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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12833-12834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05467]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-0069; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-01-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Continental Motors, Inc. Reciprocating 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) TSIO-550-K, TSIOF-550-K, TSIO-
550-C, TSIOF-550-D, and TSIO-550-N reciprocating engines. This proposed 
AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shutdown (IFSD) 
resulting in injuries and significant airplane damage. This proposed AD 
would require replacing the oil cooler cross fitting assembly. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent failure of the oil cooler cross fitting 
and engine, IFSD and loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 10, 2016.

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 Continental 
Motors, Inc., 2039 Broad Street, Mobile, Alabama 36615; phone: 800-326-
0089; Internet: http://www.continentalmotors.aero. 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. FAA-2016-
0069; 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: Scott Hopper, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5535; fax: 404-474-5606; email: 
scott.hopper@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-0069; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-01-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM 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 NPRM.

Discussion

    A Cirrus SR-22T crashed on November 3, 2015 due to an uncommanded 
IFSD. The crash caused four minor personal injuries and substantial 
airplane damage. The root cause of the engine IFSD was the loss of 
engine oil through the fatigue-induced fracture of an oil cooler cross 
fitting nipple. This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
failure of the oil cooler cross fitting and engine, IFSD, and loss of 
the airplane.

Relevant Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed CMI Critical Service Bulletin (CSB) No. CSB15-2C, dated 
November 9, 2015 and CMI CSB No. CSB15-7A, dated November 10, 2015. The 
CSBs describe detailed procedures for replacing oil cooler cross 
fittings, nipples, and bushings with a redesigned oil cooler cross 
fitting. 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 
document.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this NPRM 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 NPRM would require accomplishing the actions specified in the 
service information described previously, except as discussed under 
``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service Information.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    CMI CSB No. CSB15-7A, dated November 10, 2015 requires replacing 
the oil cooler cross fitting, nipple, and bushing prior to further 
flight. CMI CSB No. CSB15-2C, dated November 9, 2015 requires replacing 
the oil cooler cross fitting, nipple, and bushing within 25 hours of 
engine operation or at the next scheduled inspection or engine service, 
whichever occurs first. This proposed AD requires replacing the fitting 
at the next engine maintenance event not to exceed 12 months or 100 
flight hours after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
first.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,307 engines installed 
on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
1 hour per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per

[[Page 12834]]

hour. Parts would cost about $0 per engine. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the total cost of this proposed AD to U.S. operators to be 
$111,095. Our cost estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.

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 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

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Continental Motors, Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by 
Teledyne Continental Motors) Reciprocating Engines: Docket No. FAA-
2016-0069; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-01-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 10, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) TSIO-550-K, 
TSIOF-550-K, TSIO-550-C, TSIOF-550-D, and TSIO-550-N reciprocating 
engines with an engine serial number below 1012296 and an oil cooler 
cross fitting, part number AN918-1J, installed.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight 
shutdown (IFSD) resulting in injuries and significant airplane 
damage. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the oil cooler 
cross fitting and engine, IFSD and loss of the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 12 months or 100 flight hours from the effective date 
of the AD, whichever occurs first, replace the oil cooler cross 
fitting, nipple, and bushing. Use the Action Required paragraphs 
III.1 through III.8 of CMI Critical Service Bulletin (CSB) No. 
CSB15-7A, dated November 10, 2015 or the Action Required paragraphs 
III.1 through III.8 of CMI CSB No. CSB15-2C, dated November 9, 2015, 
to perform the replacement.
    (2) Reserved.

(f) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the replacement that is required by 
paragraph (e) of this AD, if the replacement was performed before 
the effective date of this AD using CMI CSB No. CSB15-2B, dated 
November 6, 2015 or earlier versions; or CSB No. CSB15-7, dated 
November 6, 2015.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Scott Hopper, 
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5535; fax: 
404-474-5606; email: scott.hopper@faa.gov.
    (2) CMI CSB No. CSB15-7A, dated November 10, 2015 and CMI CSB 
No. CSB15-2C, dated November 9, 2015 can be obtained from CMI using 
the contact information in paragraph (h)(3) of this AD.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Continental Motors, Inc., 2039 Broad Street, Mobile, Alabama 36615; 
phone: 800-326-0089; Internet: http://www.continentalmotors.aero.
    (4) 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 2, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05467 Filed 3-10-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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