

addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe

condition has not been eliminated, the

request should include specific proposed

actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent in-flight engine shutdown due

to blockage of the fuel nozzle screen, which

can result in autorotation and forced landing,

accomplish the following:

One-Time Inspection

(a) At the next scheduled 300-hour

inspection, or 300 hours time-in-service (TIS)

after the effective date of this AD, whichever

occurs first, visually inspect the fuel nozzle

screen for contamination.

Fuel Nozzle Screen Replacement

(b) If the fuel nozzle screen is

contaminated, prior to further flight replace

the fuel nozzle screen with a serviceable

screen.

Fuel System Inspection and Repair

(c) If the fuel nozzle screen is

contaminated, prior to further flight visually

inspect and clean the following engine

components:

(1) Fuel pump filter.

(2) Gas Producer fuel control inlet filter.

(3) Fuel control unit.

(4) Governor Filter.

(5) High pressure fuel filter, if applicable.

(d) If the fuel nozzle screen is

contaminated, prior to further flight visually

inspect and clean the aircraft fuel system.

Reporting Requirement

(e) Within 5 calendar days of the

inspection performed in accordance with

paragraph (a) of this AD, report the results of

the inspection to John Tallarovic, Aerospace

Engineer, Chicago Aircraft Certification

Office, at 2300 E. Devon Ave., Des Plaines,

IL 60018; telephone 847–294–8180, fax 847–

294–7834, Internet john.m.tallarovic@faa.gov.

Reporting requirements have been approved

by the Office of Management and Budget and

assigned OMB Control Number 2120–0056.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(f) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Chicago

Aircraft Certification Office. Operators shall

submit their request through an appropriate

FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who

may add comments and then send it to the

Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification

Office.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this airworthiness directive,

if any, may be obtained from the Chicago

Aircraft Certification Office.

Ferry Flights

(g) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the rotorcraft

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on

April 18, 2000.

Ronald L. Vavruska,

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–10291 Filed 4–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00–AWA–2]

RIN 2120–AA66

Proposed Revision to the Legal

Description of the Shaw Air Force

Base Class C Airspace Area; SC

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to revise

the legal description of the Shaw Air

Force Base (AFB), SC, Class C airspace

area by changing the hours of area

operation to be consistent with current

operational requirements. In this

proposed revision, the Class C airspace

area would be designated effective

during the specific days and hours of

operation of the Shaw AFB Airport

Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) as

established in advance by a Notice to