[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 23, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68196-68197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30512]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0803; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-34-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Auxiliary 
Power Units Models GTCP36-150(R) and GTCP36-150(RR)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Honeywell International Inc. auxiliary power units (APU) models 
GTCP36-150(R) and GTCP36-150(RR). This proposed AD would require 
inspecting the fuel control unit (FCU) differential pressure (Delta P) 
sleeve bore for erosion, replacing the FCU if it fails the inspection, 
and installing a fuel deflector on the Delta P sleeve of the FCU. This 
proposed AD results from eight reports of fuel leakage from the fuel 
control unit. We are proposing this AD to prevent fuel leakage in the 
APU compartment, which could lead to ignition of fuel vapor, creating a 
fire and explosion hazard resulting in injury, and damage to the APU 
and the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by February 22, 
2010.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Pesuit, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (562) 627-5251, fax (562) 627-5210.
    Contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85034-2802; Web site: http://portal.honeywell.com/wps/portal/aero; telephone No. (800) 601-3099; international telephone No. (601) 
365-3099; for a copy of the service information identified in this 
proposed AD.

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-2009-0803; Directorate 
Identifier 2009-NE-34-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

    Over a five-year period, we received eight reports of fuel leakage 
from the fuel control unit housing on APUs, models GTCP36-150(R) and 
GTCP36-150(RR). Investigation has found that when the Delta P sleeve is 
incorrectly positioned inside the fuel control unit housing, a high-
velocity stream of fuel can hit the housing. This high-velocity stream 
can cause cavitation, which is a rapid formation and collapse of vapor 
pockets in very low-pressure regions of the fuel stream exiting the 
Delta P sleeve. This condition accelerates erosion of the fuel control 
housing, eventually causing it to leak. Honeywell International Inc. 
conducted focused inspections on 228 fuel control unit housings, and 
found that 97 of them had evidence of erosion. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in fuel leakage in the APU compartment, which 
could lead to ignition of fuel vapor, creating a fire and explosion 
hazard resulting in injury, and damage to the APU and the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Honeywell 
International Inc. Service Bulletin No. 3882840-49-7975, Revision 1, 
dated April 10, 2009, that describes procedures for inspecting the FCU 
Delta P sleeve bore for erosion, replacing the FCU if it fails the 
inspection, and installing a fuel deflector on the Delta P sleeve of 
the FCU. Installing this fuel deflector will prevent erosion and 
leakage of the fuel control unit housing.

[[Page 68197]]

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 
inspecting the FCU Delta P sleeve bore for erosion, replacing the FCU 
if it fails the inspection, and installing a fuel deflector on the 
Delta P sleeve of the FCU. 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 four APUs installed 
on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take 
about one work-hour per APU to perform the proposed actions, and that 
the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $201 per APU. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost 
of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $1,124.

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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 Inc., formerly 
Garrett Auxiliary Power Division): Docket No. FAA-2009-0803; 
Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-34-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by February 22, 
2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Honeywell International Inc. Auxiliary 
Power Units (APU) models GTCP36-150(R) and GTCP36-150(RR). These 
APUs are installed on, but not limited to, Fokker Services B.V. 
Model F.28 Mark 0100, and F.28 Mark 0070 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from eight reports of fuel leakage from the 
fuel control unit. We are issuing this AD to prevent fuel leakage in 
the APU compartment, which could lead to ignition of fuel vapor, 
creating a fire and explosion hazard resulting in injury, and damage 
to the APU and the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed at the next shop visit of the APU, or the next shop 
visit of the APU fuel control unit, or before the APU accumulates an 
additional 4,000 operating hours, whichever occurs first after the 
effective date of this AD, unless the actions have already been 
done.

Inspection of the Fuel Control Unit (FCU) Differential Pressure (Delta 
P) Sleeve Bore

    (f) Inspect the FCU Delta P sleeve bore for erosion. Use 
paragraphs 3.B.(1) through 3.B.(4) of Honeywell International Inc. 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 3882840-49-7975, Revision 1, dated April 
10, 2009, to do the inspection:
    (1) If the erosion in the Delta P sleeve bore is 0.030 inch or 
more in depth, replace the FCU housing.
    (2) If the erosion in the Delta P sleeve bore is less than 0.030 
inch in depth, the FCU housing is acceptable for use.

Installation of Fuel Deflector

    (g) Install fuel deflector, part number 70720001-1, onto the 
Delta P sleeve of the FCU. Use paragraphs 3.B(5) through 3.B.(9) of 
Honeywell International Inc. SB No. 3882840-49-7975, Revision 1, 
dated April 10, 2009, to do the installation.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (h) 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

    (i) Contact Roger Pesuit, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (562) 627-5251, fax (562) 627-5210, 
for more information about this AD.
    (j) Contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85034-2802; Web site: http://portal.honeywell.com/wps/portal/aero; telephone No. (800) 601-3099; international 
telephone No. (601) 365-3099; for a copy of the service information 
referenced in this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 16, 2009.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-30512 Filed 12-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P