Document ID: FAA-2012-1131-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines
Posted Date: 2012-12-11T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73557-73558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29871]

 ========================================================================
 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. 77, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 11, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 73557]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1131; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-34-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft 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 Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 
1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a 
finding that the engine's tachometer unit cycle counting feature is 
unreliable. This proposed AD would require daily post-flight checks of 
the engine tachometer's unit cycle counting feature. This proposed AD 
would also require ground-run functional checks within every 1,000 
operating hours. This proposed AD was prompted by detailed analysis and 
review of the accuracy of the engine's tachometer cycle counting 
feature. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontained engine failure 
and damage to the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 11, 
2013.

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 proposed AD, contact 
Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0) 5 59 74 40 00; 
telex: 570 042; fax: 33 (0) 5 59 74 45 15. 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; 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: Sanjana Murthy, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7750; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: sanjana.murthy@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-2012-1131; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-34-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 2012-0187, dated September 18, 2012 (referred to hereinafter as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    Following detailed analysis and review of in-service feedback 
performed by Turbomeca on the Arriel 1 engines, the chapter 05-10 
Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS) of Arriel 1 Maintenance 
Manuals has been updated in order to clarify the definition and 
update the requirements relative to the cycle counting aid system 
(modification introduced in production by Turbomeca modification 
TU207 or TU243 and in-service, respectively, by Turbomeca Service 
Bulletin (SB) 292 80 0190 or SB 292 80 0168), add associated 
maintenance tasks, and modify the Power Turbine (PT) partial cycle 
counting method.

The SBs referenced above introduced the tachometer. The tachometer's 
cycle counting feature, in some instances, produced results 
inconsistent with ground run checks. The inaccurate cycle counting 
results of the tachometer can lead to exceeding life limits on critical 
rotating parts, which can cause uncontained engine failure. Further 
information may be obtained by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

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 daily post-flight checks of the engine tachometer's unit 
cycle counting feature. This

[[Page 73558]]

proposed AD would also require ground-run functional checks within 
every 1,000 operating hours.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 1,420 engines 
installed in helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
would take about 30 minutes per engine to perform a check of the 
engine's tachometer unit cycle counting feature and that an average of 
320 checks would be required per year. Based on the average annual 
operating hours for an engine, a 1,000 operating hour functional check 
would not be required for at least one year. The average labor rate is 
$85 per hour. No parts would be required. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the average total cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to 
perform checks of the tachometer cycle counting unit for a year, is 
$19,312,000.

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-2012-1131; Directorate Identifier 
2012-NE-34-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by February 11, 2013.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 
1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines that have 
incorporated Modification TU 207 or TU 243, or have incorporated 
Turbomeca Service Bulletin (SB) No. 292 80 0168 or SB No. 292 80 
0190.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by detailed analysis and review of the 
accuracy of the engine's tachometer cycle counting feature. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent uncontained engine failure and damage to 
the helicopter.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    (1) During the post flight maintenance inspection after the last 
flight of each day, compare the cycles counted by the engine's 
tachometer unit with the cycles counted by the primary counting 
method.
    (2) If the numbers are different, use the primary counting 
method thereafter to determine all cycle counts. Do not use the 
values from the tachometer unit cycle counting feature.
    (3) If the engine tachometer cycle counting feature remains 
accurate, then every 1,000 operating hours, perform a ground-run 
functional check of the tachometer unit cycle counting feature. If 
the counting feature fails the check, thereafter use only the 
primary cycle counting method to count cycles.
    (4) If the tachometer is replaced, follow instructions in 
paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(2), and (e)(3) of this AD.

(f) 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.

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Sanjana Murthy, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7750; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
sanjana.murthy@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2012-0187, dated 
September 18, 2012, and Turbomeca S.A. Service Bulletin (SB) No. 292 
80 0168 and SB No. 292 80 0190, for related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0) 5 59 74 40 00; 
telex: 570 042; fax: 33 (0) 5 59 74 45 15. 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 December 3, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29871 Filed 12-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P