Document ID: FAA-2013-0688-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: EADS CASA (Type Certificate Previously Held by Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Airplanes
Posted Date: 2013-08-13T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49235-49237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19535]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0688; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-221-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; EADS CASA (Type Certificate Previously 
Held by Construcciones Aeron[aacute]uticas, S.A.) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain EADS CASA (Type Certificate Previously Held by Construcciones 
Aeron[aacute]uticas, S.A.) Model C-212-CB, C-212-CC, C-212-CD, C-212-
CE, and C-212-DF airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report 
of the propeller pitch control (PPC) lever becoming disconnected from 
the engine due to a missing bolt. This proposed AD would require 
modifying the PPC lever attachment system. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent PPC shaft disconnection, which could lead to a loss of 
propeller pitch control, possibly resulting in uncommanded change to 
the engine power settings and consequent reduced controllability of the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 27, 
2013.

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, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For EADS-CASA service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact EADS-CASA, Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD), 
Integrated Customer Services (ICS), Technical Services, Avenida de 
Arag[oacute]n 404, 28022 Madrid, Spain; telephone +34 91 585 55 84; fax 
+34 91 585 55 05; email MTA.TechnicalService@casa.eads.net; Internet 
http://www.eads.net. For Honeywell service information identified in 
this AD, contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, 
Phoenix, AZ 85034-2802; Internet: http://portal.honeywell.com; 
telephone: 800-601-3099. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.

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 regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations 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: Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace 
Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; 
telephone (425) 227-1112; fax (425) 227-1149.

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-2013-0688; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-221-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://

[[Page 49236]]

www.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 aviation 
authority for the Member States of the European Community, has issued 
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2012-0251, dated November 27, 2012 
(referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    An occurrence was reported where the propeller pitch control 
(PPC) lever disconnected from the engine (a TPE331-10R-511C) on a C-
212-CC aeroplane.
    The result of the subsequent investigation revealed that the PPC 
lever disconnection occurred due to a missing bolt, which fixes the 
clamp that joins the PPC lever to the PPC rod.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a loss of an 
affected propeller pitch control, possibly resulting in uncommanded 
change to the engine power settings and consequent reduced control 
of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, EADS-CASA developed 
a modification (mod 10515) that eliminates the possibility of PPC 
shaft disconnection and made this available through Service Bulletin 
SB-212-76-0009 to be applied in service.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
modification of PPC lever attachment system.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    EADS CASA has issued Service Bulletin SB-212-76-0009, Revision 1, 
dated August 03, 2012. EADS CASA Bulletin SB-212-76-0009, Revision 1, 
dated August 03, 2012, refers to Honeywell Service Bulletin TPE331-72-
2190, dated December 21, 2011, as an additional source of guidance for 
modifying the PPC lever attachment system. The actions described in 
this service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition 
identified in the MCAI.

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 the State of Design Authority, we have 
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an 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 affects 42 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modification......................  20 work-hours x $85 per            $1,018           $2,718         $114,156
                                     hour = $1,700.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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; 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 AD:

EADS CASA (Type Certificate Previously Held by Construcciones 
Aeron[aacute]uticas, S.A.): Docket No. FAA-2013-0688; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-NM-221-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 27, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to EADS CASA (Type Certificate previously held 
by Construcciones Aeron[aacute]uticas, S.A.) Model C-212-CB, C-212-
CC, C-212-CD, C-212-CE, C-212-CF, and C-212-DF airplanes; 
certificated in any category; all serial numbers, except those that 
have been modified in production to incorporate EADS CASA 
Modification 10515.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 76, Engine 
Controls.

[[Page 49237]]

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of the propeller pitch control 
(PPC) lever becoming disconnected from the engine due to a missing 
bolt. We are issuing this AD to prevent PPC shaft disconnection, 
which could lead to a loss of propeller pitch control, possibly 
resulting in uncommanded change to the engine power settings and 
consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD 
performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions 
have already been done.

(g) Modification

    Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, modify the 
propeller pitch control (PCC) lever attachment system of the 
aircraft engine, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions 
of EADS-CASA Service Bulletin SB-212-76-0009, Revision 1, dated 
August 03, 2012.
    Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD: EADS-CASA Service Bulletin 
SB-212-76-0009, Revision 1, dated August 03, 2012, refers to 
Honeywell Service Bulletin TPE331-72-2190, dated December 21, 2011, 
as an additional source of guidance for modifying the cam assembly.

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, ANM-
116, International Branch, Transport Airplane Directorate, 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 International Branch, send it to ATTN: Shahram 
Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1112; fax (425) 227-1149. 
Information may be emailed to:  9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 
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. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this 
AD.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(i) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
(MCAI) EASA Airworthiness Directive 2012-0251, dated November 27, 
2012 and EADS-CASA Service Bulletin SB-212-76-0009, Revision 1, 
dated August 03, 2012, for related information.
    (2) For EADS-CASA service information identified in this AD, 
contact EADS-CASA, Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD), 
Integrated Customer Services (ICS), Technical Services, Avenida de 
Arag[oacute]n 404, 28022 Madrid, Spain; telephone +34 91 585 55 84; 
fax +34 91 585 55 05; email MTA.TechnicalService@casa.eads.net; 
Internet http://www.eads.net. For Honeywell service information 
identified in this AD, contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 
34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-2802; Web site: http://portal.honeywell.com; or call Honeywell toll free at phone: 800-601-
3099 (U.S./Canada) or 602-365-3099 (International Direct). You may 
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 425-227-1221.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 1, 2013.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-19535 Filed 8-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P