Document ID: FAA-2015-0625-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop Engines
Posted Date: 2015-04-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22136-22137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09002]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 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. 80, No. 76 / Tuesday, April 21, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 22136]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0625; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-09-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop 
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 serial number GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11, M601E-11A, and 
M601F turboprop engines with certain part number (P/N) gas generator 
turbine (GGT) blades, installed. This proposed AD was prompted by the 
determination that certain GGT blades are susceptible to blade failure. 
This proposed AD would require removing from service any affected 
engine with certain GGT blades installed. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent GGT blade failure, which could lead to engine failure and loss 
of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 22, 2015.

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 GE 
Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9--
Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 
538 222. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
0625; 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, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, 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 proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-0625; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-09-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 2015-0015, dated January 30, 2015 (referred to hereinafter as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    It has been demonstrated that non-shot peened Gas Generator 
Turbine (GGT) blades are susceptible to blade separation in the 
shank area due to their reduced fatigue life.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to an in-flight 
engine shutdown and, consequently, reduced control of the aeroplane.

    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-2015-0625.

Related Service Information under 1 CFR Part 51

    GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
No. M601E-11/30, dated December 23, 2014, and ASB No. M601E-11/31, 
M601E-11A/18, M601F/28, dated December 23, 2014. The ASBs describe 
procedures for removal and replacement of GGT blades that are not shot 
peened. 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 the 
Czech Republic, 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 removing from 
service any affected engine with GGT blades installed that are not shot 
peened.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects one engine installed on 
an airplane of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 
64 hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about

[[Page 22137]]

$28,765 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of 
this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $34,205.

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.

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.

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):

GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type Certificate previously held by WALTER 
Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.): Docket No. FAA-2015-
0625; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-09-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 22, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to certain serial number (S/N) GE Aviation Czech 
s.r.o. M601E-11, M601E-11A, and M601F turboprop engine models, with 
gas generator turbine (GGT) blade, part number (P/N) M601-3372.6 or 
M601-3372.51, installed, as follows:
    (1) Model M601E-11: S/Ns 862001, 863008, 894018, 034005, 034006, 
034007, 034008, 041003, and 042002.
    (2) Model M601E-11A: S/Ns 042003, 042004, 044001, 044002, and 
961001.
    (3) Model M601F: S/Ns 024001, 002001, 003001, 024001, 934001, 
934002, 961001.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the determination that certain GGT 
blades are susceptible to blade failure. These blades are identified 
as blade P/Ns M601-3372.6 and M601-3372.51, and are installed on an 
engine S/N identified in paragraph (c) of this AD. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent GGT blade failure, which could lead to engine 
failure and loss of the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done. After the effective date of this AD:
    (1) Do not return to service any affected engine with GGT blade, 
P/N M601-3372.6 or M601-3372.51, installed, after 300 hours time in 
service or six months, whichever occurs first, after the effective 
date of this AD.
    (2) If the affected engines are subsequently disassembled or 
overhauled, the non-shot peened GGT blades, P/N M601-3372.6 or M601-
3372.51, are not eligible for installation in any other engine after 
removal.

(f) 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 to make your 
request. You may email your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov.

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
robert.green@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2015-0015, 
dated January 30, 2015, 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-2015-0625.
    (3) GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
M601E-11/30, dated December 23, 2014, which is co-published as one 
document with M601D-1/31, M601Z/29, and M601T/24, and ASB No. M601E-
11/31, M601E-11A/18, M601F/28, dated December 23, 2014, which is co-
published as one document with M601D-1/32, M601Z/30, M601E/61, 
M601T/25, M601FS/12, M601F-22/25, M601F-32/23, and M601E-21/28, are 
not incorporated by reference in this AD. The ASBs can be obtained 
from GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. using the contact information in 
paragraph (g)(4) of this proposed AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 
9--Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: 
+420 222 538 222.
    (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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 7, 2015.
Ann C. Mollica,
Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-09002 Filed 4-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P