[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 102 (Friday, May 27, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30651-30653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10634]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NE-12-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, 
and 2F Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for Turbomeca S.A. Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F turboshaft 
engines. That AD currently requires replacing the right injector half 
manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege injector pipe. 
This proposed AD would require the same actions, but relaxes the 
compliance time for the repetitive replacements on Arrius 2F engines. 
This proposed AD results from Turbomeca relaxing the repetitive 
replacement interval for Arrius 2F engine fuel nozzles based on review 
of returned fuel nozzles to Turbomeca. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent engine flameout during rapid deceleration, or the inability to 
maintain the 2.5 minutes one engine inoperative (OEI) rating, and to 
prevent air path cracks due to blockage of the fuel injection 
manifolds.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by July 26, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     By mail: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New 
England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 
No. 2000-NE-12-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-
5299.
     By fax: (781) 238-7055.
     By e-mail: [email protected].
    You can get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone: (33) 05 59 64 40 
00; fax: (33) 05 59 64 60 80.
    You may examine the AD docket, by appointment, at the FAA, New 
England

[[Page 30652]]

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Spinney, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; 
telephone: (781) 238-7175; 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. 2000-NE-12-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 verbally, 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.

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

    On April 16, 2001, we issued AD 2001-08-14, Amendment 39-12218 (66 
FR 20910, April 26, 2001). That AD requires replacing the right 
injector half manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege 
injector pipe. That AD results from reports from the Direction Generale 
de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for 
France, of partially or totally blocked fuel injection manifolds, which 
were found during inspections at a repair workshop.

Actions Since AD 2001-08-14 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2001-08-14, we became aware that Turbomeca S.A. 
has relaxed the repetitive replacement interval for the right injector 
half manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege injector 
pipe, on Arrius 2F engines, from within 200 hours time-in-service (TIS) 
since last replacement, to within 400 hours TIS since last replacement.

Relevant Service Information

    Turbomeca has issued six revisions to alert service bulletin (ASB) 
No. A319 73 2012, for Arrius 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines and has 
issued seven revisions to ASB No. A319 73 4001 for Arrius 2F turboshaft 
engines. These ASBs require the replacement of the right injector half 
manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege injector pipes, 
based on operating hours and power check performance. When replacing 
the manifolds for the first time, the ASBs also require a borescope 
inspection of the flame tube and the high pressure turbine (HPT) area. 
The DGAC classified the original ASBs as mandatory and issued AD 1999-
217(A) and AD 1999-233(A) in order to assure the airworthiness of these 
Turbomeca turboshaft engines in France.

Bilateral Agreement Information

    These Turbomeca Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F turboshaft engines 
are manufactured in France and are type-certificated for operation in 
the United States under the provisions of Sec.  21.29 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral 
airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness 
agreement, the DGAC has kept us informed of the situation described 
above. We have examined the DGAC'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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD, which would:
     Relax the repetitive replacement compliance time for 
Arrius 2F engines in AD 2001-08-14, from 200 hours TIS to 400 hours 
TIS; and
     As in AD 2001-08-14, replace the right injector half 
manifolds, left injector half manifolds, and privilege injector pipes 
with 200 or more hours TIS on the effective date of the proposed AD 
within 30 days after the effective date of the proposed AD; and
     As in AD 2001-08-14, thereafter, for Arrius Models 2B and 
2B1 turboshaft engines, replace injector manifolds within 200 hours TIS 
since last replacement.
    The proposed AD would require you to use the service information 
described previously to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 266 Turbomeca S.A. Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F 
turboshaft engines of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. We 
estimate that 124 of these engines are installed on helicopters of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about two work hours per 
engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate 
is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost about $14,320 per 
engine. The manufacturer has advised the DGAC that it may provide the 
parts at no cost to the operator, thereby substantially reducing the 
cost of this proposed rule. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators, to replace all of the 
affected parts one time, to be $1,791,800.

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 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

[[Page 30653]]

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. 2000-NE-12-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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 removing Amendment 39-12218 (66 FR 
20910, April 26, 2001) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, to 
read as follows:

Turbomeca: Docket No. 2000-NE-12-AD. Revises AD 2001-08-14, 
Amendment 39-12218.

Applicability

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is applicable to Arrius Models 
2B, 2B1, and 2F engines. These engines are installed on but not 
limited to Eurocopter France Model EC120B and Eurocopter Deutschland 
EC135 T1 rotorcraft.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each engine identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For engines that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

Compliance

    Compliance with this AD is required as indicated, unless already 
done.
    To prevent engine flameout and the inability to maintain the 2.5 
minutes one engine inoperative (OEI) rating due to blockage of the 
fuel injection manifolds, do the following:

Initial Replacement

    (a) If not already done in accordance with Turbomeca Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) No. A319 73 2012, Revision 2, dated May 25, 
1999, or Revision 3, dated July 21, 2000, or ASB No. A319 73 4001, 
Revision 3, dated May 25, 1999 or Revision 4, dated October 20, 
2000, replace injector manifolds and borescope-inspect the flame 
tube and the high pressure turbine area within 30 days after the 
effective date of this AD, or prior to exceeding 200 hours time-in-
service (TIS), whichever is later. Do these in accordance with 
Instructions 2.A. through 2.C. of Turbomeca ASB No. A319 73 2012, 
Revision 6, dated August 14, 2004 for Arrius 2B and 2B1 turboshaft 
engines, and ASB No. A319 73 4001, Revision 7, dated August 14, 
2004, for Arrius 2F turboshaft engines, except that replacement may 
be done at any appropriately rated repair shop.

Repetitive Replacements

    (b) Thereafter, replace injector manifolds, in accordance with 
Instructions 2.A. through 2.C. of Turbomeca ASB No. A319 73 2012, 
Revision 6, dated August 14, 2004 for Arrius 2B and 2B1 turboshaft 
engines, and ASB No. A319 73 4001, Revision 7, dated August 14, 
2004, for Arrius 2F turboshaft engines, except that replacement may 
be done at any appropriately rated repair shop, as follows:
    (1) For Arrius 2B and 2B1 engines, replace within 200 hours TIS 
since last injector manifolds replacement.
    (2) For Arrius 2F engines, replace within 400 hours TIS since 
last injector manifolds replacement.
    (3) For all engines, replace injector manifolds before further 
flight after performing the applicable flight manual or overhaul 
manual power check if that check shows a negative turbine outlet 
temperature (TOT) margin or negative T4 margin.

Definition

    (c) For the purposes of this AD, time-in-service (TIS) is 
defined as the number of engine operating hours on the manifolds 
since the manifolds were new or since the manifolds were 
refurbished.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Engine Certification Office. 
Operators shall submit their request through an appropriate FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Engine Certification Office.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive, 
if any, may be obtained from the Engine Certification Office.

Special Flight Permits

    (e) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Sec. Sec.  21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the aircraft to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 23, 2005.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-10634 Filed 5-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P