[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 228 (Monday, November 30, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62487-62489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28235]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-1019; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-49-AD; 
Amendment 39-16104; AD 2009-24-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting 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 AD requires reducing the life limits for certain gas generator 
turbine discs. This AD results from an error in a change to the 
engineering drawing for the gas generator turbine disc from which 
Honeywell 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.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 4, 2010. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of January 4, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

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.
    You can get the service information identified in this AD from 
Honeywell International Inc., P.O. Box 52181, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2181; 
telephone (800) 601-3099 (U.S.A.) or (602) 365-3099 (International); or 
go to: https://portal.honeywell.com/wps/portal/aero.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to Honeywell International 
Inc. LTS101 series turboshaft and LTP101 series turboprop engines with 
certain gas generator turbine discs installed. We published the 
proposed AD in the Federal Register on September 25, 2008 (73 FR 
55456). That action proposed to require removing any disc, part number 
(P/N) 4-111-015-14 that has a serial number (SN) listed in Appendix 1 
of Honeywell International Inc. Service Bulletin LT 101-71-00-0002, 
Revision 25, dated August 31, 2007, using the drawdown schedules 
specified in Table 1 of the proposed AD.

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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comments received.

Request To Add All Affected Engine Models to Compliance Paragraphs

    One commenter asks us to add all affected engine models to the 
compliance and installation prohibition paragraphs to be consistent 
with the applicability paragraph.
    We agree. We changed Table 1 and paragraphs (f) and (g) of this AD 
to specify LTS101-600, -650, and -750 series turboshaft engines.

Request To Increase the Costs To Comply With This AD

    The same commenter asks us to increase the estimated Costs of 
Compliance. The commenter perceives that the compliance cost is 
underestimated.
    We don't agree. The proposed AD correctly estimates 1.0 work-hour 
per engine to cover the time for revising the records to reflect the 
disc life limit reduction and drawdown schedules. The $8,000 figure in 
the proposed rule is the estimated prorated cost of life limit of the 
disc. We did not change the AD.

Reference to Revised Service Information

    Since we published the proposed AD in the Federal Register, we 
determined that Honeywell International Inc. issued revised Service 
Bulletin (SB) LT 101-71-00-0002. We have approved that SB revision, and 
changed all SB references from Revision 25, dated August 31, 2007, to 
Revision 26, dated April 2, 2008, in this AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments 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

    We estimate that this AD will affect 260 engines installed on 
aircraft of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take 1.0 work-
hour per engine to

[[Page 62488]]

perform the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $80 
per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $8,000 per engine. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this 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 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:

2009-24-12 Honeywell International Inc. (Formerly AlliedSignal, 
Textron Lycoming, and Avco Lycoming): Amendment 39-16104. Docket No. 
FAA-2008-1019; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-49-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 
4, 2010.

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 Honeywell 
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 LTS101-600, -650, 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 26, dated April 2, 2008, remove the engine 
using the drawdown schedule specified in Table 1 of this AD.

                       Table 1--Drawdown Schedule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  If disc cycle
                                   count on the
         Engine Model           effective date of     Then remove disc
                                    this AD is
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) LTS101-600, -650, and -750  >(i) Fewer than    Before accumulating
 series turboshaft engines.      4,940 cycles-      5,040 CSN.
                                 since-new (CSN).
                                (ii) 4,940 or      Within 100 cycles-in-
                                 more CSN..         service (CIS).
>(2) LTP101-600A-1A and -700A-  (i) Fewer than     Before accumulating
 1A turboprop engines.           2,720 CSN..        2,770 CSN.
                                (ii) 2,720 or      Within 50 CIS.
                                 more CSN..
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Installation Prohibitions

    (g) After the effective date of this AD, don't install any model 
LTS101-600, -650, 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 26, dated April 2, 2008; if that disc has 5,040 or more 
CSN.
    (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 26, 
dated April 2, 2008; 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) 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.

[[Page 62489]]

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Appendix 1 of Honeywell International Inc. 
Service Bulletin LT 101-71-00-0002, Revision 26, dated April 2, 
2008, to determine the gas generator turbine disc serial numbers 
affected 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 Honeywell 
International Inc., P.O. Box 52181, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2181; 
telephone (800) 601-3099 (U.S.A.) or (602) 365-3099 (International); 
or go to: https://portal.honeywell.com/wps/portal/aero, for a copy 
of this service information. You may review copies at the FAA, New 
England Region, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 18, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-28235 Filed 11-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P