Document ID: FAA-2013-1003-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines
Posted Date: 2014-01-22T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3481-3483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01090]

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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 3481]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1003; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-33-AD; 
Amendment 39-17724; AD 2014-01-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. This AD requires a one-
time inspection of the ejector assembly nozzle of an affected 
lubricating device and, if a discrepancy is found, removal and 
replacement with a part eligible for installation. This AD was prompted 
by an in-flight shutdown (IFSD) of an Arriel 1 engine. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent failure of the ejector assembly nozzle, which could 
lead to an IFSD of the engine, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 6, 2014.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 10, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of February 6, 
2014.

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: 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, 
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 01803. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
1003; 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 AD, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), 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; phone: 781-238-7779; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: frederick.zink@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2013-0243, dated October 1, 2013 (referred to 
herein after as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    An in-flight shutdown (IFSD) occurred on an ARRIEL 1 engine, as 
a result of incorrect bonding of the nozzle on the ejector assembly 
fitted to the engine. The subsequent technical investigation 
concluded that ARRIUS 2F engines are also potentially affected and 
it was possible to identify a batch of parts that could have this 
non-conformity.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
further cases of IFSD, possibly resulting in forced landing.

Failure to address this condition may lead to an emergency landing and 
subsequent damage to the helicopter. You may obtain further information 
by examining the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-
2013-1003.

Relevant Service Information

    Turbomeca S.A. has issued MSB No. 319 79 4835, Version A, dated May 
22, 2013. 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 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 and service information 
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 a one-time inspection of the 
nozzle of the ejector assembly of all Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F 
turboshaft engines and, if a discrepancy is found, removal of the 
ejector assembly or the affected lubricating device and its replacement 
with a part eligible for installation.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because of 
the short compliance time requirement. Therefore, we find that notice 
and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are 
impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendment 
effective in fewer than 30 days.

[[Page 3482]]

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-1003; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-NE-33-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
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 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).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 27 engines installed on 
aircraft of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 
hour per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 
per hour. Required parts cost about $526 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$16,497.

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 AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 AD:
    (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 to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 (AD):

2014-01-01 Turbomeca S.A.: Amendment 39-17724; Docket No. FAA-2013-
1003; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-33-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective February 6, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft 
engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown (IFSD) of an 
Arriel 1 engine as a result of incorrect bonding of the nozzle on 
the ejector assembly fitted to the engine. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the ejector assembly nozzle, which could lead to 
an IFSD of the engine, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
helicopter.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) For engines equipped with a lubricating device having a 
serial number (S/N) listed in Figure 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD, 
within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect the 
nozzle of the ejector assembly and the tightening torque. Use 
paragraph 6.B.(2)(b)2 through 6.B.(2)(c)4.2, excluding paragraph 
6.B.(2)(b)4, of Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 319 
79 4835, Version A, dated May 22, 2013, to do your inspection.
    (2) For any part that fails the inspection required by paragraph 
(e)(1) of this AD, before further flight, remove and replace the 
failed part with a part eligible for installation.

    Figure 1 to Paragraph (e)--S/N's of Affected Lubricating Devices
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  S/N's
------------------------------------------------------------------------
105M.............................  108M..............  109M
112B.............................  120...............  122B
129M.............................  134B..............  138B
141M.............................  142B..............  147M
149B.............................  210M..............  231
247..............................  254...............  266M
270..............................  292M..............  333M
443M.............................  445M..............  467M
479M.............................  526M..............  563M
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install onto any 
engine a nozzle ejector assembly subject to this AD, or install any 
engine onto any helicopter if the engine has an ejector assembly 
containing a lubricating device with an S/N listed in Figure 1 to 
paragraph (e) of this AD, unless the engine has been inspected per 
the requirements of paragraph (e) of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to 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; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
frederick.zink@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-0243, 
dated October 1, 2013. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on 
the Internet at http://

[[Page 3483]]

www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2013-1003.
    (3) Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F Technical Instruction No. 319 79 
4831, Revision No. 01, dated May 30, 2011, which is not incorporated 
by reference in this AD, pertains to the subject of this AD and can 
be obtained from Turbomeca S.A. using the contact information in 
paragraph (i)(3) of this AD.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Turbomeca S.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 319 79 4835, 
Version A, dated May 22, 2013.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Turbomeca 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.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (5) You may view this service information at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 2, 2014.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-01090 Filed 1-21-14; 8:45 am]
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