[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77382-77383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31794]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1341; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-41-AD; 
Amendment 39-16891; AD 2011-25-51]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) 
Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) models TSIO-520, TSIO-550-K, TSIOF-550K, 
and IO-550-N series reciprocating engines. This emergency AD was sent 
previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these engines. 
This AD requires replacing affected CMI starter adapters with starter 
adapters eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by 5 reports 
received of fractures in starter adapter shaft gears in certain part 
number (P/N) CMI starter adapters. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the starter adapter gear shaft, leading to an inoperable oil 
scavenge pump and engine in-flight shutdown.

DATES: This AD is effective December 28, 2011 to all persons except 
those persons to whom it was made immediately effective by Emergency AD 
2011-25-51, issued on November 29, 2011, which contained the 
requirements of this amendment.
    We must receive comments on this AD by January 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Continental 
Motors, Inc., P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL 36601; phone: (251) 438-3411, or 
go to:  http://tcmlink.com/servicebulletins.cfm.

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 (phone: (800) 647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Holton, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5567; fax: (404) 
474-5567; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On November 29, 2011, we issued Emergency AD 2011-25-51, which 
requires replacing affected CMI starter adapters with starter adapters 
eligible for installation. This action was prompted by 5 reports 
received of fractures in starter adapter shaft gears in certain P/N CMI 
starter adapters. This condition, if not corrected, could result in 
failure of the starter adapter gear shaft, leading to an inoperable oil 
scavenge pump and engine in-flight shutdown.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed CMI Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB11-4, dated 
November 23, 2011. The MSB describes the affected starter adapters, and 
describes what starter adapters are eligible for installation.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires replacing affected CMI starter adapters with 
starter adapters eligible for installation.

Differences Between the AD and the Service Information

    The CMI MSB No. MSB11-4, dated November 23, 2011 requires 
reporting. This emergency AD does not.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because of 
the short compliance time required to remove the affected parts from 
service. Therefore, we find that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment are impracticable and that good cause exists for making 
this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public 
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2011-1341 and 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-41-AD at the beginning of your comments. 
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.

[[Page 77383]]

    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 we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 195 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4 
work-hours per engine to perform the actions required by this AD, and 
that the average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will 
cost about $500 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $163,800.

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

    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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA 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 (AD):

2011-25-51 Continental Motors, Inc. (Formerly Teledyne Continental 
Motors, Continental): Amendment 39-16891; Docket No. FAA-2011-1341; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-41-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective December 28, 2011 to all persons except 
those persons to whom it was made immediately effective by Emergency 
AD 2011-25-51, issued on November 29, 2011, which contained the 
requirements of this amendment.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This emergency AD applies to Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) 
TSIO-520-B, BB, D, DB, E, EB, J, JB, K, KB, N, NB, UB, VB; TSIO-550-
K; TSIOF-550-K; IO-550-N (Turbo-normalized only; STC SE10589SC); 
with a starter adapter part number (P/N) 642085A17, 642085A19, 
642085A20, 642085-1A1, and R-642085A17, installed, where the engine 
was manufactured between January 1, 2011 and November 20, 2011, or, 
where a replacement new or rebuilt starter adapter that was 
purchased from Continental Motors, Inc. and installed between 
January 1, 2011 and November 20, 2011.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by 5 reports received of fractures in 
starter adapter shaft gears in certain P/N CMI starter adapters. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the starter adapter gear 
shaft, leading to an inoperable oil scavenge pump and engine in-
flight shutdown.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) For starter adapters with less than 75 hours of total time-
in-service (TIS) on the effective date of this AD, before further 
flight, replace the starter adapter with a starter adapter eligible 
for installation.
    (2) For starter adapters with between 75 and 100 hours of total 
TIS, inclusive on the effective date of this AD, within the next 10 
hours of engine operation, or before exceeding 100 hours TIS, 
whichever occurs first, replace the starter adapter with a starter 
adapter eligible for installation.
    (3) For starter adapters with more than 100 hours of total TIS 
on the effective date of this AD, no further action is required.

(f) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a starter adapter eligible for 
installation is:
    (1) A starter adapter with one of the P/Ns listed in this AD 
that has a vibro-peened manufacturer code below the ink stamped P/N 
on the starter adapter, or
    (2) A starter adapter with one of the P/Ns listed in this AD 
that has more than 100 hours total TIS.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Atlanta Certification Office, may approve AMOCs for 
this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For further information about this AD, contact: Anthony 
Holton, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30337; 
phone: (404) 474-5567; fax: (404) 474-5567; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) CMI Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB11-4, dated November 
23, 2011, pertains to this AD.
    (3) For copies of the service information referenced in this AD, 
contact: Continental Motors, Inc., PO Box 90, Mobile, AL 36601; 
phone: (251) 438-3411, or go to: http://tcmlink.com/servicebulletins.cfm. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 5, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-31794 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P