### DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [4910-13-P]

[Docket No. F AA-2012-0520; Directorate Identifier 2002-N E -43-AD; Amendment 39-17273; AD 2012-24-03] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S
. A. Turboshaft Engines AGENCY: Federal Aviation Adm ini stration (FAA) , DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: We are superseding a n exist in g a irwo r thiness directive (AD) for a ll Turbomeca S
. A. Arrie l lA , lAl , 1A2 , lB , lC , 1C1 , 1C2 , 1D , 1Dl , IE , lE2 , lK , lKI, 1

S , and 1 S 1 turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive visual in spect ions for erosion caused by dust ingestion and , if necessary , cleaning of th e gas generator (module M03). This new AD requi re s determining the eng in e hi story; performing a one-time visual inspection of the axial compresso r for erosion ; performing initial and repetitive cleaning of the gas ge nerator hollo w shaft; and replacing the rear bearing if the amount of dust co llected during cleaning exceeds 8 grams . This AD a lso includes an optional terminating action. This AD was prompted by in-serv ic e experience which ha s shown that dust inside the gas generator hollow shaft may be found
w hen the axial compressor w hee l has less erosion than initially assessed

. We are i ssu in g this AD to prevent an unbalance of the gas generator rotating assembly, whic h may lead to gas generator rear bearing failure , and uncommanded engine s hutdo wn . DATES: This AD is effective [INSERT DATE 35 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

### PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].The Director of the Federal Re g ister approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of [INSERT DATE 35 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. ADDRESSES: For serv ice information identified in this AD , contact Turbomeca S.A. , 40220 Tarnos , France ; phone: 33 05 59 74 40 00 ; telex: 570 042 ; fax : 33 05 59 74 45 15. You may view this service inf o rmat ion at the FAA , Engi ne & Propeller Directorate , 12 New Eng land Executive Park , Burlington , MA. Fo r information on the avai labili ty of this material at the FAA , call 781-238-7125. Examining the 

### AD Docket You may exam in e the AD docket on the In ternet at http: //www . regulations.!.!Ov ;
or in person at the Docket Management Faci lity between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. , Monday through Friday , except Federa l holidays. T h e AD docket conta in s this AD, the regulatory
eva lu ation , a ny comments received , and other in formation. The address for the Docket Office (p hon e: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility , U.S. Department of Tran sportation , Docket Operations , M-30, West Building Ground F loor , Room Wl2-140 , 1200 New J ersey A venue SE
. , Washington , DC 20590. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R ose Len , Aerospace Eng in ee r, E ngine Ce rti fication Office, FAA , Eng in e & Propeller Directorate , 12 New England Execut ive Park , Burlington , MA 0 1803 ; phone: 781-238-7772 ; fax : 781-238-7199 ; email: rose .l en @ faa

. gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Discussion We issued a notice of proposed rul emaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2003 -1 2-14 , Amendment 39-13 1 99 (68 FR 36900 , Jun e 20 , 2003)
. T hat AD applies to the specif i ed products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 25 , 2012 (77 FR 43550). That NPRM proposed to require determining t he engine 2history; performing a one-time visua l inspection of the axial compresso r for e ros io n ; pe rforming initial and repetitive clean in g of the gas gene r ato r hollow shaft; a nd replacing the rear bearing if the amo unt of dust co ll ected du ri ng cleaning exceeds 8 grams . That NPRM a lso in cl ud e d a n op ti onal terminating action. T h at NPRM also removed Turbomeca S.A. Ar ri el IE and I K tu rbos haft e ngines fro m the applicability secti on of the AD. The IE eng in e is no longer i n ser v i ce. The 1 K engine is not an FAA validated engme. 

### C omments We gave the public th e oppo rtunity to pat 1i cipate in developing this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal and the FAA ' s response to
eac h com me nt
. 

### Request to Ease Requir·ements When Barrier Filters Used Continuously Charl es E. Gree nb erg requested that th e FAA consider mod i fying the AD to accommodate operato rs of helicopters w ith barrier filter installations for the engi ne intakes. If ope r ato r records can show that spec i fic se rial num ber engines have always operated with fi l tered air , th e requi rem e nt for cleaning the gas generator hollow shaft
s ho uld be superseded by a requi reme nt to maintain r ecords of operation w i th b a rri er filter protection. The co mm enter stated that no d i rt ca n be ingested by an eng in e downstr eam of the filter , as long as the barri er fi l ter has never go ne into bypass mode. We disagree. The FAA cannot anticipate a ll of the ava il able barrier filter designs installed on helicopter models. Each batTier filter des ign and helicopter combi n at io n would require i ts own assessment of the fi l ter's use and effect ive ness. We did not change the AD. However , the s ub sta nt iated conti nu ous use of a barrier filter may be proposed as
an alternat ive method of comp li ance (AMOC) to thi s AD , using th e standard AMOC request procedure. 

### 3Conclusion We revie wed the relevant data , considered the comment received , and determined that ai r safety and the public inte res t r equ i re adopting the AD as proposed. 

### Costs of Comp li ance We es tim ate th at thi s AD w ill affect about 1 ,421 e n g ine s install ed on helicopters of U .S. registry. We also estim ate th at it w ill take about 24 wo rk-hours per engine to inspect and clean the gas ge nerator module. T he average labor rate is $85 per work-hou r . A rep lac e me nt gas ge ne rator rear b earing would cost abo ut $4,128 p e r e ng in e and take about 8 work-hours to replace

. Bas e d o n these figure s , we est imate th e cost of the AD on U.S. operators to b e $2 , 898 , 840
. Authority for thi s Ru l cmaking Title 49 of th e United States Co de spec ifies the FAA ' s authority to issue rules on
av iation safety. Sub title I , Section 106 , describes the authority ofthe FAA Adminis trato r. Su btitle V II , Av iat io n Prog ram s , descri b es i n more detail the scope of the Agency ' s authori t y. We are issui ng this ru l emaking under the author ity describ e d i n Sub title VII , Par t A , Subpart III , Section 4470 I , " Ge ne ral requiremen ts. " Und er th at section , Congress charges the FAA w ith promoting safe f light of civi l aircraft in a i r commerce by prescri bing regu l at ion s for practice s , method s , and procedures the A dmini s trator finds
necessar y for safe ty in a ir comme r ce. T hi s regul ation is within the scope of that autho ri ty b ecause i t addresses an unsafe cond it io n that is li kely to ex ist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking act ion. Regulatory F indin gs We have determ in ed that this AD will no t have federalism implications under Exec uti ve Ord e r 13132. This A D will not ha ve a substantial d irect effec t on th e States , on

4the relations hi p between the national government and t he States , or on the distribution of power a nd respons i bilities among the various leve ls of government. Fo r the reasons d iscussed above , I certify that th i s AD: ( 1) Is not a "significant regu l ato r y action" under Executive Order 12866 , (2) Is not a " s ign ificant rule " under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures ( 44 FR 1 1 034, Feb rua ry 26 , 1979) , (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska , and (4) Will not have a sign ifica nt econom ic impact , positive or negative , on a substantia l n umbe r of small e ntit ies unde r the cr iteria of the Regu l ato r y Flexib ili ty Act. L i s t of S ubje cts in 

### 1 4 CF R P a rt 

### 39 Air transporta tion , A irc r aft , Aviat io n safety , In corporation by refere nce , Safety. A doption of t he Ame ndm e nt Accordingly, under the a uthority delegated to me by the Administrator , the FAA amends 14 CFRpart 39 as follows : P A RT 

### 39

- AI RWORT HI NESS DI REC TI VES 1. The aut hori ty citat i on for part 39 conti nues to read as fo ll ows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g) , 40 1 13 , 44701
. 

### § 39. 13 [ A m e nd e d] 2
. The FAA amends§ 39.13 by removing airwo rthiness d irective (AD) 2003

- 12- 14 , Amendment 39-13199 (68 FR 36900 , June 20 , 2003), and adding the following new AD: 2012-24-03 T urbom e ca S
. A.: Amendment 39-17273; DocketNo. FAA-2012

- 0520; Di r ectorate I de ntifier 2002-NE-43-AO. (a) E ffe c t i ve D a t e T hi s a irworthi ness directive (AD) is effective [INSERT DATE 35 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICAT I ON IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. 

### 5

### (b) Af fected A Ds

This AD s up ersedes AD 2003 -1 2 -1 4, Ame ndm ent 39 -1 3199 (68 FR 36900 , June 20 , 2003). (c) 

### App lic ab ili ty Thi s AD app li es to a ll Turbomeca S.A. Ani e l lA, lAl, 1 A2 , IB , l C , ! C l , 1C2 , lD , l D l , 1E2 , lKl , lS , and l SI turbos haft e ngi nes that have not inco rp orated Turbomeca S.A. Modificatio n TU360
. 

### (d) U nsafe Cond ition This AD was prompted by in- ser v ice expe ri ence s howi ng that d u st inside the gas generator hollov. , shaft may be fou nd whe n the ax ia l comp r esso r whee l has less erosion tha n in it iall y assessed. We are iss uin g thi s AD to prevent an unbalance of th e gas generator rotati ng asse m bly , whic h may lead to deterioration of the gas generato r rear bear ing and uncommanded eng ine s hutdown. (e) 

### Co mplianc e Comply w ith this A D w i thi n the compliance t imes specified , u nl ess a lready done. (1) Within 50 e ngi ne hours af ter the effective date of thi s A D , determine the engine history and perfo rm the m a intenance actions at the spec ifi ed schedul es. Use paragraphs l

. A. and 2.A. through 2
. C. ofT urb o meca S
. A
. A lert Mandatory Service Bu ll eti n (MS B ) No. A292 72 0230 , Version C , dated Feb ru ar y 29,20 12 to perfonn the maintenance actions a nd to establish the cleaning sched ul e . (2) If du rin g a ny of the c leani ngs , the c;l u st weight co ll ected in side the gas generator ho ll ow s haft is more th an 8 grams , replace the gas generato r rea r bearing before further fl igh t. (3) Afte r the effect ive date of this AD , if there are any changes in accordan ce wi th paragraph l.A. ( l )(a) l. 3 ofTurbomeca S.A. A lert MSB No. A292 72 0230, Ve rsion C ,

6dated Febru ary 29 , 20 1 2 , w ithi n 50 e n g in e hou rs tim e - in-service after suc h a chan ge , accomplish the act ions as spec i fied i n paragraphs (e)(l) and (e)(2) of thi s AD. (4) After th e effec ti ve date of this AD , d o not install any gas generato r ( modul e M03) o n a n e n gi ne unl ess it is in comp li ance wi th thi s AD. (5) Afte r the effecti ve date of thi s AD , do n o t in sta ll any gas generator rear b eari n g that h as operated on an e n gi ne w ith a ho ll ow s h aft th at has been found to have a du st weight more tha n 8 g rams . 

### (f) Optional Terminating Action As optional te rminatin g acti on to the r epetit ive ac tion s in thi s A D , modif y the engine by in corporatin g Turbomeca S.A. Mo dific ati on TU360. 

### (g) A lternative Method s of Comp li ance (AMOCs) The Man ager, Eng in e Cert ification O ffice , may ap pro ve AMOCs for this A D
. Use the procedu res fo u nd i n 14 CF R 39
. 19 to m ake yo ur r eq ues t. 

### (h) Related Information (1) Fo r more informati o n about this A D , contact R ose Le n , Ae ro space Eng i neer, E n g in e Ce rtific at io n Office , FAA, Engine 

### & Pro pell er Directo rate , 12 New Engla nd Exec uti ve Park , Burlin g ton , MA 0 180 3 ; phone: 781

- 238

- 7772 ; fax : 781-238-7199; email: rose.len @ faa.gov. (2) Refer to European Av i ation Safety Agency A D 20 1 2 -0 071 , dated A pril 26, 20 1 2 , and Turbomeca S.A. A l ert MSB No. A292 72 0230, Version C , d ate d Fe bru ary 29 , 2012 , fo r r elate d info rm ation

. 

### (i) Material Incorporated by 

### Reference ( 1 ) T he Dir ec tor of th e Federal R egis te r app roved th e incorporation by r efe re nce (IBR) of th e serv ice i nformat io n listed in thi s paragrap h und er 5 U
. S
. C
. 552(a) a n d I CFR pa11 5 1.

7(2) You mu st use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by th i s AD, un less the AD specifies otherwise. (i) Turbomeca S.A. Alert Mandatory Serv ice Bulletin No. A292 72 0230 , Version C, dated February 29 , 2012. (ii) Reserved. (3) For Turbomeca S.A. service information identified in thi s AD , contact Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos , France; phone: 33 05 59 74 40 00 ; telex: 570 042 ; fax: 33 05 59 74 45 15. (4) You may view this service information at FAA. Engine & Propeller Dir ectorate , 12 New England Executive Park , Burlington , MA. For inf o m1ation on the availability of this mate rial at the FAA , call 781-238

- 7125. (5) You may view th is service information at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this materia l at NARA, call 202-741-6030 , or go to: http: //www.archives.gov/ federal-register/cf r / ibrlocations.html.
I ssued in Burlington , Massachusetts ; on November 20, 2012.

Robert 

### J. Ganley , Acting Manager , Engine & Propell er Dir ectorate , Aircraft Certifi cat io n Serv ice.

8