Document ID: FAA-2012-0940-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines
Posted Date: 2012-10-09T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61303-61304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24721]

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 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.
 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 61303]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0940; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-26-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines

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 
Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2D turboshaft engines. This proposed AD was 
prompted by a low fuel pressure event caused by a deterioration and a 
loss of the low-pressure drive function within the hydro-mechanical 
metering unit (HMU). This proposed AD would require replacing the HMU 
at a reduced life. We are proposing this AD to prevent an uncommanded 
in-flight shutdown of the engine, and possible loss of the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 10, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     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 AD, contact Turbomeca, 
40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; telex: 570 042; fax: 
33 (0)5 59 74 45 15. You may review copies of the referenced 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; 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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is the 
same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email: 
frederick.zink@faa.gov; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199.

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-2012-0940; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-26-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. Using the search 
function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any 
of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who 
sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy 
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 
FR 19477-78).

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2012-0141, dated July 31, 2012 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    During an Arriel 2D endurance test, the illumination of the low 
fuel pressure warning light was observed. The investigation of the 
high pressure/low pressure (HP/LP) pump assembly within the hydro-
mechanical metering unit (HMU), removed following this occurrence, 
revealed a deterioration and a loss of the LP pump drive function.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to an 
uncommanded engine in-flight shut down.

    We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent an uncommanded in-flight 
shutdown of the engine, and possible loss of the helicopter. You may 
obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Turbomeca S.A. has issued Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin No. A292 
73 2847, Version A, dated May 29, 2012. 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 France 
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 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 replacing the HMU before the HMU 
exceeds 800 operating hours since new; or within 800 operating hours 
since last replacement of the low-pressure pump spindle wheel assembly, 
high-pressure

[[Page 61304]]

pump complete sleeve, bearings/pinions (matched assembly), and sleeve 
assembly.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 27 engines installed on helicopters of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 0.7 work-hour per 
engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 
per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $14,400 per engine. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators to be $390,407.

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); 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.
    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

    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]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2012-0940; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NE-26-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 10, 2012.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2D turboshaft 
engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a low fuel pressure event caused by a 
deterioration and a loss of the low-pressure drive function within 
the hydro-mechanical metering unit (HMU). We are issuing this AD to 
prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine, and 
possible loss of the helicopter.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, replace the HMU with an HMU eligible for 
installation:
    (1) Before the HMU exceeds 800 operating hours since new; or
    (2) Within 800 operating hours since last replacement of the 
low-pressure pump spindle wheel assembly, high-pressure pump 
complete sleeve, bearings/pinions (matched assembly), and sleeve 
assembly.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any HMU onto 
any engine, or install any engine onto any helicopter, unless in 
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (e) of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for 
this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Frederick Zink, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; email: frederick.zink@faa.gov; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-
238-7199.
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 2012-0141, 
dated July 31, 2012, and Turbomeca S.A. Alert Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. A292 73 2847, Version A, dated May 29, 2012, for 
related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; telex: 
570 042; fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 15. You may review copies of the 
referenced 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.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 1, 2012.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-24721 Filed 10-5-12; 8:45 am]
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