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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33660-33662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14235]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1055; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-35-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Model E4 Diesel 
Piston 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 the products listed above. The existing AD 
currently requires frequent inspections of the fuel pressure supply for 
excessive oscillations to determine if high-pressure fuel pumps have 
been exposed to damaging pressure oscillations. Pumps that have been 
exposed require replacement before further flight. Since we issued that 
AD, Austro Engine, the manufacturer of the pump, introduced a new part 
number (P/N) fuel pump as mandatory terminating action to the 
repetitive inspections. This proposed AD would require the initial and 
repetitive inspections of AD 2010-23-09, but would also require 
installing HP fuel pump P/N E4A-30-200-000, as mandatory terminating 
action to the repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent engine power loss or in-flight shutdown, which could result in 
loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 25, 2011.

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 AD, contact Austro 
Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A-2700 Weiner Neustadt, Austria, 
phone: +43 2622 23000; fax: +43 2622 23000-2711, or go to: http://www.austroengine.at. 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 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 and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7176; 
fax: 781-238-7199; e-mail: james.lawrence@faa.gov.

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-2010-1055; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-35-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 October 27, 2010, we issued AD 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498 
(75 FR 68179, November 5, 2010), for Austro Engine GmbH model E4 diesel

[[Page 33661]]

piston engines. That AD requires frequent inspections of the fuel 
pressure supply for excessive oscillations to determine if high-
pressure fuel pumps have been exposed to damaging pressure 
oscillations. Pumps that have been exposed require replacement before 
further flight. That AD resulted from the European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Community, issuing emergency AD 2010-0206-E, dated October 
8, 2010 to correct that same unsafe condition. We issued our AD to 
prevent engine power loss or in-flight shutdown, which could result in 
loss of control of the airplane.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2010-23-09, EASA issued AD 2011-0039, dated 
March 8, 2011, adding a terminating action on Austro Engine GmbH model 
E4 diesel piston engines.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Austro Engine GmbH Work Instruction No. WI-MSB-E4-009, 
dated October 7, 2010, and Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. MSB-E4-009/2, dated March 4, 2011. The actions described 
in this service information are intended to prevent engine power loss 
or in-flight shutdown, which could result in loss of control of 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 retain all the requirements of AD 2010-23-
09, and require installing HP fuel pump P/N E4A-30-200-000, as 
mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
will affect about 32 model E4 diesel piston engines, installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 
work-hour per engine to perform one inspection, and about 2 work-hours 
per engine to replace the HP fuel pump. The average labor rate is $85 
per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $2,325 per product. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to 
be $82,560.

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) 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498 (75 FR 68179, November 5, 2010), 
and adding the following new AD:

Austro Engine GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2010-1055; Directorate Identifier 
2010-NE-35-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by July 25, 
2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Austro Engine GmbH model E4 diesel piston 
engines, with high-pressure (HP) fuel pump, part number (P/N) E4A-
30-100-000, installed.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by Austro Engine GmbH introducing a new 
P/N fuel pump as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections required by AD 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent engine power loss or in-flight shutdown, 
which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Inspect the fuel pressure supply for excessive oscillations 
using the inspection schedule in Table 1 of this AD.

                      Table 1--Inspection Schedule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Accumulated Time-Since-New (TSN) or Time
       Since Last Inspection (TSLI):              Compliance time:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
45 flight hours or more...................  Within 10 flight hours after
                                             the effective date of this
                                             AD.
Fewer than 45 flight hours................  Before 55 flight hours TSN
                                             or TSLI.
Repetitive inspections....................  Before 55 flight hours TSLI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (2) Use Austro Engine GmbH Work Instruction No. WI-MSB-E4-009, 
dated October 7, 2010, to do the inspections.
    (3) Replace the HP fuel pump before further flight with a new HP 
fuel pump, P/N E4A-30-200-000, if the oscillations exceed 300mV 
(750hPa).

Mandatory Terminating Action

    (4) As mandatory terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections, within 120 flight hours after the effective date of 
this AD, replace the HP fuel pump, P/N E4A-30-100-000, with an HP 
fuel pump, P/N E4A-30-200-000. Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB-E4-009/2 contains guidance on replacing the 
HP fuel pump.

[[Page 33662]]

Installation Prohibitions

    (f) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any HP 
fuel pump P/N E4A-30-100-000, onto any engine.
    (g) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
engine equipped with HP fuel pump P/N E4A-30-100-000, onto any 
airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) 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

    (i) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2011-0039, dated March 8, 2011, Austro Engine GmbH Work 
Instruction No. WI-MSB-E4-009, dated October 7, 2010, and Austro 
Engine GmbH MSB No. MSB-E4-009/2, dated March 4, 2011, for related 
information. For a copy of this service information, contact Austro 
Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A-2700 Weiner Neustadt, 
Austria, phone: +43 2622 23000; fax: +43 2622 23000-2711, or go to: 
http://www.austroengine.at. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.
    (j) 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; phone: (781) 238-7176; fax: (781) 238-7199; e-mail: 
james.lawrence@faa.gov.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 2, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-14235 Filed 6-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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