Document ID: FAA-2021-0875-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. and Continental Motors Reciprocating Engines
Posted Date: 2021-10-12T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 12, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56658-56660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22095]

 ========================================================================
 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. 86, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 12, 2021 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 56658]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0875; Project Identifier AD-2021-00675-E]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Continental Aerospace Technologies, 
Inc. and Continental Motors Reciprocating 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 certain Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. C-125, C145, IO-
360, IO-470, IO-550, O-300, O-470, TSIO-360, TSIO-520 series model 
reciprocating engines and certain Continental Motors IO-520 series 
model reciprocating engines with a certain oil filter adapter 
installed. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of two accidents 
that were the result of power loss due to oil starvation. This proposed 
AD would require removal of the oil filter adapter fiber gasket and its 
replacement with a copper gasket. 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 November 
26, 2021.

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 Stratus 
Tool Technologies, LLC, 2208 Air Park Drive, Burlington, NC 27215; 
phone: (800) 822-3200; website: https://www.tempestplus.com. 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0875; 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, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Hanlin, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, 
GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5584; fax: (404) 474-5605; email: 
[email protected].

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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0875; Project Identifier 
AD-2021-00675-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) 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 agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

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 
George Hanlin, Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA received reports of two accidents that were the result of 
power loss due to oil starvation. The first was a fatal accident on May 
1, 2019 involving a Cessna 182P airplane with a Continental Motors O-
470-S engine in Mill Creek, California. National Transportation Safety 
Board (NTSB) preliminary accident investigation report, docket number 
WPR19FA126, identified evidence of improperly maintained or installed 
oil filter adapters. An improperly maintained or installed oil filter 
adapter may lead to failure of the fiber gasket, which may result in 
oil loss or oil starvation. Based on the investigation, the 
manufacturer determined the need to replace the fiber gasket with a 
copper gasket. This condition, if not addressed, could result in 
failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of control of the 
aircraft.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or

[[Page 56659]]

develop on other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Stratus Tool Technologies Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) SB-001 Rev B, dated June 17, 2021. This MSB specifies 
procedures for removing a fiber gasket and replacing it with a copper 
gasket. 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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require removal of the fiber gasket and 
replacement with a copper gasket.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 6,300 engines installed on airplanes 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 fiber gaskets with copper       2.5 work-hours x $85 per             $34         $246.50      $1,552,950
 gaskets.                                hour = $212.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:

Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. and Continental Motors: 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0875; Project Identifier AD-2021-00675-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 26, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the reciprocating engine models identified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this AD with an F&M Enterprises, Inc. 
(F&M) or Stratus Tool Technologies, LLC (Stratus) oil filter adapter 
installed per Supplemental Type Certificate SE8409SW, SE09356SC or 
SE10348SC.
    (1) Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (Type Certificate 
previously held by Continental Motors, Inc., and Teledyne 
Continental Motors) C-125-1, C-125-2, C145-2, C145-2H, IO-360-C, IO-
360-D, IO-360-DB, IO-360-H, IO-360-HB, IO-360-K, IO-360-KB, IO-470-
E, IO-470-S, IO-550-B, IO-550-G, O-300-B, O-300-C, O-300-D, O-300-E, 
O-470-A, O-470-B, O-470-G, O-470-J, O-470-K, O-470-L, O-470-M, O-
470-N, O-470-R, O-470-S, O-470-U O-470-11, O-470-15, TSIO-360-E, 
TSIO-360-EB, TSIO-360-F, TSIO-360-FB, TSIO-360-GB, TSIO-360-LB, 
TSIO-360-MB, TSIO-360-SB, TSIO-520-C, TSIO-520-CE, TSIO-520-E, and 
TSIO-520-UB model reciprocating engines, and
    (2) Continental Motors (Type Certificate previously held by 
Teledyne Continental Motors) IO-520-A, IO-520-B, IO-520-BA, IO-520-
BB, IO-520-C, IO-520-D, IO-520-J, and IO-520-L model reciprocating 
engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 8550, Reciprocating 
Engine Oil System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of two accidents that were the 
result of power loss due to oil starvation. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to prevent loss of engine power. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in failure of the engine, in-flight 
shutdown, and loss of control of the aircraft.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Before accumulating 50 flight hours after the effective date of 
this AD or at the next scheduled oil change after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first, remove any F&M or Stratus oil 
filter adapter fiber gasket from service and replace it with a 
Stratus AN900-28 or AN900-29 oil filter adapter copper gasket in 
accordance with the Compliance Instructions, paragraph 6., pages 7 
through 10 (including all detailed instructions for Figure 5 through 
Figure 16), of Stratus Tool Technologies Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB-001 Rev B, dated June 17, 2021.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install or reuse an 
F&M or Stratus fiber gasket in any F&M or Stratus Tool Technologies 
oil filter adapter.

[[Page 56660]]

(i) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 
21.199, are subject to the requirements of paragraph (i)(1) of this 
AD:
    (1) Operators may perform a one-time non-revenue ferry flight to 
operate the airplane to a location where the maintenance action can 
be performed.
    (2) [Reserved]

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.
    (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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact George Hanlin, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5584; fax: (404) 
474-5605; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Stratus Tool Technologies, LLC, 2208 Air Park Drive, Burlington, NC 
27215; phone: (800) 822-3200; website: https://www.tempestplus.com. 
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 October 5, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-22095 Filed 10-8-21; 8:45 am]
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