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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15707-15708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06163]

========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 2014 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 15707]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, PW121, PW121A, 
PW124B, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, PW127H, and PW127M turboprop 
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of fuel leaks at the 
interface between the fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle that resulted 
in engine fire. This proposed AD would require removal of the O-ring 
seal from the fuel manifold fitting. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent in-flight fuel leakage, which could lead to engine fire, damage 
to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 20, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
1059; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, 
and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations 
office (phone: 800-647-5527) is the same as the Mail address provided 
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Dickert, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7117; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: kevin.dickert@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-2013-1059; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-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 based on 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 
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search 
function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any 
of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who 
sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy 
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 
FR 19477-78).

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation, which is the aviation authority 
for Canada, has issued Canada AD CF-2013-29, dated October 4, 2013 
(referred to hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    There have been reported incidences of fuel leaks at the 
interface between the flexible fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle. On 
occasion, these events resulted in an engine fire on PW100 series 
engine installations. The data indicates that nearly all of the 
subject manifold fuel leaks were caused by inadequate B-nut torque 
application during installation, after maintenance work was 
performed on the fuel nozzle/manifold.
    Sealing of the fitting connections between the fuel manifolds 
and the fuel nozzle adapters is achieved through conical metal-to-
metal surface seating. An additional O-ring seal on the fitting was 
installed to arrest any fuel leak past the conical sealing surfaces. 
In-service experience has indicated that leakage past the sealing 
surfaces, as a result of improper torquing during installation of 
the manifold, may not be immediately evident until the failure of 
the O-ring seal allows the fuel to leak into the nacelle area.

    Removal of the O-ring seal from the fuel manifold fitting is needed 
to prevent any fuel leak resulting from improper connection or 
torquing. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight fuel leakage, 
which could lead to engine fire, damage to the engine, and damage to 
the airplane. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in 
Docket No. FAA-2013-1059.

Relevant Service Information

    P&WC has issued Service Bulletin No. PW100-72-21803, Revision No. 
4, dated February 8, 2012. The actions described in this service 
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in 
the MCAI.

[[Page 15708]]

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of Canada 
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our 
bilateral agreement with Canada, they have notified us of the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced 
above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information 
provided by Canada and determined the unsafe condition exists and is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. 
This proposed AD would require removal of the O-ring seal from the fuel 
manifold fitting to prevent in-flight fuel leakage resulting from 
improper connection or torquing, thus preventing engine fire, damage to 
the engine, and damage to the airplane.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 150 engines 
installed on U.S. airplanes. We also estimate that it would take about 
2.5 hours per engine to perform the inspection or replacement required 
by this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. No parts 
are required. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $31,875.

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 to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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. Amend Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Docket No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 20, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, 
PW121, and PW121A turboprop engines with Post SB21610 configuration; 
PW124B, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, and PW127H turboprop engines with 
either Post SB21607 or Post SB21705 configuration, or both; and 
PW127G and PW127M turboprop engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of fuel leaks at the interface 
between the fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle that resulted in 
engine fire. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight fuel 
leakage, which could lead to engine fire, damage to the engine, and 
damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, during the next opportunity when the 
affected subassembly is accessible, but no later than 18 months 
after the effective date of this AD, remove the O-ring seal from the 
fuel manifold fitting.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Kevin Dickert, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7117; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
kevin.dickert@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD CF-2013-29, dated October 
4, 2013, for related information. You may examine the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-1059.
    (3) P&WC Service Bulletin PW100-72-21803, Revision No. 4, dated 
February 8, 2012, pertains to the subject of this AD and can be 
obtained from Pratt & Whitney Canada, using the contact information 
in paragraph (g)(4) of this AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin Blvd., Longueuil, 
Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Web 
site: www.pwc.ca.
    (5) 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 March 13, 2014.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-06163 Filed 3-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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