[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35826-35828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NE-09-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A and 
PT6A-65B Turboprop Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 35827]]


ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B turboprop 
engines. This proposed AD would require replacing Woodward propeller 
governor assemblies, part number (P/N) 8210-212H. This proposed AD is 
prompted by six incidents during airplane acceptance flight testing 
where directional control of the airplane was difficult to maintain 
during landing. The actions specified in this proposed AD are intended 
to prevent loss of directional control and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by August 18, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
    [sbull] By mail: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 
2003-NE-09-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-
5299.
    [sbull] By fax: (781) 238-7055.
    [sbull] By e-mail: [email protected].
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Pratt & Whitney Canada, 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, 
Canada J4G1A1.
    You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7178; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``AD Docket No. 2003-NE-09-AD'' in the 
subject line of your comments. If you want us to acknowledge receipt of 
your mailed comments, send us a self-addressed, stamped postcard with 
the docket number written on it; we will date-stamp your postcard and 
mail it back to you. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. If a person contacts us through a nonwritten communication, and 
that contact relates to a substantive part of this proposed AD, we will 
summarize the contact and place the summary in the docket. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You may get more information about 
plain language at http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service 
information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the 
location.

Discussion

    Transport Canada, which is the airworthiness authority for Canada, 
recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on PWC 
PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B turbofan engines. Transport Canada advises the 
FAA that there have been six reports from the airplane manufacturer 
that it was difficult to maintain directional control of the airplane 
during landing. These events were reported to have occurred during 
airplane acceptance flight testing. Certain governors that incorporate 
propeller control units (PCUs) with thicker O-rings on the Beta valve 
shafts of the PCUs may not set the appropriate ground idle blade angle 
when the airplane lands. If this happens on one engine only, a 
substantial and unexpected asymmetric thrust condition will occur.
    The introduction of a thicker O-ring on the Beta valve shaft of the 
PCU addressed a nuisance oil leakage issue. A side effect of fitting 
this thicker O-ring is that a slightly higher input force is required 
to move the Beta valve to the ground idle position. On the 
installations using the PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B engines, the airframe 
installations have a solenoid system that relies on the force of an 
internal spring within the Beta valve to move the valve to the ground 
idle command position. The force of this spring is insufficient to 
overcome the increased friction of the thicker O-ring and ensure that 
the valve consistently and promptly moves to the ground idle position. 
As a result, the pilot may experience directional control problems 
during landing. There have been no reports of in-service incidents to 
date. The actions specified in this proposed AD are intended to prevent 
loss of directional control and damage to the airplane.
    This proposed AD is not applicable to engine models operating with 
the Woodward propeller governor, P/N 8210-212J, since they operate with 
a push-pull rod mechanism to move the Beta valve. That arrangement 
provides ample force to overcome the O-ring's frictional resistance.

Relevant Service Information

    PWC has issued Service Bulletin (SB) PT6A-72-13354, dated July 6, 
2001. That SB provides information for the removal, replacement, or 
modification of Woodward propeller governor assembly, P/N 8210-212H. 
Transport Canada classified this SB as mandatory and issued 
airworthiness directive CF-2002-02, dated January 15, 2002, in order to 
ensure the airworthiness of these PWC engines in Canada.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Manufacturer's Service 
Information

    Although the SB recommends the removal, replacement or modification 
of Woodward propeller governor assemblies, P/N 8210-212H, when the 
engine is disassembled and access is available to the necessary 
subassembly (i.e. module, accessories, components, or build groups), 
this proposed AD would require compliance at the next access or within 
six months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B engine models, manufactured in Canada, 
are type-certificated for operation in the United States under the 
provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant 
to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, Transport Canada has kept us 
informed of the situation described above. We have examined Transport 
Canada's findings, reviewed all available information, and determined 
that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States. Therefore, we are 
proposing this AD, which would require replacing Woodward propeller 
governor assemblies, P/N 8210-212H.

[[Page 35828]]

Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the Proposed AD

    On July 10, 2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 
FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. This 
regulation now includes material that relates to altered products, 
special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This 
material previously was included in each individual AD. Since this 
material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in 
future AD actions.

Costs of Compliance

    There are approximately 73 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A and 
PT6A-65B turboprop engines of the affected design in the worldwide 
fleet. We estimate that 70 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. 
registry would be affected by this proposed AD. We also estimate that 
it would take approximately 2 work hours per engine to perform the 
proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost approximately $24,228 per engine. Based on 
these figures, the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $1,704,360. PWC has informed the FAA that it may 
provide the parts and labor to the operators at no cost, thereby 
substantially reducing the cost impact of this proposed rule.

Regulatory Findings

    We have 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 that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this proposal and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2003-NE-09-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration 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 
airworthiness directive:

Pratt and Whitney Canada: Docket No. 2003-NE-09-AD.

    Comments Due Date: (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by 
August 18, 2003.
    Affected ADs: (b) None.
    Applicability: (c) This AD is applicable to Pratt & Whitney 
Canada (PWC) PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B turboprop engines that have 
Woodward propeller governor assemblies, part number, (P/N) 8210-
212H, installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, 
Raytheon Super Beech King Air 300/350 and Raytheon Beech 1900/1900C 
airplanes.
    Unsafe Condition: (d) This AD was prompted by six incidents 
during airplane acceptance flight testing, whereby directional 
control of the airplane was difficult to maintain during landing. 
The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent loss of 
directional control and damage to the airplane.
    Compliance: (e) Compliance with this AD is required as 
indicated, unless already done.

Removal of Woodward Propeller Governor Assemblies

    (f) Replace Woodward propeller governor assemblies, P/N 8210-
212H, at the next access to the governor or within six months after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs earlier. Information 
on replacing the Woodward propeller governor assembly can be found 
in Pratt & Whitney Canada Service Bulletin PT6A-72-13354, dated July 
6, 2001.
    (g) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
Woodward propeller governor assembly, P/N 8210-212H, on any engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (h) Alternative methods of compliance must be requested in 
accordance with 14 CFR part 39.19, and must be approved by the 
Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) None

Related Information

    (j) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada 
airworthiness directive CF-2002-02, dated January 15, 2002.


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 9, 2003.
Francis A. Favara,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15224 Filed 6-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P