[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 187 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55456-55458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22522]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 187 / Thursday, September 25, 2008 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 55456]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-1019; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-49-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. LTS101 
Series Turboshaft and LTP101 Series Turboprop Engines

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Honeywell International Inc. LTS101 series turboshaft and LTP101 
series turboprop engines with certain gas generator turbine discs 
installed. This proposed AD would require reducing the life limits for 
certain gas generator turbine discs. This proposed AD results from an 
error in a change to the engineering drawing for the gas generator 
turbine disc from which they manufactured 260 discs. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent rupture of the gas generator turbine disc, which 
could result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the aircraft.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by November 24, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    You can get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Honeywell International Inc., P.O. Box 52181, Phoenix, AZ 85072-
2181, U.S.A.; telephone (800) 601-3099 (U.S.A.) or (602) 365-3099 
(International); Web site: http://portal.honeywell.com/wps/portal/aero.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-1019; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-NE-49-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://www.regulations.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 Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any 
of our dockets, including, if provided, 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).

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Discussion

    Honeywell International Inc. has informed us that they manufactured 
260 gas generator turbine discs to an erroneous drawing change. Because 
of this, the gas generator turbine disc could rupture before reaching 
its published life limit. This condition, if not corrected, could 
result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the aircraft.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Honeywell 
International Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) LT 101-71-00-0002, Revision 
25, dated August 31, 2007, that describes a reduced life limit and 
drawdown schedules for certain gas generator turbine discs and lists 
the serial numbers of those discs.

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

    Although the SB applies to all LTS101 turboshaft engines and LTP101 
turboprop engines, this proposed AD would not apply to models LTS101-
700D-2 and LTS101-850B-2 turboshaft engines because the affected discs 
are not eligible for installation on those engine models. We also 
revised the drawdown schedules in Table 1 of this proposed AD to make 
the grace periods consistent.

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 
removing any disc, part number (P/N) 4-111-015-14 that has a serial 
number (SN) listed in Appendix 1 of SB LT 101-71-00-0002, Revision 25, 
dated August 31, 2007, using the drawdown schedules

[[Page 55457]]

specified in Table 1 of this proposed AD.
    The proposed AD would require you to use the service information 
described previously to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 260 engines 
installed on aircraft of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would 
take 1.0 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 $8,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total 
cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $2,100,800.

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 AD:
    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. 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, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    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:

Honeywell International Inc. (Formerly AlliedSignal, Textron 
Lycoming, and Avco Lycoming): Docket No. FAA-2008-1019; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-NE-49-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by November 24, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Honeywell International Inc. models 
LTS101-600A-2, -600A-3, -600A-3A, -650B-1, -650B-1A, -650C-2, -650C-
3, -650C-3A, -750A-1, -750A-3, -750B-1, -750B-2, and -750C-1 
turboshaft engines and LTP101-600A-1A and -700A-1A turboprop engines 
with certain gas generator turbine discs, part number (P/N) 4-111-
015-14, installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited 
to, Eurocopter France AS350, Eurocopter Deutchland GMBH BK117, and 
Bell Helicopter Textron 222 helicopters; and Page Thrush, Air 
Tractor AT-302, Industrie Aeronautiche e Meccaniche (formerly 
Piaggio & Co.) P166-DL3, Pacific Aero 08-600, and Riley 
International R421 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from an error in a change to the engineering 
drawing for the gas generator turbine disc from which they 
manufactured 260 discs. We are issuing this AD to prevent rupture of 
the gas generator turbine disc, which could result in uncontained 
engine failure and damage to the aircraft.

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.

Drawdown Schedule and New Reduced Life Limit for Certain Gas Generator 
Turbine Discs

    (f) For model LTS101-600A-3 and -750 series turboshaft engines 
and model LTP101-600A-1A and -700A-1A turboprop engines that have a 
gas generator turbine disc serial number (SN) specified in Appendix 
1 of Honeywell International Inc. Service Bulletin (SB) LT 101-71-
00-0002, Revision 25, dated August 31, 2007; remove the engine using 
the drawdown schedule specified in Table 1 of this AD.

                       Table 1--Drawdown Schedule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     If disc cycle
                                     count on the     Then remove disc--
          Engine model             effective date of
                                     this AD is--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) LTS101-600A-3 and -750        (i) Fewer than      Before
 series turboshaft engines.        4,940 cycles-       accumulating
                                   since-new (CSN).    5,040 CSN.
                                  (ii) 4,940 or more  Within 100 cycles-
                                   CSN.                in-service (CIS)
                                                       or 4 months,
                                                       whichever occurs
                                                       earlier.
(2) LTP101-600A-1A and -700A-1A   (i) Fewer than      Before
 turboprop engines.                2,720 CSN.          accumulating
                                                       2,770 CSN.
                                  (ii) 2,720 or more  Within 50 CIS or 4
                                   CSN.                months after the
                                                       effective date of
                                                       this AD,
                                                       whichever occurs
                                                       earlier.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Installation Prohibitions

    (g) After the effective date of this AD, don't install any model 
LTS101-600A-3 or -750 series turboshaft engine that has a gas 
generator turbine disc, P/N 4-111-015-14, with a SN listed in 
Appendix 1 of Honeywell International Inc. SB LT 101-71-00-0002, 
Revision 25, dated August 31, 2007; if that disc has 5,040 or more 
CSN.

[[Page 55458]]

    (h) After the effective date of this AD, don't install any model 
LTP101-600A-1A or -700A-1A turboprop engine that has a gas generator 
turbine disc, P/N 4-111-015-14, with a SN listed in Appendix 1 of 
Honeywell International Inc. SB LT 101-71-00-0002, Revision 25, 
dated August 31, 2007; if that disc has 2,770 or more CSN.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (i) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft 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

    (j) Honeywell International Inc. Service Bulletin LT 101-71-00-
0002, Revision 25, dated August 31, 2007, pertains to the subject of 
this AD.
    (k) Contact Robert Baitoo, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (562) 627-5245; fax (562) 627-5210, 
for more information about this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 19, 2008.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22522 Filed 9-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P