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

68660 

Vol. 76, No. 215 

Monday, November 7, 2011 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0944; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NE–11–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney Division (PW) PW4000 Series 

Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

PW4000 series turbofan engines. This 

proposed AD would require replacing 

the fuel metering unit (FMU), part 

number (P/N) 50U150, at the next shop 

visit after the effective date of this 

proposed AD. This proposed AD was 

prompted by an engine overspeed event 

that occurred during taxi and resulted in 

a high-pressure compressor (HPC) surge 

and tailpipe fire. We are proposing this 

AD to prevent engine overspeed on 

these engines, which could result in an 

uncontained engine failure and damage 

to the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 6, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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, 400 Main St., East Hartford, 

CT 06108, phone: (860) 565–8770. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, Engine 

& Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 

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; 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: 

James Gray, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 

Certification Office, FAA, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: (781) 238–7742; fax: 

(781) 238–7199; email: 

james.e.gray@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2011–0944; Directorate Identifier 2011– 

NE–11–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 

We received a report of an engine 

overspeed during taxi, which resulted in 

an HPC surge and tailpipe fire. 

Although the event was not an 

uncontained engine failure, engine 

overspeed events compromise the 

integrity of the rotor and can lead to an 

uncontained engine failure. Our 

investigation concluded that the 

existing FMU is susceptible to a singlepoint failure condition in which a 

complete or nearly complete blockage of 

the FMU servo wash filter could occur. 

A blockage in the FMU servo wash filter 

could result in insufficient hydraulic 

pressure being available to properly 

control the FMU and actuator functions. 

Inability to control the FMU and 

actuator functions, if not corrected, 

could result in an engine overspeed and 

an uncontained engine failure and 

damage to the airplane. 

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 

replacing the FMU, P/N 50U150, at the 

next shop visit after the effective date of 

this proposed AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 750 engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it would take about 3.2 

work-hours per product to comply with 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. Required 

parts would cost about $10,698 per 

engine. Based on these figures, we 

estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 

U.S. operators to be $8,227,500. 

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 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 215 / Monday, November 7, 2011 / Proposed Rules 68661 

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 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 this 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, 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 

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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Pratt & Whitney Division (PW): Docket No. 

FAA–2011–0944; Directorate Identifier 

2011–NE–11–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by January 

6, 2012. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to all PW PW4050, 

PW4052, PW4056, PW4060, PW4060A, 

PW4060C, PW4062, PW4062A, PW4152, 

PW4156, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4160, 

PW4460, PW4462, and PW4650 turbofan 

engines, including models with any dash 

number suffix. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD was prompted by an engine 

overspeed event that occurred during taxi 

and resulted in a high-pressure compressor 

surge and tailpipe fire. We are issuing this 

AD to prevent engine overspeed on these 

engines, which could result in an 

uncontained engine failure and damage to 

the airplane. 

Compliance 

(e) Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

Replacement of Fuel Metering Unit (FMU), 

Part Number (P/N) 50U150 

(f) At the next shop visit after the effective 

date of this AD, remove FMU, P/N 50U150, 

and install an FMU that has been modified 

as specified in paragraphs 2.A through 2.C of 

the Accomplishment Instructions of PW 

Alert Service Bulletin PW4ENG A73–220, 

Revision 1, dated May 18, 2011. 

Installation Prohibition 

(g) Three years from the effective date of 

this AD, do not install FMU, P/N 50U150, 

onto any engine. 

Definition of Shop Visit 

(h) For the purpose of this AD, a shop visit 

is when the engine is inducted into the shop 

for any maintenance involving the separation 

of pairs of major mating engine flanges 

(lettered flanges). However, the separation of 

engine flanges solely for the purposes of 

transporting the engine without subsequent 

engine maintenance is not an engine shop 

visit. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(i) The Manager, Engine Certification 

Office, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(j) For more information about this AD, 

contact James Gray, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine Certification Office, FAA, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: (781) 238–7742; fax: (781) 

238–7199; email: james.e.gray@faa.gov. 

(k) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main 

St., East Hartford, CT 06108; phone: (860) 

565–8770. You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803. For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call (781) 238–7125. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

October 31, 2011. 

Peter A. White, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–28676 Filed 11–4–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2009–0889; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–NE–35–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca 

S.A. Arriel 2B and 2B1 Turboshaft 

Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to all Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 

2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines. The 

existing AD currently requires checking 

the transmissible torque between the 

low-pressure (LP) pump impeller and 

the high-pressure (HP) pump shaft on 

HP/LP pump hydro-mechanical 

metering units (HMUs) that do not 

incorporate Modification TU 147. Since 

we issued that AD, EASA issued a new 

AD. This proposed AD would require 

inspection and possible replacement of 

the HMU. We are proposing this AD to 

prevent reduced engine power or, at 

worst, an uncommanded in-flight 

shutdown (IFSD), which can result in a 

forced autorotation landing or accident. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 6, 2012. 

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 AD, contact Turbomeca, 40220 

Tarnos, France; phone: 33–05–59–74– 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS