[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64289-64291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26827]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0956; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-23-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE)
TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 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:
In-flight engine shutdown incidents have been reported on
aeroplanes equipped with TAE 125 engines. Preliminary investigations
showed that it was mainly the result of the sensitivity of friction
disk Part Number (P/N) 05-7211-K010201 against possible misalignment
of gearbox and core engine during assembly.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in further cases
of engine in-flight shutdown and consequent loss of control of the
aeroplane.
To address this unsafe condition, Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH
has developed a new friction disk.
We are proposing this AD to prevent in-flight engine shutdown,
which could result in loss of control of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 2,
2011.
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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
[[Page 64290]]
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: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington,
MA; phone: 781-238-7143; fax: 781-238-7199; e-mail: [email protected].
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-2011-0956;
Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-23-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 EASA
AD 2011-0087-E, dated May 12, 2011 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
In-flight engine shutdown incidents have been reported on
aeroplanes equipped with TAE 125 engines.
Preliminary investigations showed that it was mainly the result
of the sensitivity of friction disk Part Number (P/N) 05-7211-
K010201 against possible misalignment of gearbox and core engine
during assembly.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in further cases
of engine in-flight shutdown and consequent loss of control of the
aeroplane.
To address this unsafe condition, Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH
has developed a new friction disk.
We are proposing this AD to require replacement of affected
friction disks, which would resolve the unsafe condition described
above. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the
AD docket.
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 the European Community, EASA notified
us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. 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 on all TAE 125-02-
99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines, replacing the friction
disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 206 TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating
engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 3 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
estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $361,530.
Our cost estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.
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
airworthiness directive (AD):
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2011-0956;
Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-23-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by December 2, 2011.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
[[Page 64291]]
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH TAE 125-
02-99 and TAE-125-02-114 reciprocating engines with friction disk,
part number (P/N) 05-7211-K010201, installed.
(d) Reason
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. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:
In-flight engine shutdown incidents have been reported on
aeroplanes equipped with TAE 125 engines. Preliminary investigations
showed that it was mainly the result of the sensitivity of friction
disk Part Number (P/N) 05-7211-K010201 against possible misalignment
of gearbox and core engine during assembly.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in further cases
of engine in-flight shutdown and consequent loss of control of the
aeroplane.
To address this unsafe condition, Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH
has developed a new friction disk.
We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight engine shutdown,
which could result in loss of control of the airplane.
(e) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) TAE 125-02-99 Engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000201; 05-7200-K000701; 05-
7200-K000101; 05-7200-K000901; 05-7200-K001101; and 05-7200-K001301;
and TAE 125-02-114 Engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000501; 05-7200-K000801; and
05-7200-K001401
For TAE 125-02-99 engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000201; 05-7200-
K000701; 05-7200-K000101; 05-7200-K000901; 05-7200-K001101; and 05-
7200-K001301; and TAE 125-02-114 engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000501; 05-
7200-K000801; and 05-7200-K001401, remove friction disk, P/N 05-
7211-K010201, within 100 flight hours (FH) time-since-new (TSN) on
the clutch or within 10 FH time-in-service (TIS) after the effective
date of this AD, whichever is later.
(2) TAE 125-02-99 Engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000301
For TAE 125-02-99 engines, P/N 05-7200-K000301, installed on
multiengine aircraft, remove friction disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201, on
one engine within 100 FH TSN on the clutch or within 10 FH TIS after
the effective date of this AD, whichever is later. Remove friction
disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201, from the other engine within 300 FH TSN
on the clutch or within 10 FH TIS after the effective date of this
AD, whichever is later.
(f) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD:
(1) Do not install any friction disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201, into
any engine.
(2) Do not install any TAE 125-02-99 engine, P/N 05-7200-
K000201, 05-7200-K000301, or 05-7200-K000701, or TAE 125-02-114
engine, P/N 05-7200-K00801 or 05-7200-K00501, that has a friction
disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201 installed, onto any airplane.
(g) Operating Prohibition
Do not operate any multi-engine aircraft after 300 FH TSN on the
clutch or 10 FH TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever
is later, which has installed a friction disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201.
(h) FAA AD Differences
The MCAI mandates the replacement friction disk P/N. This AD
does not.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
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.
(j) Related Information
(1) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness Directive 2011-0087-E,
dated May 12, 2011, and Thielert Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-
1013 P1, 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.
(2) Contact Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification
Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; phone:
781-238-7143; fax: 781-238-7199; e-mail: [email protected], for
more information about this AD.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 4, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-26827 Filed 10-17-11; 8:45 am]
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