Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 26943 

(i) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57A0246, Revision 03, including 

Appendices 1 and 2, dated March 11, 2009. 

(ii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57A0246, Revision 04, including 

Appendices 1 and 2, dated September 9, 

2009. 

(iii) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57A6101, Revision 03, including 

Appendices 1 and 2, dated March 11, 2009. 

(iv) Airbus Mandatory Service Bulletin 

A300–57A6101, Revision 04, including 

Appendices 1 and 2, dated September 9, 

2009. 

(v) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57A6087, 

Revision 05, including Appendix 01, dated 

March 10, 2008. (Appendix 01 of this 

document was incorrectly identified as 

‘‘Appendix 05’’ in the document citation 

specified in table 8 of AD 2010–23–26, 

Amendment 39–16516 (75 FR 74610, 

December 1, 2010); all other references to 

Appendix 01 of this document in AD 2010– 

23–26 were correct.) 

(4) The following service information was 

approved for IBR July 18, 2006 (71 FR 33994, 

June 13, 2006): 

(i) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57A0234, 

Revision 04, including Appendix 01, dated 

May 19, 2000. 

(ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A300– 

57A0234, Revision 05, including Appendix 

01, dated February 19, 2002. 

(iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A300– 

57A6087, Revision 03, including Appendix 

01, dated May 19, 2000. 

(iv) Airbus Service Bulletin A300– 

57A6087, Revision 04, including Appendix 

01, dated February 19, 2002. 

(v) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57–0235, 

Revision 03, dated September 5, 2002. 

(vi) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57– 

0235, Revision 04, dated March 13, 2003. 

(vii) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57– 

0235, Revision 05, dated December 3, 2003. 

(viii) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57– 

6088, Revision 02, dated September 5, 2002. 

(ix) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57– 

6088, Revision 04, dated December 3, 2003. 

(5) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on April 12, 2000 (65 FR 

12077, March 8, 2000): 

(i) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57A0234, 

Revision 02, dated June 24, 1999. 

(ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A300– 

57A0234, Revision 03, including Appendix 

01, dated September 2, 1999. 

(iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A300– 

57A6087, Revision 02, including Appendix 

01, dated June 24, 1999. 

(6) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on October 20, 1999 (64 FR 

49966, September 15, 1999). 

(i) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57–0234, 

Revision 01, dated March 11, 1998. 

(ii) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57–0235, 

Revision 01, including Appendix 01, dated 

February 1, 1999. 

(iii) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57– 

6087, Revision 01, dated March 11, 1998. 

(iv) Airbus Service Bulletin A300–57– 

6088, Revision 01, including Appendix 01, 

dated February 1, 1999. 

(7) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS—EAW 

(Airworthiness Office), 1 Rond Point Maurice 

Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; 

telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 

93 44 51; email account.airwortheas@airbus.com; Internet http:// 

www.airbus.com. 

(8) You may review copies of the service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

(9) You may also review copies of the 

service information that is incorporated by 

reference at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at an NARA facility, call 202–741– 

6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/ 

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

6, 2012. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–9189 Filed 5–7–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0417; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NE–11–AD; Amendment 39– 

17045; AD 2012–09–10] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney Canada Turboprop Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A–38, –41, 

–42, –42A, –61, –64, –66, –66B, –110, 

–112, –114, –114A, –121, –135, and 

–135A series turboprop engines. This 

AD requires removal from service of 

certain part manufacturer approval 

(PMA) replacement Timken Alcor 

Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (TAATI) 

first stage sun gears and planet gears 

installed in the reduction gearbox. This 

AD was prompted by failures of certain 

first stage sun gears manufactured by 

TAATI. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent failure of the sun gear and 

planet gears which will result in an 

engine in-flight shut down, possible 

uncontained engine failure, aircraft 

damage, and serious injuries. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 

23, 2012. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by June 22, 2012. 

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: 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. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; 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 AD, 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: Paul 

Craig, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles 

Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 3960 

Paramount Blvd., Suite 100, Lakewood, 

CA 90712; phone: 562–627–5252; fax: 

562–627–5210; email: 

paul.craig@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We received two reports of sun gears, 

part number (P/N) E3028456, and 

installed in reduction gearboxes, failing 

during operation. We also received one 

report of a sun gear, P/N E3037304, 

showing premature wear and broken 

gear teeth during inspection. All three 

gear failures occurred between 60 and 

127 hours of operation time-since-new. 

These conditions, if not corrected, could 

result in failure of the sun gear and 

planet gears in the propeller reduction 

gearbox assembly, which will result in 

an engine in-flight shut down, possible 

uncontained engine failure, aircraft 

damage, and serious injuries. We 

determined that the affected PMA 

replacement TAATI first stage sun gears 

and planet gears listed in this AD, 

would have been installed after 

December 22, 2008. The affected parts 

are listed as follows: 

First stage sun gears P/N E3028456, 

all serial numbers (S/Ns), and the 

associated planet gears. 

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26944 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

First stage sun gears P/N E3037304, 

all S/Ns, and the associated planet 

gears. 

Planet gear sets P/N E3101455–02, all 

S/Ns, and the associated sun gears. 

Planet gear sets P/N E3101525–02, all 

S/Ns, and the associated sun gears. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are issuing 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. 

AD Requirements 

This AD requires removal from 

service within 40 operating hours after 

the effective date of the AD, of the PMA 

replacement TAATI first stage sun gears 

and planet gears, as listed in the 

Discussion section above, and installed 

in the reduction gearbox assemblies of 

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A–38, –41, 

–42, –42A, –61, –64, –66, –66B, –110, 

–112, –114, –114A, –121, –135, and 

–135A series turboprop engines. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

An unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD. The FAA has found that the risk to 

the flying public justifies waiving notice 

and comment prior to adoption of this 

rule because of the short compliance 

time required in this AD to start the 

inspections. Therefore, we determined 

that notice and opportunity for public 

comment before issuing this AD are 

impracticable and that good cause exists 

for making this amendment effective in 

fewer than 30 days. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not precede it by notice and 

opportunity for public comment. We 

invite you to send any written relevant 

data, views, or arguments about this AD. 

Send your comments to an address 

listed under the ADDRESSES section. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2012–0417; 

Directorate Identifier 2012–NE–11–AD’’ 

at the beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this 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 with FAA 

personnel concerning this 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). 

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 AD will not 

have federalism implications under 

Executive Order 13132. This AD will 

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 AD: 

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); and 

3. 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 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. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

2012–09–10 Pratt & Whitney Canada: 

Amendment 39–17045; Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0417; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NE–11–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes 

effective May 23, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada 

PT6A–38, –41, –42, –42A, –61, –64, –66, 

–66B, –110, –112, –114, –114A, –121, –135, 

and –135A series turboprop engines: 

(1) That have had maintenance done to the 

power section module involving first stage 

sun gear or planet gear replacement since 

December 22, 2008; and 

(2) That have any of the following Timken 

Alcor Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (TAATI) 

part manufacturer approval (PMA) 

replacement first stage sun gears or planet 

gear sets installed: 

(i) First stage sun gears P/N E3028456, all 

serial numbers (S/Ns). 

(ii) First stage sun gears P/N E3037304, all 

S/Ns. 

(iii) Planet gear sets P/N E3101455–02, all 

S/Ns. 

(iv) Planet gear sets P/N E3101525–02, all 

S/Ns. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by failures of 

certain first stage sun gears, manufactured by 

TAATI. We are issuing this AD to prevent 

failure of the sun gear and planet gears in the 

propeller reduction gearbox assembly, which 

will result in an engine in-flight shut down, 

possible uncontained engine failure, aircraft 

damage, and serious injuries. 

(e) Compliance 

(1) Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(2) Within 40 operating hours after the 

effective date of this AD, remove from service 

the following PMA replacement TAATI first 

stage sun gear and the planet gears from the 

propeller reduction gearbox assembly: 

(i) First stage sun gears P/N E3028456, all 

S/Ns, and the associated planet gears. 

(ii) First stage sun gears P/N E3037304, all 

S/Ns, and the associated planet gears. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 8, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 26945 

(iii) Planet gear sets P/N E3101455–02, all 

S/Ns, and the associated sun gears. 

(iv) Planet gear sets P/N E3101525–02, all 

S/Ns, and the associated sun gears. 

(f) Installation Prohibition 

After the effective date of this AD, do not 

install on any airplane, any engine or power 

section module with a TAATI PMA 

replacement first stage sun gear or a planet 

gear set, as listed in paragraph (c) of this AD. 

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft 

Certification Office, FAA, may approve 

AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your request. 

(h) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are not authorized. 

(i) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Paul Craig, Aerospace Engineer, Los 

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 

3960 Paramount Blvd., Suite 100, Lakewood, 

CA 90712; phone: 562–627–5252; fax: 562– 

627–5210; email: paul.craig@faa.gov. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

None. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

May 3, 2012. 

Peter A. White, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–11057 Filed 5–7–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0384; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–058–AD; Amendment 

39–17041; AD 2012–09–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 737–700 

series airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by reports that the aft seat leg fittings 

span the station (STA) 521.45 ‘‘stay-out 

zone.’’ This AD requires for certain 

airplanes, replacing the seat track pivot 

link assemblies, seat track sections, and 

floor panels. For certain airplanes, this 

AD also requires moving certain rows of 

passenger seats. For certain other 

airplanes, this AD also requires 

inspecting certain areas of the seat 

tracks for damage, and corrective 

actions if necessary. We are issuing this 

AD to prevent failure of the seat 

attachment structure and possible injury 

to passengers during an emergency 

landing. 

DATES: This AD is effective June 12, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in the AD 

as of June 12, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; email 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227– 

1221. 

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 AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

address for the Docket Office (phone: 

800–647–5527) is Document 

Management Facility, U.S. Department 

of Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sarah Piccola, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental 

Systems Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; phone: 425– 

917–6483; fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

sarah.piccola@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on April 25, 2011 (76 FR 

22828). That NPRM proposed to require, 

for certain airplanes, replacing the seat 

track pivot link assemblies, seat track 

sections, and floor panels. For certain 

airplanes, that NPRM also proposed to 

require moving certain rows of 

passenger seats. For certain other 

airplanes, that NPRM also proposed to 

require inspecting certain areas of the 

seat tracks for damage, and corrective 

actions if necessary. 

Explanation of Change to the AD 

We reviewed the compliance times 

that were proposed and determined that 

the compliance time in paragraph (h)(1) 

of the NPRM (76 FR 22828, April 25, 

2011) applies to all airplanes identified 

in paragraph (h) of this AD and the 

compliance time proposed in paragraph 

(h)(2) of the NPRM is unnecessary. We 

have therefore removed paragraphs 

(h)(1) and (h)(2) of the NPRM and 

revised paragraph (h) of this AD. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal (76 FR 22828, 

April 25, 2011) and the FAA’s response 

to each comment. Boeing supports the 

NPRM. 

Request To Withdraw the Proposed AD 

(76 FR 22828, April 25, 2011) 

AirTran Airways (ATA) (now owned 

by Southwest Airlines) and Southwest 

Airlines (SWA) requested that the 

NPRM (76 FR 22828, April 25, 2011) be 

withdrawn. ATA and SWA stated that 

the Model 737–700 series airplanes 

owned by ATA and transferred to SWA 

ownership have been or will be 

modified to have new B/E Aerospace 

seats installed in a different layout of 

passenger accommodation (LOPA). The 

LOPA for those B/E Aerospace seats 

does not have a seat leg fitting that 

spans the STA 521.45 ‘‘stay-out zone.’’ 

ATA stated that it accomplished the 

actions of Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 737–53–1286, dated 

November 20, 2008, or Revision 1, dated 

December 14, 2009, on 22 of its 

airplanes; those airplanes and the 

remaining 24 airplanes in its fleet would 

be modified to SWA’s seat configuration 

before the effective date of the AD. ATA 

also stated that it sold three of the 49 

airplanes listed in Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1596, dated November 20, 2008. ATA 

and SWA stated that since the new seats 

are from a different seat manufacturer 

and will be installed in a different 

approved LOPA, the unsafe condition 

would no longer exist. 

We disagree with the commenters’ 

request to withdraw the proposed AD 

(76 FR 22828, April 25, 2011). Replacing 

the existing Recaro seat configuration 

with the B/E Aerospace configuration 

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