[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17084-17085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7590]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0308; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-17-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE)
Model TAE 125-01 Reciprocating Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as: Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by
oil separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by gas
pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess of the
oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may adversely
affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication system. This
condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight cases of engine
power loss or ultimately, shutdown. We are proposing this AD to prevent
loss of engine power or uncommanded engine shutdown during flight due
to excessive crankcase blow-by gas pressure.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 20, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
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.
Contact Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350,
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-696-
55; e-mail: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com for the service information
identified in this 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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations office (phone (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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0308;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-17-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on 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).
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD
2010-0020, dated February 8, 2010 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by
separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by
gas pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess
of the oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may
adversely affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication
system. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight
cases of engine power loss or ultimately, shutdown.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
TAE has issued Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-0019, Revision 1,
dated March 5, 2009. The actions described in this service information
are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of Germany
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our
bilateral agreement with Germany, EASA has notified us of the unsafe
condition described in the MCAI. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of
the same type design. This proposed AD would require removing from
service certain part number blow-by oil separators, within the next 110
flight hours after the effective date of the proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 250 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 1.5 work-hours per engine to
comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-
hour. Required parts would cost about $1,500 per engine. Based on these
figures, we
[[Page 17085]]
estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $406,875.
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 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 this 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. 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA 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 AD:
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2010-0308;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-17-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by May 20, 2010.
Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE)
model TAE 125-01 reciprocating engines with any of the following
part number blow-by oil separators installed:
Table 1--Part Numbers of Affected Blow-By Oil Separators
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02-7250-18100R1 02-7250-18100R2 02-7250-18100R3.
02-7250-18100R4 02-7250-18300R1 02-7250-18300R2.
02-7250-18300R3 02-7250-18300R4 02-7250-18300R5.
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These engines are installed in, but not limited to, Diamond
Aircraft Industries Model DA 40, Piper PA-28-161 (Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC) No. SA03303AT), and Cessna 172 (STC No. SA01303WI)
airplanes.
Reason
(d) Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by oil
separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by
gas pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess
of the oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may
adversely affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication
system. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight
cases of engine power loss or ultimately, shutdown. This AD results
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by
an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an
unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are issuing this AD to
prevent loss of engine power or uncommanded engine shutdown during
flight due to excessive crankcase blow-by gas pressure.
Actions and Compliance
(e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) Remove the blow-by oil separators listed by part number in
Table 1 of this AD within the next 110 flight hours after the
effective date of this AD.
(2) Use the Measures section of TAE Service Bulletin No. TM TAE
125-0019, Revision 1, dated March 5, 2009, to do the removal from
service.
FAA AD Differences
(f) None.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(h) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2010-0020, dated
February 8, 2010, and TAE Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-0019,
Revision 1, dated March 5, 2009, for related information. Contact
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350,
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-
696-55; e-mail: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com, for a copy of this
service information.
(i) Contact Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199,
for more information about this AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 30, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7590 Filed 4-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P