Document ID: FAA-2013-0557-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines
Posted Date: 2013-08-12T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48824-48826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19415]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0557; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-22-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. Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 
1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a 
``chip illumination event'' in flight on a Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 
engine. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the 
free turbine (FT) module (M04) for the affected Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 
engines and, if a discrepancy is found, repair of the affected module. 
We are proposing this AD to prevent a loss of FT bearing lubrication, 
resulting FT module failure, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
aircraft.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 11, 
2013.

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 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. 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; 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: Robert Morlath, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7154; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: robert.c.morlath@faa.gov.

[[Page 48825]]

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-2013-0557; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-22-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

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive No. 2013-0120, dated June 4, 2013 (referred to 
herein after as ``MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    A ``chip light illumination'' event in flight on an ARRIEL 1C2 
engine was reported to Turbomeca. Following the event, which 
resulted from Free Turbine front bearing deterioration, the 
investigation revealed that the loss of the Free Turbine (FT) 
bearing module has led to a major disruption in the lubrication of 
the FT module (M04) bearings. The root cause of the event has been 
attributed to incorrect bonding of the Free Turbine Bearing Plug, 
accomplished during the repair process in an identified Repair 
Center. Consequently, it was possible to identify a batch of Modules 
M04 which are potentially affected.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a loss of FT bearing 
lubrication resulting in FT module failure, damage to the engine, and 
damage to the aircraft. You may obtain further information by examining 
the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Turbomeca S.A. has issued Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin No. A292 
72 0838, Version A, dated May 24, 2013. The service information 
describes procedures for correcting the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI.

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 a one-time inspection of the FT 
module (M04) of certain Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 
1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines and, if a 
discrepancy is found, repair of the affected module.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects five engines installed on 
aircraft of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 
hour per engine to comply with the inspection requirement in this 
proposed AD, and about 3 hours per engine to repair the module. The 
average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about $13 per 
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed 
AD on U.S. operators to be $1,765.

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 proposed 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0557; Directorate Identifier 
2013-NE-22-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by October 11, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 
1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2,

[[Page 48826]]

1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines equipped with free turbine (FT) 
module (M04) identified by the part and serial numbers listed in 
Figure 2 of Turbomeca S.A. Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 
No. A292 72 0838, Version A, dated May 24, 2013.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a ``chip illumination event'' in flight 
on a Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 engine. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent a loss of FT bearing lubrication resulting in FT module 
failure, damage to the engine, and damage to the aircraft.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following.
    (1) For Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 engines with an FT module (M04) 
with a part and serial number listed in Figure 2 of Turbomeca S.A. 
Alert MSB No. A292 72 0838, Version A, dated May 24, 2013, within 50 
flight hours (FHs) from the effective date of this AD, inspect the 
M04 module. Use the instructions in paragraph 6 of Turbomeca S.A. 
Alert MSB No. A292 72 0838, Version A, dated May 24, 2013 to do your 
inspection.
    (2) For Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1E2, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 
engines with an FT module (M04) with a part and serial number listed 
in Figure 2 of Turbomeca S.A. Alert MSB No. A292 72 0838, Version A, 
dated May 24, 2013, within 300 FHs from the effective date of this 
AD, inspect the M04 module. Use the instructions in paragraph 6 of 
Turbomeca S.A. Alert MSB No. A292 72 0838, Version A, dated May 24, 
2013, to perform the inspection.
    (3) If you find that the M04 module is not eligible for return 
to service, remove the M04 module before further flight.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any affected 
FT module (M04) listed in Figure 2 of Turbomeca S.A. Alert MSB No. 
A292 72 0838, Version A, dated May 24, 2013, onto any engine, or an 
engine with an affected FT module (M04) onto any helicopter, unless 
the module has passed the inspections required by paragraphs (e)(1) 
and (e)(2) of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Morlath, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7154; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
robert.c.morlath@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information AD 
2013-0120, dated June 4, 2013, and Turbomeca S.A. Alert MSB No. A292 
72 0838, Version A, dated May 24, 2013, for related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this 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.
    (4) 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 August 5, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-19415 Filed 8-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P