[Docket No. FAA-2010-0219; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-14-AD] 

RIN 2120-AA64 

Aitworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A., Turboshaft Engines AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2010-11-10 that 

applies to all Turbomeca S.A., Astazou XIV Band XIV H turboshaft engines. AD 2010-

11-10 requires inspection of certain third stage turbine wheels and removal of any 

damaged wheel. This AD was prompted by a report of a third stage turbine wheel crack 

detected during engine overhauL This proposed AD would expand the population and 

frequency of repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontained 

failure of the third stage turbine wheel, which could result in damage to the engine and 

damage to the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by [INSERT DATE 60 

DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. 

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. 
• 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 Turbomeca S.A, 

40220 Tarnos, France; phone: (33) 05 59 74 40 00; fax: (33) 05 59 74 45 15. You may 

view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District 

Avenue, 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. F AA-201 0-0219; 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 mandatory continuing 

airworthiness infonnation, regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 

information. The 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: Contact Brian Kierstead, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7772, fax: 781-238-7199; 

email: brian.kierstead@faa.gov. 

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Include "Docket No. F AA-2010-0219; Directorate Identifier 201 0-NE-14-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 May 19,2010, we issued AD 2010-11-10, Amendment 39-16315 (75 FR 

30270, June I, 2010), ("AD 2010-11-1 0"), for all Turbomeca S.A., Astazou XIV B and 

XIV H turboshaft engines. AD 2010-11-10 requires inspection of certain third stage 

turbine wheels and removal of any damaged wheel. AD 2010-11-10 resulted from 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issuing an AD to identify and correct an 

unsafe condition on Turbomeca engines. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failures of the third stage turbine 

wheel, which could result in damage to the engine and damage to the helicopter. 

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S.A., Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 283 72 0804, Version D, dated July 24, 

2015 addresses the increased population and inspection frequency. Also, since we issued 

AD 2010-ll-10, (EASA) has issued AD 2015-0211, dated October 15, 2015, which 

supersedes EASA AD 2010-0004, dated January 5, 2010. 

Related Service Information under 1 CFR Part 51 

Turbomeca S.A., has issued MSB No. 283 72 0804, Version D, dated July 24, 

2015. That MSB describes procedures for expanding the frequency of repetitive 

inspections. 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 

Turborneca S.A., has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 283 72 0805, Version B, 

dated December 15, 2010. That SB describes terminating action for the inspections. 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. 

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Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require expanding the frequency of repetitive 

inspections. We are proposing this AD to prevent tmcontained failure of the third stage 

turbine wheel, which could result in damage to the engine, and damage to the helicopter. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD affects seven engines installed on helicopters 

of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 5 hours per engine to comply 

with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, 

we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $2,975. 

Authority for this Rulemaldng 

Title 49 ofthe United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on 

aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the authority ofthe FAA Administrator. 

Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's 

authority. 

We are issuing this mlemaking 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 

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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 CFRpart 39 as follows: 

PART 39- AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: 

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and adding the following new AD: 

Turbomeca S.A., Docket No. FAA-20 I 0-0219 Directorate Identifier 201 0-NE-14-AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2010-11-10. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A., Astazou XIV B and XIV H turboshaft 

engines with the following part number (PIN) and serial number (SIN) third stage turbine 

wheels that incorporate modification AB 173 (Turbomeca S.A., Service Bulletin (SB) 

No. 283 72 0091) or modification AB 208 (Turbomeca S.A., SB No. 283 72 0117). This 

AD does not apply to third stage turbine wheels that incorporate Turborneca SB No. 

283 72 805. 

(1) Third stage turbine wheels, PIN 0 265 25 700 0, all SINs; 

(2) Third stage turbine wheels, PIN 0 265 25 702 0, all SINs; (3) Third stage turbine wheels, PIN 0 265 25 706 0, all SINs; 

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This AD was prompted by a report of a third stage turbine wheel crack detected 

during engine overhaul. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the 

third stage turbine wheel, which could result in damage to the engine and damage to the 

helicopter. 

(e) Compliance 

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

(1) Perform a dye penetrant inspection of the third stage turbine wheeL Use 

paragraph 2.4.2.2 ofTurbomeca S.A., MSB No. 283 72 0804, Version D, dated July 24, 

2015, to do the inspection, as follows: 

(i) Inspect third stage turbine wheels with 300 engine cycles (EC) or more 

accumulated since last inspection, or since new, or since last overhaul, or since repair, 

within 100 EC after the effective date of this AD. 

(ii) Inspect third stage turbine wheels with less than 300 EC accumulated since 

last inspection, or since new, or since last overhaul, or since repair, within 400 EC since 

last inspection, or since new, or since last overhaul, or since repair. 

(2) Repeat the inspection required by this AD within 400 EC since last inspection. 

(3) Remove from service any third stage turbine wheels that fail the inspection 

required by this AD. 

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(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) 

The Manager, Engine Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Use 

the procedures fmmd in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your request. You may email your request 

to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(h) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Brian Kierstead, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 

District A venue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7772; fax: 781-238-7199; 

email: brian.kierstead@faa.gov. 

(2) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2015-0211, dated October 15, 2015, forrelated 

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-2010-

0219. 

(3) Turbomeca S.A., MSB No. 283 72 0804, Version D, dated July 24,2015 and 

Turbomeca S.A, SB No. 283 72 0805, Version B, dated December 15,2010, can be 

obtained from Turbomeca, using the contact information in paragraph (h)( 4) of this AD. 

(4) For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Turbomeca 

S.A., 40220 Tamas, France; phone: (33) 05 59 74 40 00; fax: (33) 05 59 74 45 15. 

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Colleen M. D' Alessandro, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

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