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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56794-56796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22527]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0416; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-13-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 an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) that applies to all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW118, 
PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, PW119C, PW120, PW120A, PW121, PW121A, PW123, 
PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, PW126A, PW127, 
PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines. The existing AD 
currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of certain serial 
numbers (S/Ns) of propeller shafts for cracks and removal from service 
if found cracked. Since we issued that AD, we determined the need to 
add a mandatory terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This 
proposed AD would require initial and repetitive inspections of certain 
S/Ns of propeller shafts for cracks and removal from service if found 
cracked, and would require removal from service of affected propeller 
shafts as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections. 
We are proposing this AD to detect propeller shaft cracks, which could 
cause failure of the shaft, propeller release, and loss of control of 
the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 13, 
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 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; 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 Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email: 
james.lawrence@faa.gov; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-238-7199.

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-2012-0416; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-13-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 31, 2012, we issued AD 2012-11-14, Amendment 39-17078 (77 FR 
39624, July 5, 2012), for all P&WC PW118, PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, 
PW119C, PW120, PW120A, PW121, PW121A, PW123, PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, 
PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, PW126A, PW127, PW127E,

[[Page 56795]]

PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines. That AD requires initial 
and repetitive inspections of certain S/Ns of propeller shafts for 
cracks and removal from service if found cracked. That AD resulted from 
reports of two propeller shafts found cracked at time of inspection 
during maintenance. We issued that AD to detect propeller shaft cracks, 
which could cause failure of the shaft, propeller release, and loss of 
control of the airplane.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2012-11-14 (77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012), we 
determined the need to add a mandatory terminating action for the 
repetitive inspections of the affected propeller shafts, by requiring 
the removal from service of the propeller shafts.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed P&WC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. PW100-72-A21813, 
Revision 3, dated March 21, 2012. That ASB provides instructions for 
identifying the location of repaired propeller shafts for which 
compliance to the nickel plating repair process cannot be determined 
and for inspecting for cracks in the inner bore of the propeller shafts 
identified by S/N in Tables 1 and 2 of that ASB. We also reviewed P&WC 
ASB No. PW100-72-A21802, Revision 4, dated March 16, 2012. That ASB 
provides instructions for removing the affected propeller shafts that 
are identified by S/N in Table 1 of that ASB. We also reviewed P&WC 
Special Instruction P&WC No. 22-2012, R2, dated April 4, 2012. That 
service information provides instructions for performing ultrasonic 
inspections to the affected propeller shafts to comply with the 
inspection requirement of ASB No. PW100-72-A21813, Revision 3, dated 
March 21, 2012. We also reviewed P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-A21798, Revision 
5, dated March 20, 2012. That ASB provides instructions for performing 
mandatory replacement of the affected propeller shafts that are 
identified by S/N in Tables 1 and 2 of that ASB.

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 retain the requirements of AD 2012-11-14 (77 
FR 39624, July 5, 2012), except it would require the initial inspection 
done before further flight, as operators should have already complied 
with the initial compliance times in that AD. This proposed AD would 
add a mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections of the 
affected propeller shafts, by removing those propeller shafts from 
service.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 570 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate that it would take 
6 work-hours per engine to remove the propeller shaft for inspection, 1 
work-hour to perform the inspection, 65 work-hours to remove and 
reinstall the engine if needed, and 35 work-hours to replace the 
propeller shaft. We estimate that consumable materials would cost 
$2,200 per engine, and required engine testing would cost $5,000. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. We expect that about 30 
engines would be found with propeller shafts requiring a replacement 
propeller shaft. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $1,028,850.

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, 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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing airworthiness directive 
(AD) 2012-11-14, Amendment 39-17078 (77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012), and 
adding the following new AD:

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (formerly Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc.): 
Docket No. FAA-2012-0416; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-13-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by November 13, 
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2012-11-14 (77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) 
PW118, PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, PW119C, PW120, PW120A, PW121, PW121A, 
PW123, PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, 
PW126A, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines, 
with the serial number (S/N) propeller shafts listed in P&WC Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) No. PW100-72-A21813, Revision 3, dated March 
21, 2012, ASB No. PW100-72-A21802, Revision 4, dated March 16, 2012, 
and ASB No. PW100-72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of two propeller shafts found 
cracked at time of inspection during maintenance. We are issuing 
this AD to detect propeller shaft

[[Page 56796]]

cracks, which could cause failure of the shaft, propeller release, 
and loss of control of the airplane.

(e) Compliance

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

(f) Inspecting Propeller Shafts

    (1) For propeller shafts with an S/N listed in Table 1 and Table 
2 of P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-A21813, Revision 3, dated March 21, 2012:
    (i) For engines not yet initially inspected per AD 2012-11-14 
(77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012), before further flight, perform either 
an initial visual inspection or an initial ultrasonic inspection 
(UI) for cracks, in accordance with paragraphs 3.C.(1) through 
3.C.(1)(a), and 3.C.(2) of P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-A21813, Revision 3, 
dated March 21, 2012, and Section 9 of P&WC Special Instruction (SI) 
P&WC No. 22-2012, R2, dated April 4, 2012.
    (ii) If the visual inspection was performed, repeat the visual 
inspection within 50 engine flight hours (EFH) after the initial 
inspection, and thereafter every 10 EFH, until the propeller shaft 
is removed from service.
    (iii) If the UI was performed, repeat the UI at intervals not to 
exceed 1,000 EFH, until the propeller shaft is removed from service.
    (2) If a crack is found during any of the inspections required 
by this AD, remove the propeller shaft from service before the next 
flight.

(g) Mandatory Terminating Action

    As mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections 
required by AD 2012-11-14, (77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012):
    (1) For propeller shafts with an S/N listed in Table 1 of P&WC 
ASB No. PW100-72-A21802, Revision 4, dated March 16, 2012, remove 
the propeller shafts from service before further flight.
    (2) For affected S/N propeller shafts listed in Table 1 of P&WC 
ASB No. PW100-72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012, remove 
the propeller shafts from service within 6 months after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (3) For affected S/N propeller shafts listed in Table 2 of P&WC 
ASB No. PW100-72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012, remove 
the propeller shafts from service within 12 months after the 
effective date of this AD.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    (1) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
propeller shaft S/Ns listed in Table 1 of P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-
A21802, Revision 4, dated March 16, 2012, into any engine.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
propeller shaft S/Ns listed in Table 1 and Table 2 of P&WC ASB No. 
PW100-72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012, into any engine.

(i) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    (1) Initial inspections performed using P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-
A21813, Revision 3, dated March 21, 2012 or earlier revisions, 
satisfy the initial inspection requirements of paragraph (f) of this 
AD. However, you must perform the repetitive inspection intervals 
specified in paragraph (f).
    (2) Ultrasonic inspections performed per SI P&WC 22-2012R2, 
dated April 4, 2012, or earlier revisions satisfy the requirements 
of paragraph (f) of this AD.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for 
this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(k) Special Flight Permit

    No special flight permits will be issued for this AD.

(l) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact James Lawrence, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; email: james.lawrence@faa.gov; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-
238-7199.
    (2) Refer to Transport Canada AD No. CF-2012-12, dated March 26, 
2012, for related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 6, 2012.
Robert G. Mann,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-22527 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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