[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1215-1216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-272]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-18038; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-01-AD]


Notice of Public Meeting

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold a public 
meeting to gather additional comment and data on a proposed 
Airworthiness Directive published as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM), Docket Number FAA-2004-18038, (Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-
01-AD), in the Federal Register on June 16, 2004. This public meeting 
will follow the procedure provided in Sec.  11.53 of Title 14 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 11.53).

DATES: The FAA public meeting will be held February 8, 2005, from 1 
p.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The FAA public meeting will be held at the Anaheim 
Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, California, 92802.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Baitoo, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; telephone: 
(562) 627-5245, fax: (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 16, 2004, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Docket Number FAA-2004-18038, 
(Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-01-AD), that proposed a new 
Airworthiness Directive (AD) Honeywell International Inc., (formerly 
AlliedSignal, Inc., formerly Textron Lycoming) T5309, T5311, T5313B, 
T5317A, T5317A-1, and T5317B series turboshaft engines, installed on, 
but not limited to, Bell 205 and Kaman K-1200 series helicopters, and 
T53-L-9, T53-L-11, T53-L-13B, T53-L-13BA, T53-L-13B S/SA, T53-L-13B S/
SB, T53-L-13B/D, and T53-L-703 series turboshaft engines, installed on, 
but not limited to, Bell AH-1 and UH-1 helicopters, certified under 
Sec.  21.25 or 21.27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 21.25 
or 14 CFR 21.27). As a result of that Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, we 
received a number of written comments. One commenter requested that we 
hold a public meeting for the FAA to hear additional information. While 
the FAA does not generally hold public meetings for proposed 
Airworthiness Directives, in this case we believe that a non-
adversarial, fact-finding proceeding will benefit us. Therefore, we 
find that the written comments we have received will not allow us to 
make a fully informed decision on whether to issue a Final Rule, and 
that a public meeting to hear additional comment on the proposed AD is 
appropriate. We invite interested persons to attend and present their 
views to us on specific issues related to this Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking. We are particularly interested in hearing from operators of 
aircraft using T53 turboshaft engines what life limits they are 
observing for the life-limited rotating components of T53 series 
turboshaft engines, what cycle counting methods are they practicing, 
and what mission profile (i.e., logging operation, fire fighting) are 
they flying.

Agenda

    The purpose of this meeting is to:
     (Item 1) Conduct a presentation on the background leading 
to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), Docket Number FAA-2004-
18038, (Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-01-AD), published in the Federal 
Register on June 16, 2004. The subject of the NPRM is FAA-approved life 
limits for the life limited rotating components including those made of 
D979 material, installed in Honeywell (formerly AlliedSignal, formerly 
Lycoming) T53 series turboshaft engines.
     (Item 2) Invite the interested persons to present their 
views to the FAA regarding the NPRM.
     (Item 3) Ask the operators of T53 series turboshaft engine 
powered helicopters what life limits they are observing for the life-
limited rotating components of T53 series turboshaft engines, what 
cycle counting methods are they practicing; and what mission profile 
(i.e., logging operation, fire fighting) are they flying.

Procedure

    The meeting will be held using the procedure provided in Sec.  
11.53 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 11.53). 
The meeting will be open to the public, non-adversarial, and be 
conducted by a representative of the FAA. In addition, each person 
desiring to make a presentation must either notify us in advance of the 
meeting by contacting Robert Baitoo (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT), or by signing the registers that will be available 
immediately preceding the meeting at the meeting location. Those 
persons who have registered in advance or at the door will be invited 
to speak first. If any time remains after all

[[Page 1216]]

persons who have pre-registered to speak have had an opportunity to 
present their views, then other persons who have not pre-registered may 
be invited to speak. When registering to speak, you must indicate 
whether you intend to speak in favor of the proposed AD, against the 
proposed AD, or wish only to present data. You may both present data 
and speak either in favor or against the AD. The time available for 
each person to speak may be limited depending on the number of persons 
who desire to present data and information. It is our desire to allow 
as many persons as possible to present their views and data.

Accommodation

    The meeting will be accessible to persons with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Robert Baitoo (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) before January 25, 2005.

Costs

    There is no cost to the public for attending the FAA public 
meeting. Each attendee must, however, bear any cost of vehicle parking.

    Dated: December 30, 2004.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-272 Filed 1-5-05; 8:45 am]
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