[4910-13-P] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD; Amendment 39-17307; AD 2012-26-12] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Reciprocating Engines. AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines. This AD requires inspection ofthe oil filler plug vent hole at the next scheduled maintenance or within 110 flight hours after the effective date ofthis AD. Ifchips are found to be blocking the vent hole, additional corrective action is required before next flight. This AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown ofan airplane equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine in-flight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting in reduced control ofthe airplane. DATES: This AD becomes effective [Insert date 35 days after date ofpublication in the FEDERAL REGISTER]. The Director ofthe Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference ofcertain publications listed in this AD as of [Insert date 35 days after date ofpublication in the FEDERAL REGISTER].ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department ofTransportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: frederick

.zink @faa.gov; telephone: 781- 238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Discussion We issued a notice ofproposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Fed eral Register on August 31 , 2012 (77 FR 53154). That NPRM proposed to correct

an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states: An engine in-flight shutdown has been reported on an aeroplane equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine. The results ofthe investigation showed that this was due to blockage ofthe gearbox oil filling plug vent hole, which caused pressurisation in the gearbox, resulting in oil leakage and a slipping clutch. This condition, ifnot corrected, could result in further cases ofengine in-flight shutdown and consequent loss ofcontrol ofthe aeroplane. Further investigation revealed that the blockage to the oil cap vent was the result ofa residual chip from machining the oil cap vent hole. The chip is from the manufacturing process and did not fall offthe oil plug. This is not the result ofmaterial in the oil system causing the blockage. You may obtain further information including the affected gearbox serial number list by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

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### Comments We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM. 

### Conclusion We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed. 

### Costs of Compliance We estimate that this AD will affect about 45 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 2.5 hours per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts will cost about $30 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost ofthe AD to U.S. operators to be $10,913. 

### Authority for This Rulemaking Title 49 ofthe United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority ofthe FAA Administrator. "Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs," describes in more detail the scope ofthe 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 ofcivil 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 ofthat authority

3because 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 ofthe Regulatory Flexibility Act. We prepared a regulatory evaluation ofthe estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. 

### 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 provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

4List 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: 2012-26-12 Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH: Amendment 39-17307; Docket No. FAA-2012-0885 ; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective [Insert date 35 days after date ofpublication in the FEDERAL REGISTER]. (b) Affected ADs None

. (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Thielert Aircraft Engines (TAE) TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines.



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### (d) Reason This AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown ofan airplane equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine in-flight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting in reduced control ofthe airplane. 

### (e) Actions and Compliance Unless already done , within 110 flight hours after the effective date ofthis AD , or at the next scheduled maintenance, whichever occurs first, do the following. (1) Remove the oil filler plug and check for chips blocking the vent hole in accordance with TAE Service Bulletin (SB) TM TAE 125-1015 Pl , Initial Issue, dated April 27, 2012

. (2) Ifchips are found during the inspection in paragraph ( e)(1) ofthis AD, disassemble the gearbox and check the radial shaft sealing rings (at the clutch and the propeller shaft) for leakage. If leakage is noted, replace the gearbox before the next flight. (f) 

### Installation Prohibition After the effective date ofthis AD, do not install a gearbox with a SIN listed in TAE SB TM TAE 125-1015 P 1, Initial Issue, dated April 27, 2012, into any engine unless the oil filler plug has passed the inspection required by paragraph (e)( 1) ofthis AD. 

### (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD

. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

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### (h) Related Information (1) For more information about this AD , contact Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: frederick

.zink@ faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7779 ; fax (781) 238-7199. (2) Refer to MCAI Airworthiness Directive No. 2012-0112, dated June 22, 2012, and TAE SB TM TAE 125-1015 P 1, Initial Issue, dated April 27 , 2012 for related information. 

### (i) Material Incorporated by 

### Reference (1) The Director ofthe Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) ofthe service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) Service Bulletin TM TAE 125-1015 P1 , Initial Issue, dated April27 , 2012. (ii) Reserved

. (3) For TAE service information identified in this AD, contact Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350, Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49- 37204-696-0 ; fax: +49-37204-696-2912 ; e-mail: info @ centurion-engines

.com. (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability ofthis material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. 7(5) You may view this service information at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability ofthis material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http: //www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 27 , 2012.

Colleen M. D 'Alessandro, Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

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