[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 8, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65430-65432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18839]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22039; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-33-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F Turboshaft 
Engines

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. That AD currently 
requires replacing certain O-rings on the check valve piston in the 
lubrication unit, at repetitive intervals. This proposed AD would 
require the same actions except reduce the applicability from all 
Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines, to Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 
2F turboshaft engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75. 
This proposed AD results from Turbomeca S.A. introducing a check valve 
piston design requiring no O-ring. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine, which could result in 
a forced autorotation landing and damage to the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by January 8, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Turbomeca S.A., 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Spinney, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803, 
telephone (781) 238-7175; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-22039; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-33-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of the 
DMS Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including 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) or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposal, any comments 
received and any final disposition in person at the DMS Docket Office 
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

[[Page 65431]]

in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    On August 17, 2005, we issued AD 2005-17-17, Amendment 39-14328 (70 
FR 50164, August 26, 2005). That AD requires replacing certain O-rings 
on the check valve piston in the lubrication unit, at repetitive 
intervals. That AD resulted from an uncommanded in-flight engine 
shutdown (IFSD) of an Arrius 2F engine, resulting in the forced landing 
of a Eurocopter EC120B helicopter. Investigation of the engine found 
that an interruption of engine lubrication due to excessive swelling of 
the check valve O-ring in the lubrication unit caused the IFSD. The 
amount of swelling of the O-ring depends on the class of oil used, 
standard (STD) or high-thermal stability (HTS), and the engine 
operating time.

Actions Since AD 2005-17-17 Was Issued

    Since AD 2005-17-17 was issued, Turbomeca S.A. issued Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. 319 79 4075, dated February 27, 2006, that introduces 
modification Tf75. That modification replaces the check valve piston 
with a piston not requiring the O-ring. Arrius 2F engines with 
modification Tf75 incorporated, no longer need repetitive replacements 
of a check-valve piston O-ring, because there is no O-ring installed.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Turbomeca 
S.A. SB No. 319 79 4802, dated April 3, 2006, that describes procedures 
for replacing the O-ring on the check valve piston in the lubrication 
unit on Arrius 2F engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75. 
EASA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD No. 
2006-0141, dated May 29, 2006, in order to ensure the airworthiness of 
these engines in Europe.

Bilateral Agreement Information

    This engine model is manufactured in France and is 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. In keeping with this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, EASA kept us informed of the 
situation described above. We have examined the findings of EASA, 
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 have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an 
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products 
of this same type design. We are proposing this AD, which would require 
replacing certain O-rings on the check valve piston in the lubrication 
unit, at repetitive intervals on Arrius 2F turboshaft engines that have 
not incorporated modification Tf75. The proposed AD would require that 
you do these actions using the service information described 
previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 124 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would 
take about 1 work-hour per engine to perform the proposed actions, and 
that the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would 
cost about $100 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators, for one O-ring replacement 
to be $22,320 for the fleet, or $180 per engine.

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 under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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 removing Amendment 39-14238 (70 FR 
50164, August 26, 2005) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, to 
read as follows:

Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2005-22039; Directorate Identifier 
2005-NE-33-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by January 8, 
2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD revises AD 2005-17-17.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft 
engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75. These engines 
are installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter EC120B helicopters.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from Turbomeca S.A. introducing a check 
valve piston design requiring no O-ring. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine, which could 
result in a forced autorotation landing and damage to the 
helicopter.

[[Page 65432]]

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

O-Ring Replacement

    (f) Replace the O-ring on the check valve piston in the 
lubrication unit at the intervals specified in Table 1 of this AD. 
Use the ``Instructions to be Incorporated,'' 2.A. through 2.C. (2) 
of Turbomeca Alert Service Bulletin No. A319 79 4802, dated April 3, 
2006, to replace the O-ring.

            Table 1.--Compliance Times for O-ring Replacement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Then replace the O-   Thereafter, replace
 If the class of oil is . .   ring by the later of   the O-ring within .
             .*                       . . .                  . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) HTS or unknown..........  300 hours time-since- 300 hours time-since-
                               new (TSN) or 50       last replacement
                               hours after the       (TSR).
                               effective date of
                               this AD.
(2) STD.....................  450 hours TSN or 50   500 hours TSR.
                               hours after the
                               effective date of
                               this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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) European Aviation Safety Agency airworthiness directive No. 
2006-0141, dated May 29, 2006, also addresses the subject of this 
AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 1, 2006.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-18839 Filed 11-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P