### DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPO R TAT ION Federal Aviation A dmini stration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-20 1 5-7490; Directorate Id e ntifi e r 2015-NE-40-AD] RIN 2 120- AA64 Ainvorthincss Directive s; Turbomcca 

### S.A. Turboshaft E ng ine s AGENCY: federa l Aviation Admin i strati on (FAA), DOT. 

### ACT IO N: Notice o f proposed rulemaking (N PRM ). 

### [4910-13-Pl

SUMMA R Y: We propose to adopt a ne w a irworthiness directive (AD) for certain Turbomeca S.A. Astazou XIV B a nd H turboshaft e n g ine s. Thi s propo s ed AD was prompted by a re port of a crack on the 3rd s tage turbine wheel. Thi s proposed AD would
req uire a one-time in s pection of th e front s urf ace of the 3rd stage turbin e for a groove. We
are propo s i ng thi s AD to preve nt cracks in th e 3rd stage turbin e wheel , failure of the engine, in-lli g ht s hutdown , and lo ss of co ntrol of the hel icopter. 

### DATES: We mu s t receive comment s o n thi s proposed AD by [ I NS E RT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. 

### A DD RESSES: You may se nd comments by a n y of the following methods:
• Federa l eRulemak in g Portal: Go to http: //www. regulations.gov. Fo llo w th e instruction s for s ubmitting comments.
• Mail: Docket Management Fa ci lity , U.S
. Department ofTranspor1at ion , 1200 New Jers ey Avenue SE. , West Bui lding Ground Floor, Room W12- 140 , Washington , D C 20590

- 000 I.• Hand Deli very: D elive r to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. , Monday through Friday , excep t f- ede ral holid ays . • Fax: 202 -49 3-225 1. For serv ice information id ent ifi ed in this prop osed AD , contact Turbomeca S.A. , 40220 Tamos , F rance; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 1 5. You may view this service information at the FAA , Engine 

### & Propeller Dir ec torat e , 1200 Di stric t A venue, Burlin gto n , MA. For inf o rmation on the availability of this materi a l at the FAA , ca11781-238-7 1 25. Examining the AD Docket You m ay exam in e the AD docket on th e In ternet at http: / /www .r cgulations.gov by search in g for and locating Docket No
. FAA-20 15-7 490 ; or in person at the Docket Operations of fice betw ee n 9 a.m. and 5 p .m . , Monday through Friday , except Fe deral holidays. The A D docket conta in s this proposed AD , the mandatory continuing
a irworthiness information (MCAI ) , th e regulatory eva lu at ion, any comments r eceived, and o th er info r mation. The a ddres s for the Docket Office (p hon e: 800

- 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES sec tion. Co mment s w ill be ava il able in the AD docket shortly after receipt. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wego Wang, Aerospace Engine e r , Engine Certificat ion Office , FAA , Eng in e 

### & Propeller Directorate , 1200 Di strict Avenue , Burlin gto n , MA 0 1 803; phone: 781-238-7134; fax: 78 1 -238

- 7199; email: wcgo.wan g @ faa.gov.



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### S UPPLEM E NTA RY I N FORMAT ION : Com m e nts In v ite d We invite yo u to send any writlen relevant data , views, or argum e nts about thi s NPRM. Se n d you r comments to an add r ess li sted under the ADDRESS ES sectio n . Include " Docket No. FAA -20 15-7490: Directorate Ident i fi e r 2015

-NE-40-AD" at the beginning of your comments. We spec ifically invite comments on the overall regu latory,
eco n omic , environmenta l , a nd energy aspects of th i s NPRM. We w ill consider all comments rec e ived by the closing date a nd may amend thi s N PRM based o n thos e cornments. We w ill po st all comments w e receive, withou t c h ange, to http: //www .regu lations.gov , includin g any p e rsonal inf o rmation yo u provide. We w ill also post a report s ummarizing each s ub s tantive verbal contact with FAA personnel
conc e rni ng t h is N P RM. 

### Di scu ss i o n The E urop ea n Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the M e mbe r States of th e E uropean Co mm u nity , ha s i ss ued EASA AD 2 0 1 5-0223, elated Novembe r 16 , 20 1 5 ( ref e iTe d to here inafte r as " the MCA I "), to co rrect an unsafe condition for the s p ec ifi e d product s. The MCAI states: Du r ing the ove rhaul of an ASTAZOU X I V engine , a c rack was detected on the front f ace of the third s ta ge turbine wheel between tw o b a lanci n g lu gs. The caus e of th e c rack i s probably l ink ed to a geometric singularity , likel y caused by the transformation operation aimed at introducing expansion s lot s betwee n th e b l ades du ri n g e mbod i ment ofTu rbo m eca mod AB 1 73
. A l though th ere is o nl y one k n own case of thi s type of c r ack , a nd although it was det ec te d , th e pos s ibility ex i s ts that additional parts hav e the same geometric s ingularit y . 

### 3This cond i tion , i f not detected and coJTec ted , may l ead to fai lure of a turb i ne blade and it s associ at e d piece of rim , possibly resulting in an un co mmanded in -fl ig ht shut-down a nd /o r r elease o f hi g h e n ergy debri s . Yo u may o b tain further information by examin in g th e MCA I in the A D d ocket on the Inte rn e t at http: //www .regulation s.gov by sea rching for a nd l ocating Do cke t No. 

### FAA

- 20 1 5-7490. 

### Related Service Information und e r 1 

### CFR Part 51 Turb o m eca S./\. h as i ss u e d Se rv ic e Bulletin (S B ) No
. 283 72 0811 , Vers ion A , elated August 25,20 1 5. The SB describes proced ures for inspection ofthc 3rd s tage turbine wheel. Thi s se r vice inform at ion i s reasonably available because th e inte rested parties have access to it th r ough their normal cou rs e of business or by th e m eans id e ntifi e d in the ADDRESSE S sec ti o n of thi s NPRM. 

### FAA ' s Determination and Requirements of T hi s Propo se d AD T hi s product h as been app r oved by the av iat i on authority o f france , and is app roved for operati o n in th e Un ited States. Pur s uant to our bilat e ral agreeme nt with the Europe a n Co mmunity , E ASA h as notifi e d u s of th e unsaf e condi tion d esc ribed in th e MCAI and serv ic e in fo rm at ion refere n ce d ab ove. We are propos in g th i s N PRM b ecau s e
we evaluated a ll inf ormat io n p r ovided by EASA and determ in ed the un sa f e co nditi o n
ex i s ts and i s likel y to ex i s t o r develop o n other p roducts o f the same type design. This N P RM would require in spectin g the front s urf ace of the 3rd stage turbin e for a groove. 

### Costs of C ompliance We estimate th at th is p ropo s ed AD affect s 9 e n gines installed o n helicopters of U.S
. re g i stry . We also es timate th at it wo uld tak e abou t 5 h ou rs per engin e to comp ly
4with this proposed AD. T h e average l abor rate i s $85 per hou r . Based on th ese figu r es,
we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $3 , 825. Authority fo r Thi s Rul e making T itle 49 of th e United Sta t es Code spec ifies the f-AA's authority to i ssue ru les on aviation safety. Subtit le I , section I 06 , desc ribes the authority of the 

## r AA Ad mini strator .

" Subtit l e VII: Aviation Pro grams ," describes in more detail the scope of the Age nc y's
au thorit y. We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in " Subtitle V ll , Part A , Subpar t 

### IIJ , Section 4470 I: General requirem e nt s. " U nder that s ectio n , Congress charges the FAA with promoting sa f e f1ig ht of civil aircraft in a ir commerce by pre s cribing regu lat io n s for practices , m e thods , and procedur es the Administrator finds necessary for safety in a ir commerce. T hi s r egulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that i s li kely to ex ist or develop on p roducts identi tied in this rulemaking action. R eg u latory F indin gs We determ in ed that this proposed AD would not hav e federalism implication s und e r Executive Order 13132. Th i s proposed AD would no t have a sub s ta nti al direct effect on the States, on th e relationship between the national Government and the States , or o n th e d i stribution of powe r and r espons ibilities among the vario u s leve l s of government. For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed regulation: ( 1 ) I s n ot a "s ig nificant r egu la tory action" und er Exec ut ive Order 12866 ,
5

### (2) Is not a "s ignificant rule " und e r the DOT Regu l atory Po l ic ies and Procedures (44 FR 1 1034 , feb ru a ry 26, 1 979) , (3) W ill no t affec t i ntrastate av iati on in Alaska t o th e extent th at it jus tifies making a regulatory distinct ion , and (4) W ill no t have a s ignificant eco nomic impact , positive o r nega tive , on a subs ta nti al nu mb e r of sma ll e nt i ties under the cr iteria of the Reg u lato ry Flexib il ity Ac t. List of Subject s in 14 CFR Part 39 Ai r tr ansportation, A irc raft , Av i at ion sa fe ty, In corporation by reference, Safety. Th e Propo s ed A mendm e nt According ly, under the authority d e legated to me by th e Administrator, the FAA p ro p oses to ame nd 14 CF R par t 39 as follows: PART 39

- A IRWORTHINESS DIREC T IVES l. The authorit y citation for part 39 conti nues to read a s f ollows: Authority : 49 U .S.C. 106(g) , 40113,44701. 

### § 39.13 [Am e nd e d! 2
. T h e FAA ame nd s§ 39 .1 3 by add in g th e fo ll ow ing new ai rwo rthi ness d i rec ti ve 

### (AD): Turbom ec a S
. A
. : Docket N o. F AA-20 15-7490 ; D irecto rate Identifier 20 15

- NE-40-AD. (a) Comm e nts Du e Date We m u s t r ece ive co mm ent s b y ( I NSERT DA T E 60 D AYS AFTE R D AT E O F PU B LICA TI ON IN T H E FE D ERAL REG I STE R]. (b) Affected A D s None. 

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### (c)**pplic tbili** **ty** T hi s AD app li es to a ll As t azou X I V Ba n d X I V H turboshaft e n gines with 3rd stage turbi ne w heel, pa r t numbe r (PIN) 0 265 25 700 0 or P /N 0 265 25 706 0 , installed , if th e e n g ine inco r p o rates T urb o meca m od i fi cation AB- 173 o r AB

- 2 0 8. (d) Rea s o n T hi s AD was prompted by a report of a c rack on the 3rd stage turb ine w h eel. We
a r

e i ss uin g thi s A D to p reven t c ra cks i n t h e 3rd stage turbi n e w h ee l , fa ilu re of th e e n g in e , in-flight s hu tdow n , and loss of con tr ol of the he li copter. 

### (e) Ac t io ns a n d C omp li a nce Co m ply w ith thi s AD wi th in th e co m p l ia nce tim es spec ifi ed, un less a lread y cl one. (1) At th e n ext piece pa rt exposure of the 3rd s tage turbi n e wheel or with i n I ,000 engine hours after the effect ive date of thi s A D whicheve r comes fi rst , pe r fo r m a o n e ti m e i n specti o n f or a g r oove on th e fr ont s ur f ace of the 3rd stage tu rbi n e w h ee l. Use Accomp li shment In s truc t ions , paragraph 4.4.2 , ofTurbomeca S
. A
. Service B u ll et in (SB) No. 283 72 0811 , V e rsion A, elated August 25, 2015 to perform th e in spect i o n . (2) I fth e 3rd s t age tu rbin e w hee l passes i n spect io n r eq u ired by paragrap h (e)( I) of thi s A D , no furthe r action is requ ire d. (3) lf the 3rd stage turbine w hee l fails ins p ection req ui red by pa ragr ap h (e)( l ) of thi s AD , re mo ve th e pa r t a nd r ep lace wi th a p art e l ig ib l e fo r in sta ll a t io n . 

### (f) In s ta ll atio n P ro h ib i t i o n After t h e effect ive date of thi s AD , do not insta ll any 3rd s t age tu rb ine whee l , PIN 0 265 25 7 0 0 0 o r P/N 0 265 25 7 0 6 0 , u n less it was ins p ecte d p er th e Acco m p li s hm en t



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### Instru ction s , paragraph 4.4.2 , ofTurbomeca S.A
. SB No. 283 72 0811 , Version A, dat ed Augus t 25 , 2015. 

### (g) A lte rnative Method s o f Com plian ce (AMOC s) The Manager , Engine Certification Office, FAA , may approve AMOCs for this AD. Usc the procedures found in 14 CF R 39. 19 to make your reque s t. You may email yo ur request to: ANE-AD -AMOC @ faa.gov. 

### (h) Relate d Information ( I ) For more inf01mation about this AD , contact Wego Wang, Aerospace Engi ne e r, E n g in e Certification Office , FAA , Engine & 

### Prope ll er Dir e c torate , 1200 District Avenue , Burlington, MA 01803 ; phone: 781-238-7134; fax: 781-238

- 7199;
ema il: wego.wang @ faa.gov. (2) R efe r to MCAT E uropean Avia tion Safe ty Agency AD 2015-0223, dated Novembe r 1 6 , 2015 , for more information. You may examine the MCAl in the AD docket on the I nternet at http : //W\.vw.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in D ocket No. F AA-20 15-7490
. (3) Tu rbomeca S.A. SB No. 283 72 08 11 , Version A, dated August 25,20 1 5, can be obtained fi·om Turbomeca S.A
. , us ing the contact information in paragraph (h)(4) of this proposed AD. (4) For service information identified in thi s proposed AD , co ntact Turbom eca S.A
. , 40220 Tarno s, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 15. (5) You may view this service inf orma tion at the FAA , E ngi ne & Propeller Directorate , 1200 District Avenue , Burlin gton , MA. Fo r information on the availability of this material at th e F i\A , 

### call 78 1

- 238-7 125. 

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### Iss ued in Burlin g ton , Massachus e tt s, o n January 27 , 2016.

Co ll een M. D ' A lessandro, Manager , Engine & Propeller Dir ectorate , A ircraft Ce rtifi cation Se rvice.



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