12448 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

February 7, 2012. 

Peter A. White, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–4747 Filed 2–29–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0944; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NE–11–AD; Amendment 39– 

16960; AD 2012–04–04] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney Division Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt 

& Whitney 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. This AD was prompted by an 

engine overspeed event that occurred 

during taxi and resulted in a highpressure compressor surge and tailpipe 

fire. This AD requires replacing Pratt & 

Whitney fuel metering units (FMUs), 

part numbers (P/Ns) 53T335 (HS 

801000–1), 55T423 (HS 801000–2), and 

50U150 (HS 801000–3) at the next shop 

visit after the effective date of this AD. 

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. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 5, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of April 5, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: 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. 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 AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

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: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on November 7, 2011 (76 FR 

68660). That NPRM proposed to require 

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

next shop visit after the effective date of 

the proposed AD. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Request To Specify the Replacement 

FMU 

Delta Airlines, Inc. requested that we 

specify replacing affected FMUs with 

FMU P/N 53U044, or later FAAapproved P/Ns. The commenter stated 

that doing this would help avoid 

potential alternative methods of 

compliance questions, and issues with 

specifying compliance to a service 

bulletin. 

We do not agree. We only identify the 

affected parts requiring removal in the 

AD, and the modification that is 

required to correct the design. If we 

identified the replacement part by P/N, 

then, if and when that part gets replaced 

by another P/N, the AD would have to 

be superseded. We did not change the 

AD. 

Request To Extend the Compliance 

Time 

FedEx Express requested that we 

extend the compliance time from 60 

months from the issue date of the 

proposed AD. The additional time is 

needed to plan forced removals of the 

installed FMUs and implement an 

effective modification planning 

program. 

We do not agree. The compliance time 

specified in the AD is at the next shop 

visit. The commenter is referring to an 

outdated version of the service bulletin. 

We did not change the AD. 

Request To Reference Hamilton 

Sundstrand Alert Service Bulletin 

(ASB) No. JFC131–2–73–A24 

Martinair Holland and United 

Airlines, Inc. requested that we also 

reference Hamilton Sundstrand ASB No. 

JFC131–2–73–A24, Revision 1, dated 

May 18, 2011, in the AD compliance, as 

that SB contains information required to 

perform the FMU modification required 

by the AD. 

We agree. We changed the AD to 

incorporate by reference (IBR) only that 

Hamilton Sundstrand ASB. That 

Hamilton Sundstrand ASB is also 

included within the Pratt & Whitney 

ASB No. PW4ENG A73–220, Revision 1, 

dated May 18, 2011, which we listed 

under Related Information. 

Request To Add FMU Part Numbers 

Martinair Holland, United Airlines, 

Inc. and United Parcel Service Co. 

requested that we include Pratt & 

Whitney FMU P/Ns 53T335 and 55T423 

with the existing P/N 50U150, in the 

AD, and also include the equivalent 

Hamilton Sundstrand FMU P/Ns 

801000–3, 801000–1, and 801000–2. 

We agree and added those P/Ns to the 

AD. The equivalent Hamilton 

Sundstrand P/Ns are included in 

parentheses. 

Request To Change Paragraph (f) 

United Airlines, Inc. requested that 

we change paragraph (f) from ‘‘install a 

modified FMU,’’ to ‘‘install a new or 

modified FMU.’’ 

We agree. The intent of the AD is to 

install an FMU incorporating the 

improvements of the modification, 

whether a new or modified FMU. We 

changed paragraph (f) in the AD. 

Request To Not Incorporate by 

Reference the Alert SB 

United Airlines, Inc. requested that 

we not IBR Pratt & Whitney ASB No. 

PW4ENG A73–220, Revision 1, dated 

May 18, 2011, but to instead simply 

reference the ASB in the AD. The 

commenter stated that this would allow 

them flexibility to perform the FMU 

modification using their normal 

maintenance program and shop 

procedures. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 12449 

We partially agree. We agree to 

change the AD to not IBR Pratt & 

Whitney ASB No. PW4ENG A73–220, 

Revision 1, dated May 18, 2011. We do 

not agree with the AD having no 

procedure IBRed to support use of a 

normal maintenance program and shop 

procedures. We changed the AD to IBR 

the portion of the Hamilton Sundstrand 

ASB No. JFC131–2–73–A24, Revision 1, 

dated May 18, 2011, that contains the 

unique procedures required to modify 

the FMUs. 

Comment About a Potential Shortage of 

Parts 

United Airlines, Inc. commented that 

a potential shortage of parts could affect 

compliance with the AD. 

We do not agree. Hamilton 

Sundstrand has worked to build up the 

FMU inventory to support the expected 

demand, so meeting the compliance 

time in the AD should not be a problem. 

Request To Withdraw the Proposed AD 

United Parcel Service Co. requested 

that we withdraw the proposed AD. The 

commenter stated that since the 

overspeed incident occurred in 2006, 

there were several maintenance actions 

initiated by Pratt & Whitney and 

implemented by operators to minimize 

the risk of further incidents. The actions 

include reducing the overhaul soft time 

in the maintenance planning guide for 

main fuel pumps, including in the 

engine manual additional inspections of 

the FMU servo wash filter and transfer 

fuel tubes, and clarifying the trouble 

shooting instructions in the aircraft fault 

isolation manual to identify symptoms 

of clogged servo wash filters. 

We do not agree. The unsafe 

condition exists in the design of the 

FMU, which must be addressed to 

prevent overspeed, potential 

uncontained engine failure, and damage 

to the airplane. The actions mentioned 

by the commenter were an interim plan 

to mitigate the risk of an unsafe 

condition. However, they do not 

represent the final corrective action. A 

servo wash filter clog followed by an 

overspeed event represents a single 

point failure in the engine design which 

can reasonably be expected to occur and 

which can result in a hazardous engine 

effect (uncontained engine failure). 

Because of this, the engine no longer 

meets the airworthiness standards to 

which it was certified. The intent of this 

AD action is to return the engine to the 

same level of safety provided by the 

airworthiness standards of its original 

certification. We did not withdraw the 

AD. 

Request To Change the Compliance 

Time 

United Parcel Service Co. requested 

that we change the compliance time to 

the next component shop visit or at the 

next engine shop visit if the OEM 

recommended soft time is reached or 

exceeded. The commenter stated that 

operators with a low hour-to-cycle ratio 

would typically only overhaul the FMU 

at every other shop visit. The proposed 

AD compliance would require removal 

at the next shop visit, which could force 

removal of otherwise serviceable FMUs 

and add significant incremental labor 

and repair costs to operators. 

We do not agree. Performing the FMU 

replacement or modification at the next 

component shop visit interval would 

not provide an acceptable level of 

safety. We did not change the AD. 

Request To Adjust the Cost of 

Compliance 

United Parcel Service Co. requested 

that we adjust the cost of compliance to 

include incremental costs for FMUs that 

will be forced out of service before 

reaching the recommended overhaul 

soft time of 12,000 hours. The 

commenter states that the labor cost in 

the proposed AD assumes that the FMU 

is already in the shop and disassembled 

for normal FMU maintenance. It does 

not include labor hours that will be 

required for receiving inspection, 

disassembly, test, and preparation for 

shipment. The incremental cost of 

FMUs that are replaced before reaching 

its soft time are also not taken into 

account. 

We do not agree. FMUs can be 

modified to comply with the AD. They 

do not need to be replaced with a new 

FMU. The cost of the AD includes the 

required labor to perform the 

modification as well as the parts cost for 

the upgrade kit. We consider only the 

actual cost of the AD; not other costs. 

We did not change the AD. 

Request To Replace FMUs On-Wing 

United Parcel Service Co. requested 

that we include in the AD the option to 

perform on-wing replacements of 

unmodified FMUs with new or 

modified FMUs. The commenter stated 

that the proposed AD only requires 

replacement at time of shop visit. 

Operators would then have to apply for 

an alternative method of compliance to 

replace an FMU on-wing. 

We partially agree. We agree that the 

operator could comply with the AD 

before the engine reaches the shop if the 

operator chooses to replace the FMU onwing. We do not agree that a change to 

the AD is required because the operator 

can take credit for actions already done. 

Paragraph (e) of the AD states that you 

must comply with the AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless 

already done. We did not change the 

AD. 

Request To Change the Installation 

Prohibition Paragraph 

United Parcel Service Co. requested 

that we change the installation 

prohibition paragraph (g) to prohibit 

installation of an unmodified FMU 

within the 3-year compliance period 

after a modified FMU has been 

installed. The commenter acknowledged 

that installation of an unmodified FMU 

is prohibited once a modified FMU is 

installed, but this is not explicitly stated 

in the proposed AD. 

We do not agree. Once you comply 

with the AD by installing a modified 

FMU in accordance with the AD at the 

next engine shop visit after the effective 

date of the AD, or elect to comply with 

the AD by installing a modified FMU 

before the next engine shop visit after 

the effective date of this AD, the engine 

is in compliance with the AD and you 

cannot undo that compliance. We did 

not change the AD. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

with the changes described previously. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 750 

engines installed on airplanes of U.S. 

registry. We also estimate that it will 

take about 3.2 work-hours per product 

to comply with this AD. The average 

labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Required parts will cost about $10,698 

per engine. Based on these figures, we 

estimate the cost of the AD to 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 

the Administrator finds necessary for 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
12450 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

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 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will 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 this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

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. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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): 

2012–04–04 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 

39–16960; Docket No. FAA–2011–0944; 

Directorate Identifier 2011–NE–11–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective April 5, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney 

Division 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, with a Pratt & 

Whitney fuel metering unit (FMU) part 

number (P/N) 53T335 (HS 801000–1), 

55T423 (HS 801000–2), or 50U150 (HS 

801000–3) installed. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

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. 

(e) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(f) Replacement of Affected FMUs 

At the next shop visit after the effective 

date of this AD, remove FMU P/Ns 53T335 

(HS 801000–1), 55T423 (HS 801000–2), and 

50U150 (HS 801000–3) and install an FMU 

that incorporates the modification in 

paragraphs 3.C through 3.E of the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Hamilton 

Sundstrand Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 

JFC131–2–73–A24, Revision 1, dated May 18, 

2011. 

(g) Installation Prohibition 

After three years from the effective date of 

this AD, do not install or reinstall an FMU 

P/N 53T335 (HS 801000–1), 55T423 (HS 

801000–2), or 50U150 (HS 801000–3) onto 

any engine. 

(h) Definition of Shop Visit 

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. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

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. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) 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. 

(2) Pratt & Whitney ASB No. PW4ENG 

A73–220, Revision 1, dated May 18, 2011, 

also pertains to this AD. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) You must use Hamilton Sundstrand 

Alert Service Bulletin No. JFC131–2–73–A24, 

Revision 1, dated May 18, 2011, to do the 

modifications required by this AD, unless the 

AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 

Federal Register approved the incorporation 

by reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 

1 CFR part 51. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Hamilton Sundstrand, 

Technical Publications, Mail Stop 302–9, 

4747 Harrison Avenue, P.O. Box 7002, 

Rockford, Illinois 61125–7002; telephone 

860–654–3575; fax 860–998–4564; email 

tech.solutions@hs.utc.com; Internet http:// 

www.hamiltonsundstrand.com, and Pratt & 

Whitney, 400 Main St. East Hartford, CT 

06108, phone: 860–565–8770. 

(3) You may review copies of the 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. 

(4) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go 

to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/ 

cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

February 15, 2012. 

Peter A. White, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–4745 Filed 2–29–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0126; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NE–07–AD; Amendment 39– 

16959; AD 2012–04–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; BRPPowertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax 

Reciprocating Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for BRPPowertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax 912 

S2, 912 S3, and 914 F2 reciprocating 

engines. This AD requires performing a 

one-time inspection of the oil system for 

leaks and a torque check of the oil pump 

attachment bolts, and if leaks are 

detected, performing a one-time 

inspection of the oil pump and engine 

valve train, on certain serial number 

(S/N) BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG 

Rotax 912 S2, 912 S3, and 914 F2 

reciprocating engines. This AD was 

prompted by the discovery that during 

engine production, some engines may 

not have had the oil pump attachment 

bolts torqued to specification. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent oil leaks, 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES