Document ID: FAA-2020-0471-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Pratt and Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft Engines
Posted Date: 2020-05-14T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28888-28890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09944]

 ========================================================================
 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. 85, No. 94 / Thursday, May 14, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 28888]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0471; Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00126-E]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6B-37A model turboshaft 
engines with engine serial number PCE-PU0289 and earlier. This proposed 
AD was prompted by a report of contamination from galvanic corrosion 
between the fuel control unit (FCU) aluminum body and the steel union 
fitting causing the loss of engine control, resulting in an engine 
over-speed condition and subsequent in-flight shutdown (IFSD). This 
proposed AD would require replacing the FCU with a part eligible for 
installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 29, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Pratt & 
Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, 
J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; website: https://www.pwc.ca/en/. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0471; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803; phone: 781-
238-7743; fax: 781-238-7199; email: Mehdi.Lamnyi@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites 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-2020-0471; 
Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00126-E'' at the beginning of your 
comments. The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. 
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this NPRM because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information as described in the 
following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive 
verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial 
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by 
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), 
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to 
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is 
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and 
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you 
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page 
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat 
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will 
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing 
CBI should be sent to Mehdi Lamnyi, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, 
FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. Any commentary that 
the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be 
placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (Transport Canada), which is the 
aviation authority for Canada, has issued Transport Canada AD CF-2019-
05, dated February 19, 2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), 
to address the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI states:

    There has been one reported incident on a PT6B-37A engine, where 
the contamination from galvanic corrosion between the FCU aluminum 
body and the steel union fitting has caused the loss of engine 
control, resulting in an engine over-speed condition and 
subsequently leading to an engine inflight shutdown (IFSD). This 
condition, if not corrected, could lead to additional cases of 
IFSDs, which on a single engine helicopter may result in an 
emergency autorotation landing. To address the subject galvanic 
corrosion problem in the FCU, P&WC has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 
39107 to replace the affected FCUs with a modified FCU that is not 
susceptible to the subject galvanic corrosion problem. This 
[Transport Canada] AD mandates compliance with P&WC SB 39107, 
requiring the replacement of the

[[Page 28889]]

affected FCUs to mitigate the potential unsafe condition.
    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0471.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) No. PT6B-72-39107, 
Revision No. 1, dated December 13, 2017. The SB describes procedures 
for replacing the FCU. 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

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of Canada 
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our 
bilateral agreement with Canada, Transport Canada, its technical 
representative has notified us of the unsafe condition described in the 
MCAI and service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing 
this AD because it evaluated all the relevant information provided by 
Transport Canada and determined the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same 
type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require replacing the FCU with a part 
eligible for installation.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    P&WC SB No. PT6B-72-39107, Revision No. 1, dated December 13, 2017, 
directs the replacement of both the FCU and the bypass valve cover. 
This proposed AD requires only the replacement of the FCU.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 75 engines 
installed on helicopters of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                         Labor cost            Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the FCU....................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour          $37,000         $37,085      $2,781,375
                                      = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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):

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp: Docket No. FAA-2020-0471; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2019-00126-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by June 29, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6B-37A 
model turboshaft engines with engine serial number PCE-PU0289 and 
earlier, which do not have an installed fuel control unit (FCU) that 
incorporates a stainless steel air adapter using P&WC Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. PT6B-72-39107, Revision No. 1, dated December 13, 
2017.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7321, Fuel Control/
Turbine Engines.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of contamination from galvanic 
corrosion between the FCU aluminum body and the steel union fitting 
causing the loss of engine control, resulting in an engine over-
speed condition and subsequent in-flight shutdown (IFSD). The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the FCU due to contamination 
from galvanic corrosion. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in loss of engine control, failure of the engine, IFSD, 
and loss of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within the compliance time identified in Table 1 to paragraph 
(g) of this AD, replace the FCU with an FCU that incorporates the 
stainless steel air adapter using the Accomplishment Instruments, 
paragraphs 3.A. and 3.C., of P&WC SB No. PT6B-72-

[[Page 28890]]

39107, Revision No. 1, dated December 13, 2017.

         Table 1 to Paragraph (g)--Compliance Time Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Compliance time  [A or B,
                                        whichever occurs later after the
                                           effective date of this AD]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A....................................  Before the FCU accumulates 1,500
                                        flight hours, or before the FCU
                                        accumulates six years since new
                                        or last overhaul, whichever
                                        occurs first.
B....................................  Within six months.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the replacement of the FCU that is 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD if you replaced the FCU with an 
FCU that incorporates a stainless steel air adapter before the 
effective date of this AD using P&WC SB No. PT6B-72-39107, Original 
Issue, dated December 15, 2016.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, 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 (j)(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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Mehdi Lamnyi, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA, 01803; phone: 781-238-7743; fax: 781-238-7199; 
email: Mehdi.Lamnyi@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (Transport Canada) 
AD CF-2019-05, dated February 19, 2019, for more information. You 
may examine the Transport Canada AD in the AD docket on the internet 
at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in 
Docket No. FAA-2020-0471.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, 
Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; website: 
https://www.pwc.ca/en/. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7759.

    Issued on May 5, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-09944 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P