[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49182-49184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16453]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20849; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-04-AD; 
Amendment 39-14227; AD 2005-17-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca Artouste III Series 
Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Turbomeca Artouste III series turboshaft engines. This AD requires 
modification of the engine air intake assembly. This AD results from a 
report of an in-flight shutdown and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter due to ice ingestion into the engine. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent ice ingestion into the engine, which could lead to an in-
flight shutdown and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 27, 2005. The Director of 
the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of September 27, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Contact Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone +33 05 59 
74 40 00, fax +33 05 59 74 45 15, for the service information 
identified in this AD.
    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.

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: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed airworthiness directive (AD). The proposed AD applies 
to Turbomeca Artouste III series turboshaft engines. We published the 
proposed AD in the Federal Register on April 6, 2005 (70 FR 17368). 
That action proposed to require adding two additional water drain holes 
in the engine air intake assembly.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in

[[Page 49183]]

person at the Docket Management Facility Docket Offices between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket 
Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the 
Department of Transportation Nassif Building at the street address 
stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the one comment received.
    One commenter, Turbomeca, states that we should change the 
compliance section to reference Update No. 1 of Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) No. 218 72 0104. Update No. 1 of the MSB corrects an 
error in the MSB original issue. The MSB original issue required only 
one hole to be drilled in each half-air intake assembly, preventing the 
half-air intake assemblies from being interchangeable. Update No. 1 of 
the MSB requires a second hole to be drilled in each half-air intake 
assembly to make them interchangeable. We agree, and have changed the 
compliance section of this AD to reference Turbomeca MSB No. 218 72 
0104, Update No. 1, dated March 25, 2005.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,062 engines of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. We estimate that this AD will affect 59 engines 
installed on helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
will take about three work hours per engine to perform the actions, and 
that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be 
$11,505.

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 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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration 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:

2005-17-06 Turbomeca: Amendment 39-14227. Docket No. FAA-2005-20849; 
Directorate Identifier. 2005-NE-04-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective 
September 27, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.
    Applicability: (c) This AD applies to Turbomeca Artouste III B, 
B1, and D turboshaft engines. These engines are installed on, but 
not limited to, Aerospatiale (Eurocopter--France) SA-315B LAMA, and 
Alouette III SA3160, SA-316B, and SA-316C helicopters.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report of an in-flight shutdown and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, due to ice ingestion 
into the engine. We are issuing this AD to prevent ice ingestion 
into the engine, which could lead to an in-flight shutdown and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    Compliance: (e) You are responsible for having the actions 
required by this AD performed within nine months after the effective 
date of this AD, unless the actions have already been done.

Addition of Water Drain Holes (Turbomeca Modification TU 171A)

    (f) Within nine months from the effective date of this AD, drill 
two additional water drain holes in each engine air intake assembly 
half-cover, using paragraph 2.B. and the air intake assembly 
dimensional flat view of Turbomeca Artouste III Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 218 72 0104, Update No. 1, dated March 25, 2005.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) DGAC airworthiness directive F-2003-455, dated December 24, 
2003, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Turbomeca Artouste III Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 218 72 0104, Update No. 1, dated March 25, 2005, to 
perform the actions required by this AD. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service 
bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
Contact Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone +33 05 59 74 40 
00, fax +33 05 59 74 45 15, for a copy of this service information. 
You may review copies at the Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif 
Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001, on the internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or 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.


[[Page 49184]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 12, 2005.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16453 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P