Document ID: FAA-2017-1078-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Various Aircraft Equipped With BRP-Rotax GmbH and Co KG 912 A Series Engine
Posted Date: 2017-11-22T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 22, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55527-55529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25005]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 22, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 55527]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1078; Product Identifier 2017-CE-038-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Various Aircraft Equipped With BRP-
Rotax GmbH & Co KG 912 A Series Engine

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
various aircraft equipped with a BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG (formerly BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG; Bombardier-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG; Bombardier-
Rotax GmbH) 912 A series engine. This proposed AD results from 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an 
aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as defective valve push-rod assemblies manufactured from June 
8, 2016, through October 2, 2017. We are issuing this proposed AD to 
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 8, 2018.

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.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG, Rotaxstrasse 1, A-4623 Gunskirchen, Austria; 
phone: +43 7246 601 0; fax: +43 7246 6370; Internet: http://www.flyrotax.com. You may review this referenced service information at 
the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

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-
1078; 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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; 
email: [email protected].

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-2017-1078; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-038-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 because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about 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 AD 
No. 2017-0208, dated October 13, 2017 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Power loss and engine RPM drop have been reported on Rotax 912/
914 engines in service. It has been determined that, due to a 
quality control deficiency in the manufacturing process of certain 
valve push-rod assemblies, manufactured between 08 June 2016 and 02 
October 2017 inclusive, partial wear on the rocker arm ball socket 
may occur, which may lead to malfunction of the valve train.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to rough 
engine operation and loss of power, possibly resulting in a forced 
landing, with consequent damage to the aeroplane and injury to 
occupants.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, BRP-Rotax issued 
Service Bulletin (SB) SB-912 i-008/SB-912-070/SB-914-052 (single 
document), providing applicable instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection and, depending on findings, replacement of affected 
parts. This [EASA] AD also prohibits installation of affected parts 
on an engine.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1078.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG has issued Rotax Aircraft Engines BRP 
Service Bulletin SB-912 i-008 R1/SB-912-070 R1/SB-914-052 R1 (co-
published as one document), Revision 1, dated October 12, 2017. The 
service information describes procedures for inspecting and, if 
necessary, replacing the valve push-rod assembly on the left and/or 
right rocker arms. 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 
of this NPRM.

[[Page 55528]]

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have 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 and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 63 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per 
product to comply with the basic inspection requirement of this 
proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required 
parts would cost about $70 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $9,765, or $155 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 2 work-hours to replace all 8 valve push-rod assemblies and 
associated parts on all 4 cylinders and require parts costing $3,093, 
for a cost of $3,263 per product. We have no way of determining the 
number of products that may need these actions.

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.
    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 small airplanes, gliders, and 
domestic business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the 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

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 AD:

Various Aircraft: Docket No. FAA-2017-1078; Product Identifier 2017-
CE-038-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 8, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all serial numbers of the airplanes listed in 
table 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD, that are:
    (1) equipped with a BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG (formerly BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG; Bombardier-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG; 
Bombardier-Rotax GmbH) 912 A series engine (Rotax 912 A series 
engine) with a serial number (S/N) listed in table 2 of paragraph 
(c) to this AD; or
    (2) equipped with a Rotax 912 A series engine with any S/N that 
has had a part number (P/N) 854861 valve push-rod assembly replaced 
in-service (e.g., during engine repair, maintenance, or general 
overhaul) during the time frame of June 8, 2016, to the effective 
date of this AD; and
    (3) certificated in any category.

                                  Table 1 to Paragraph (c)--Affected Airplanes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Type certificate holder                       Aircraft model                          Engine model
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aeromot-Ind[uacute]stria            AMT-200.......................................  912 A2.
 Mec[acirc]nico-Metal[uacute]rgica
 Ltda.
Diamond Aircraft Industries.......  HK 36 R ``SUPER DIMONA''......................  912 A.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES GmbH..  HK 36 TS and HK 36 TC.........................  912 A3.
Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc...  DA20-A1.......................................  912 A3.
HOAC-Austria......................  DV 20 KATANA..................................  912 A3.
Iniziative Industriali Italiane     Sky Arrow 650 TC..............................  912 A2.
 S.p.A..
SCHEIBE-Flugzeugbau GmbH..........  SF 25C........................................  912 A2, 912 A3.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 55529]]

     Table 2 to Paragraph (c)--Affected Engine Serial Numbers (S/N)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Engine                            Affected S/N
------------------------------------------------------------------------
912 A series..............................  4 411 126 through 4 411 146
                                             and 4 411 401 through 4 411
                                             492.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 85: 
Reciprocating Engine.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as defective valve 
push-rod assemblies manufactured from June 8, 2016, through October 
2, 2017. We are issuing this AD to prevent rough engine operation, 
which could cause loss of power and result in loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) For aircraft with engines that have 160 hours time-in-
service (TIS) or less since first installed: Before exceeding 170 
hours TIS on the engine since first installed or within the next 3 
months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, 
visually inspect the valve push-rod ball sockets of each valve push-
rod using the Accomplishment Instructions in Rotax Aircraft Engines 
BRP Service Bulletin SB-912 i-008 R1/SB-912-070 R1/SB-914-052 R1 
(co-published as one document), Revision 1, dated October 12, 2017 
(Rotax SB SB-912 i-008 R1/SB-912-070 R1/SB-914-052 R1).
    (2) For airplanes with engines that have 160 hours TIS or more 
since first installed: Within the next 10 hours TIS after the 
effective date of this AD or within the next 3 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, visually inspect 
the valve push-rod ball sockets of each valve push-rod using the 
Accomplishment Instructions in Rotax SB SB-912 i-008 R1/SB-912-070 
R1/SB-914-052 R1.
    (3) For all affected airplanes: If a valve push-rod with a black 
surface is found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) 
or (f)(2) of this AD, before further flight, replace the valve push-
rod and its affected parts with airworthy parts using the 
Accomplishment Instructions in Rotax SB SB-912 i-008 R1/SB-912-070 
R1/SB-914-052 R1.
    (4) For all affected airplanes: As of the effective date of this 
AD, do not install a valve push-rod that was manufactured from June 
8, 2016, through October 2, 2017.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. Send information to ATTN: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-
4090; email: [email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC 
on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office 
(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Small Airplane 
Standards Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA).

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI EASA AD No. 2017-0208, dated October 13, 2017, for 
related information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2017-1078. For service information related to this AD, contact 
BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG, Rotaxstrasse 1, A-4623 Gunskirchen, 
Austria; phone: +43 7246 601 0; fax: +43 7246 6370; Internet: http://www.flyrotax.com. You may review this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 9, 2017.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25005 Filed 11-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P