[Docket No. FAA-2015-0900; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-12-AD] 

RIN 2120-AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft 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 

Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines with a certain part number oil pump 

installed. This proposed AD was prompted by cases of deterioration of the gas generator 

front bearing due to a link loss between the pump driver and the oil pump shaft. This 

proposed AD would require inspection, and if necessary, replacement before further 

flight of the oil pump driver assembly and/or the oil pump shaft, or the oil pump itself. 

We are proposing this AD to prevent link loss between the pump driver and the oil pump 

shaft, which could lead to an engine in-flight shutdown, forced landing, and damage to 

the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by [INSERT DATE 60 

DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER). 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any ofthe following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

• Fax: 202-493-225 I. 

For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Turbomeca S.A., 

40220 Tamos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; telex: 570 042; fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 

15. 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 781-23 8-7125. 

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-20I5-0900; 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 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: Philip Haberlen, Aerospace Engineer, 

Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, I 2 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA OI803; phone: 78I-238-7770; fax: 781-238-7I99; email: 

philip.haberlen@faa.gov. 

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Include "Docket No. F AA-20 15-0900; Directorate Identifier 20 15-NE-12-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. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for 

the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA AD 2015-0049, dated 

March 17, 2015 (Corrected May 7, 2015) (referred to hereinafter as "the MCAI"), to 

correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states: 

A risk of an in-flight shutdown (IFSD) has been identified on an 

ARRIUS 2F engine, due to deterioration of gas generator front 

bearing. This could be the result of lack of lubrication, due to a 

link loss between pump driver and oil pump shaft. 

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to cases of 

IFSD, possibly resulting in forced landing with consequent damage 

to the helicopter and injury to occupants. 

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Turbomeca S.A. has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 319 79 4834, 

Version B, dated October 21, 2014. The MSB describes procedures for inspecting the oil 

pump driver assembly on the oil pump shaft, the pump driver splines, and the oil pump 

splines. This service information is reasonably available; see ADDRESSES for ways to 

access this service information. 

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD 

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of France, and is 

approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the 

European Community, EASA has 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 EASA 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 inspection, and if necessary, replacement before further flight, of the 

oil pump driver assembly and/or the oil pump shaft, or the oil pump itself. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD affects about 96 engines installed on 

helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about two hours per 

product to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. 

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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, 

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(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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended) 

2. The FAA amends§ 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive 

(AD): 

Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2015-0900; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-12-AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER). 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

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in a Turbomeca repair center after January 1, 2013, and 

(2) Engines with a serial number of34776 or higher, provided that the oil pump 

was not replaced on that engine since the first flight of that engine on a helicopter. 

(d) Reason 

This AD was prompted by cases of deterioration of the gas generator front 

bearing due to a link loss between the pump driver and the oil pump shaft. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent link loss between the pump driver and the oil pump shaft, which could 

lead to an engine in-flight shutdown, forced landing, and damage to the helicopter. 

(e) Actions and Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. 

(1) Inspect the pump driver assembly on the oil pump shaft, the pump driver 

splines, and the oil pump splines, using paragraph 2.4.2, Operating Instructions, of 

Turbomeca S.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 319 79 4834, Version B, dated 

October 21,2014, as follows: 

(i) After the effective date of this AD, for engines with less than 250 engine hours 

(EH), since new, since last overhaul, or since last installation of an affected oil pump, 

whichever occurred later, inspect before exceeding 300 EH since new, since last 

overhaul, or since last installation of an affected oil pump, as applicable. 

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than 800 EH, accumulated since new, since last overhaul, or since last installation of an 

affected oil pump, whichever occurred later, inspect within 100 EH. 

(iv) After the effective date of this AD, for engines with 800 EH or more, 

accumulated since new, since last overhaul, or since last installation of an affected oil 

pump, whichever occurred later, inspect during the next scheduled 500 EH inspection. 

(2) If any oil pump drive assembly and/or oil pump shaft, or the oil pump itself, 

fails the inspection required by this AD, then before further flight, replace the failed 

part(s) with part(s) eligible for installation. 

(3) The instruction to report inspection results and the instruction to return a 

compliance certificate to Turbomeca S.A. as stated in paragraph 2.4.2, Operating 

Instructions, of Turbomeca S.A. MSB No. 319 79 4834, Version B, dated October 21, 

2014, are not required by this AD. 

(f) Credit for Previous Action 

If you inspected the oil pump driver assembly on the oil pump shaft, the pump 

driver splines, and the oil pump splines, and replaced any part(s) with part(s) eligible for 

installation before the effective date of this AD in accordance with Turbomeca S.A. MSB 

No. 319 79 4834, Version A, dated November 25, 2013, you met the requirements ofthis 

AD. 

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(h) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Philip Haberlen, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 0 1803; phone: 781-238-7770; fax: 781-238-

7199; email: philip.haberlen@faa.gov. 

(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2015-0049, dated 

March 17, 2015 (Corrected May 7, 20 15), for more information. You may examine the 

MCAJ in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating it in Docket No. F AA-20 15-0900. 

(3) Turbomeca S.A. MSB No. 319 79 4834, Version B, dated October 21,2014, 

can be obtained from Turbomeca S.A., using the contact information in paragraph (h)(4) 

of this proposed AD. 

(4) For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Turbomeca, 

S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; telex: 570 042; fax: 33 (0)5 59 

74 45 15. 

( 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. 

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Aircraft Certification Service. 

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