Document ID: FAA-2022-1302-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type Certificate previously held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.) Turboprop Engines
Posted Date: 2022-10-24T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64175-64178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22399]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1302; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00062-E]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and 
MOTORLET a.s.) Turboprop Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) H75-100, H75-200, H80, H80-100, 
H80-200, H85-100, and H85-200 model turboprop engines. This proposed AD 
was prompted by the manufacturer revising the airworthiness limitations 
section (ALS) of the existing engine maintenance manual (EMM) to 
introduce updated coefficients for the calculation of the cyclic life 
and safe life for the main shaft. This proposed AD would require 
revising the ALS of the existing EMM and the operator's existing 
approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to 
incorporate the updated coefficients and recalculate the cycles 
accumulated on critical parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by December 8, 2022.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1302; 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

[[Page 64176]]

continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and 
other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7146; 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-2022-1302; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-00062-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 
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 
Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 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.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2022-0008, dated January 19, 2022 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition on all GEAC H75-100, H75-
200, H80, H80-100, H80-200, H85-100, and H85-200 engines, all build 
configurations, all serial numbers. The MCAI states that the 
airworthiness limitations for H series engine models, which are 
approved by EASA, are currently defined and published in the ALS of the 
GEAC EMM. These instructions have been identified as mandatory for 
continued airworthiness. Failure to accomplish these instructions could 
result in an unsafe condition. Recently, GEAC published the ALS, as 
defined in the MCAI, introducing updated coefficients for the 
calculation of the cyclic life and safe life for the main shaft. For 
the reason described above, the MCAI specifies accomplishment of the 
actions specified in the ALS.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1302.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed the ALS of the GEAC EMM, Part No: 0983402 Rev. 22, 
dated December 18, 2020. This service information provides updated 
coefficients for the calculation of the cyclic life and safe life for 
the main shaft.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI and service information described above. The FAA is issuing 
this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of these 
same type designs.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the existing EMM 
and the operator's existing approved maintenance or inspection program, 
as applicable, to incorporate the updated coefficients and recalculate 
the cycles accumulated on critical parts. An owner/operator (pilot) 
holding at least a private pilot certificate may revise the ALS of the 
existing EMM, and the owner/operator must enter compliance with the 
applicable paragraphs of the AD into the aircraft records in showing 
compliance with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 14 CFR 
91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 
91.417, 121.380, or 135.439. This is an exception to the FAA's standard 
maintenance regulations.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI specifies replacing each component before exceeding the 
applicable life limit and accomplishing all the applicable maintenance 
tasks within the thresholds and intervals, as defined in the ALS, from 
its effective date. The MCAI specifies that in case of finding 
discrepancies during accomplishment of any task required by paragraph 
(1) of the MCAI, before the next flight, accomplish the applicable 
corrective actions in accordance with existing GEAC instructions. The 
MCAI also specifies to contact GEAC for approved instructions if a 
detected discrepancy cannot be corrected using existing GEAC 
instructions. This proposed AD would not require performing corrective 
actions in accordance with existing GEAC instructions or contacting 
GEAC for approved instructions. The MCAI specifies revising the 
aircraft maintenance program within 12 months from its effective date. 
This proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the existing EMM and 
the operator's existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as 
applicable, to incorporate the updated coefficients and recalculate the 
cycles accumulated on critical parts within 90 days after the effective 
date of the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 33 engines installed on aircraft of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

[[Page 64177]]

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                         Labor cost            Parts cost        product        operators
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Revise the ALS of the EMM and the     1 work-hour x $85 per hour              $0             $85          $2,805
 operator's existing approved          = $85.
 maintenance or inspection program.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

GE Aviation Czech s.r.o (Type Certificate previously held by WALTER 
Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.): Docket No. FAA-2022-
1302; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00062-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 8, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type Certificate 
previously held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET 
a.s.) H75-100, H75-200, H80, H80-100, H80-200, H85-100, and H85-200 
model turboprop engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7200, Engine 
(Turbine/Turboprop).

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the 
airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing engine 
maintenance manual (EMM) to introduce updated coefficients for the 
calculation of the cyclic life and safe life for the main shaft. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the engine. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained release of 
a critical part, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
the ALS of the existing EMM to incorporate the information in Table 
1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD and recalculate the cycles 
accumulated on critical parts.

             Table 1 to Paragraph (g)(1)--Equivalent Cyclic Life (N) and Safe Life of Critical Parts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Abbreviated   Flight mission    Equivalent
                                                                   flight cycle     coefficient     cyclic life
              Description                      Drawing No.          coefficient  ----------------      limit
                                                                 ----------------                ---------------
                                                                       AV AP             L               N
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main Shaft............................  M601-1017.75............            0.47            1.05          16,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) After performing the action required by paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD, except as provided in paragraph (h) of this AD, no 
alternative life limits may be approved.
    (3) The action required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD may be 
performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private 
pilot certificate and must be entered into the aircraft records 
showing compliance with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) 
and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as 
required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in Sec.  39.19. 
In accordance with Sec.  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 (i)(2) of this AD and email to: [email protected]. 
Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal 
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the 
local

[[Page 64178]]

flight standards district office/certificate holding district 
office.

(i) Additional Information

    (1) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0008, dated January 19, 2022, for related information. This 
EASA AD may be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1302.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: 
[email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued on October 7, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-22399 Filed 10-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P