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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31325-31326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12768]

[[Page 31325]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-14-
02, which applies to certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, 
PW121, PW121A, PW124B, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M 
turboprop engines. AD 2014-14-02 requires removal of the O-ring seal 
from the fuel manifold fitting. Since we issued AD 2014-14-02, we 
received reports of fuel seepage past the metal-to-metal sealing 
surfaces of the fuel nozzle and fuel manifold flow adapter. This 
proposed AD would require replacement of the fuel nozzle and the fuel 
manifold flow adapter. We are proposing this AD to prevent in-flight 
fuel leakage, engine fire, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 3, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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.
     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 proposed AD, contact 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, 
Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Web site: 
www.pwc.ca. You may view this 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.

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-2013-
1059; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street 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: Barbara Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: barbara.caufield@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-1059; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD 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 we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    On June 30, 2014, we issued AD 2014-14-02, Amendment 39-17896 (79 
FR 39958, July 11, 2014), (``AD 2014-14-02''), for certain P&WC PW120, 
PW121, PW121A, PW124B, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M 
turboprop engines. AD 2014-14-02 requires removal of the O-ring seal 
from the fuel manifold fitting. AD 2014-14-02 resulted from reports of 
fuel leaks at the interface between the fuel manifold and the fuel 
nozzle that resulted in engine fire. We issued AD 2014-14-02 to prevent 
in-flight fuel leakage, engine fire, damage to the engine, and damage 
to the airplane.

Actions Since AD 2014-14-02 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2014-14-02, we have received reports of fuel 
seepage past the metal to metal sealing surfaces of the fuel nozzle and 
fuel manifold flow adapter. The manufacturer has since redesigned the 
fuel manifold flow adapter to prevent in-flight fuel leakage. This 
redesign incorporates new internal diameters on the fuel manifold 
adapters and the fuel nozzles.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21861, dated November 21, 2014, 
which identifies the final fuel nozzle configuration. 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 of this NPRM.

Other Related Service Information

    P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21861, dated November 21, 2014, refers to the 
following additional SBs that provide the final fuel nozzle 
configuration: P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21803, Revision No. 5, dated 
November 21, 2014, P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21860, Revision No. 2, dated 
November 21, 2014, and P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21841, Revision No. 3, 
dated December 22, 2014. This service information is available by the 
means identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require replacement of the fuel nozzle and 
the fuel manifold flow adapter.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 150 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would 
take about 2.5 hours per engine to perform the replacement required by 
this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. The cost of a 
fuel nozzle manifold replacement is $146,594. Based on these figures, 
we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 
$22,020,975.

[[Page 31326]]

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 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 have 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 that the 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 to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2014-14-02, Amendment 39-17896 (79 FR 39958, July 11, 2014), and adding 
the following new AD:

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Docket No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by August 3, 
2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2014-14-02, Amendment 39-17896 (79 FR 39958, 
July 11, 2014).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, 
PW121, and PW121A turboprop engines with post SB 21610 
configuration; PW124B, PW127, PW127E, and PW127F turboprop engines 
with post SB 21607 configuration; PW127E and PW127F turboprop 
engines with serial numbers (S/Ns) PCE-EB0366 and earlier; PW127G 
turboprop engines with S/Ns PCE-AX0275 and earlier; and PW127M 
turboprop engines with S/Ns PCE-ED0810 and earlier.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of fuel seepage past the metal-
to-metal sealing surfaces of the fuel nozzle and fuel manifold flow 
adapter. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight fuel leakage, 
engine fire, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done. Within 1,500 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, or at the next engine shop visit, whichever occurs 
first:
    (1) Remove the O-ring seal from the fuel manifold fitting,
    (2) Remove fuel manifold flow adapter, part number (P/Ns) 
3059754-01, 3059757-01, and 3059760-01; and
    (3) Install a fuel nozzle gasket and fuel manifold flow adapter 
that are eligible for installation in accordance with paragraphs 
3.A, 3.B, and 3.C of P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21861, dated November 21, 
2014.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, fuel manifold adapter, P/Ns 
3059754-01, 3059757-01, and 3059760-01, and fuel manifold gasket, P/
N 3079354-01, are not eligible for installation in any engine.

(g) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, an engine shop visit is the 
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges. The separation 
of engine flanges solely for the purpose of transportation without 
subsequent engine maintenance does not constitute an engine shop 
visit.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request. You may email your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
barbara.caufield@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD CF-2014-41, dated November 
26, 2014, for related 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-2013-1059.
    (3) P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21861, dated November 21, 2014; P&WC SB 
No. PW100-72-21803, Revision No. 5, dated November 21, 2014; P&WC SB 
No. PW100-72-21860, Revision No. 2, dated November 21, 2014; and 
P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21841, Revision No. 3 dated December 22, 2014, 
can be obtained from Pratt & Whitney Canada, using the contact 
information in paragraph (i)(4) of this AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin Blvd., Longueuil, 
Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Web 
site: www.pwc.ca.
    (5) You may view this 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 19, 2015.
Carlos A. Pestana,
Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-12768 Filed 6-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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