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.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

51170 

Vol. 82, No. 212 

Friday, November 3, 2017 

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL 

MANAGEMENT 

5 CFR 890 

RIN: 3206–AN33 

Federal Employees Health Benefits 

(FEHB) Program: FEHB Employee 

Premium Contributions for Employees 

in Leave Without Pay or Other Nonpay 

Status 

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel 

Management. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal. 

SUMMARY: The United States Office of 

Personnel Management (OPM) is 

withdrawing a previously published 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 

that would have amended the Federal 

Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) 

regulations at 5 CFR part 890 to provide 

flexibility to agencies regarding 

payment for FEHB coverage for 

employees entering leave without pay 

(LWOP) or any other type of nonpay 

status, except when nonpay is as a 

result of a lapse of appropriations. The 

regulation also would have affected 

employees who have insufficient pay to 

cover their premium contribution, and 

certain categories of employees were 

exempt. 

DATES: OPM is withdrawing the 

proposed rule published August 30, 

2016 (81 FR 59518) as of November 3, 

2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia 

Elam, Program Analyst at (202) 606– 

0004. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 

30, 2016, OPM published an NPRM (81 

FR 59518) that would complement the 

FEHB Modification of Eligibility final 

regulation (79 FR 62325, published on 

October 17, 2014) which allows 

generally for certain temporary, 

intermittent and seasonal employees to 

enroll in the FEHB Program if they are 

expected to work at least 130 hours per 

month for at least 90 days. In the NPRM, 

OPM recognized that the expansion of 

eligibility for FEHB coverage may 

impact an agency’s budget due to the 

required FEHB Government health 

benefit contributions for newly eligible 

employees who elect to participate in 

FEHB coverage and go into LWOP or 

other nonpay status based on the 

intermittent nature of the work 

performed. The NPRM would have 

provided flexibility to agencies 

regarding payment for FEHB coverage 

for employees entering leave without 

pay (LWOP) or any other type of nonpay 

status, except when nonpay is as a 

result of a lapse of appropriations. 

OPM received comments from Federal 

employees, Federal agencies, a Federal 

shared service provider, and unions 

representing Federal employees. The 

majority of commenters objected to the 

regulation based on concerns that the 

rule would place an undue financial 

burden on Federal employees on LWOP 

or other nonpay status and would make 

it difficult for these employees to 

maintain health insurance. OPM also 

received comments about the impact of 

the rule on Permanent Seasonal 

Employees (PSEs). The commenters 

stated that PSEs are placed in nonpay 

status annually and there is a reasonable 

expectation that these employees will 

return to employment and repay the 

unpaid premiums that have been 

incurred as a debt. 

In reviewing these objections, OPM 

attempted to determine whether the 

potential cost savings from this 

proposed rulemaking outweighs the 

negative impact asserted by 

commenters. To estimate cost savings, 

OPM requested the current amount of 

unrecoverable premium debt from 

employees on LWOP and nonpay status 

from several agencies with large 

numbers of temporary, seasonal and 

intermittent employees. However, these 

agencies were generally unable to 

provide this data. Agencies do not have 

reliable data on unrecoverable FEHB 

debt because, due to constantly 

changing circumstances, these amounts 

are difficult to track. OPM did obtain 

one estimate of unpaid FEHB debt or 

FEHB debt in default for all employees 

on seasonal and intermittent Schedules 

in LWOP or insufficient pay for one 

agency for FY2016. The agency reported 

that total FEHB debt incurred by the 

agency for these employees was 

$1,068,065, but that only $48,797 of this 

total debt remained unpaid by 

employees once they returned to pay (or 

sufficient pay) status. Further, there are 

debt collection mechanisms in place to 

recover the remaining $48,797. 

Agencies must already comply with 

the Debt Collection Improvement Act 

(DCIA) of 1996 (DCIA) to collect 

delinquent debt, including FEHB debt. 

Therefore, appropriate actions are being 

taken for the collection of FEHB debt for 

employees entering leave without pay 

(LWOP) or any other type of nonpay 

status. OPM determined that the 

potential cost savings from this 

proposed rulemaking does not outweigh 

the potential negative impact of the 

undue financial burden or risk of losing 

health insurance on certain Federal 

employees. 

Withdrawal of this NPRM (81 FR 

59518, August 30, 2016) does not 

preclude the agency from issuing future 

rulemakings on this issue, nor does it 

commit the agency to any course of 

action in the future. 

U.S. Office of Personnel Management. 

Kathleen McGettigan, 

Acting Director. 

[FR Doc. 2017–23956 Filed 11–2–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6325–63–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0838; Product 

Identifier 2017–NE–33–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Safran 

Helicopter Engines, 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 all 

Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., Arriel 

2E turboshaft engines. This proposed 

AD was prompted by reports of 

ruptured front support pins on the 

accessory gearbox front support. This 

proposed AD would require 

replacement of the accessory gearbox 

front support. We are proposing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 


jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / Proposed Rules 51171 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this NPRM by December 18, 2017. 

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. 

• 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 proposed AD, contact Safran 

Helicopter Engines, S.A., 40220 Tarnos, 

France; phone: (33) 05 59 74 40 00; fax: 

(33) 05 59 74 45 15. You may view this 

service information at the FAA, Engine 

and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 

District Avenue, 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–2017– 

0838; 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: 

Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 

Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 

238–7754; fax: 781–238–7199; email: 

robert.green@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0838; Product Identifier 2017– 

NE–33–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 

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 NPRM. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA AD No. 

2016–0235, dated November 24, 2016 

(referred to hereinafter as ‘‘the MCAI’’), 

to correct an unsafe condition for the 

specified products. The MCAI states: 

Some cases were reported of ruptured front 

support pins on ARRIEL 1E2 engines. That 

condition, if not detected and corrected, 

could lead to the loss of the load path 

integrity of the engine front support. 

Consequently, Turbome ́ca issued Mandatory 

Service Bulletin (MSB) 292 72 0842 to 

provide instructions for the inspection of the 

pins and front support replacement, and 

EASA issued AD 2015–0064 (later revised) to 

require those actions. Since EASA AD 2015– 

0064R1 was issued, SAFRAN Helicopter 

Engines developed a new pin design, in order 

to increase the mechanical strength of the 

pin, through modification TU380, for 

ARRIEL 1E2 engines. Although no cases of 

front support pin rupture have been reported 

on ARRIEL 2E engines, since the ARRIEL 1E2 

and 2E type designs have the same front 

support, SAFRAN Helicopter Engines 

decided to also apply this new pin design on 

ARRIEL 2E engines through modification 

TU197. To address this potential unsafe 

condition, SAFRAN Helicopter Engines 

decided, as precautionary measure, to replace 

the front support on ARRIEL 2E engines, and 

published MSB 292 72 2197 to provide 

instructions for in-service front support 

replacement. For the reasons described 

above, this AD requires modification of the 

affected engines by replacement of each premod TU197 front support. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0838. 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed Safran Helicopter 

Engines, S.A., Mandatory Service 

Bulletin (MSB) No. 292 72 2197, 

Version A, dated September 15, 2016. 

The MSB describes procedures for 

replacement of the accessory gearbox 

front support. This service information 

is reasonably available because the 

interested parties have access to it 

through their normal course of business 

or by the means identified in the 

ADDRESSES section. 

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. 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 for replacement of the 

accessory gearbox front support. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 28 engines installed on aircraft of 

U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Front support replacement .............................. 2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 ............. $19,731 $19,901 $557,228 

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 


jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
51172 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

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. 

This AD is issued in accordance with 

authority delegated by the Executive 

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, 

as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. 

In accordance with that order, issuance 

of ADs is normally a function of the 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, but during this transition 

period, the Executive Director has 

delegated the authority to issue ADs 

applicable to engines, propellers, and 

associated appliances to the Manager, 

Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 

Policy and Innovation Division. 

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, 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type 

Certificate previously held by 

Turbomeca, S.A): Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0838; Product Identifier 2017–NE– 

33–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by December 

18, 2017. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Safran Helicopter 

Engines S.A. Arriel 2E turboshaft engines 

with front support, part number 0 292 11 715 

0, installed (pre-mod TU 197 configuration). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 8300, Accessory Gearboxes. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

ruptured front support pins on the accessory 

gearbox front support. We are issuing this AD 

to prevent failure of a front support, loss of 

engine thrust control and reduced control of 

the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Before the accessory gearbox and 

transmission shaft module (Module 01) 

accumulates 1,600 engine operating hours 

since new, or within 80 engine operating 

hours after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs later, replace the front 

support with a part eligible for installation. 

(h) Definition 

For the purpose of this AD, a part eligible 

for installation is a Module 01 with a premod TU 197 front support, that has not 

accumulated more than 1,680 engine 

operating hours since new; or a Module 01 

with a post-mod TU 197 front support. 

(i) Installation Prohibition 

As of the effective date of this AD, you may 

not install a pre-mod TU 197 front support 

on any engine with a post-mod TU 197 front 

support installed. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, FAA, ECO Branch, has 

the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 

if requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ECO Branch, send it to 

the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (k)(1) of this AD. You may email 

your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, 

ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781–238– 

7754; fax: 781–238–7199; email: 

robert.green@faa.gov. 

(2) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2016–0235, 

dated November 24, 2016, for more 

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–2017–0838. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

October 24, 2017. 

Robert J. Ganley, 

Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 

Branch, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–23606 Filed 11–2–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0906; Product 

Identifier 2017–NM–039–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Fokker 

Services B.V. Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2005–12– 

16, for all Fokker Services B.V. Model 

F28 Mark 0100 airplanes. AD 2005–12– 

16 requires an inspection to determine 

the part number of the passenger service 

unit (PSU) panels for the PSU 

modification status, and corrective 

actions if applicable. Since we issued 

AD 2005–12–16, we have determined 

that the required modification actions 

might not have been implemented 

correctly. This proposed AD would 

require an inspection of the PSU panels 

and the PSU panel/airplane interface 

connectors for discrepancies, and 

corrective actions if necessary. This 

proposed AD would also remove 

airplanes from the applicability. We are 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by December 18, 

2017. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 


jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS