[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20743-20745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8287]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24785; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-20-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Lycoming Engines Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive 
(AD) for certain Lycoming Engines (L)O-360, (L)IO-360, AEIO-360, O-540, 
IO-540, AEIO-540, (L)TIO-540, IO-580, and IO-720 series reciprocating 
engines. That NPRM proposed to require replacing certain crankshafts of 
affected engine models. This action revises that NPRM by including the 
IO-390, AEIO-390, and AEIO-580 series engine models having affected 
crankshafts. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent failure 
of the crankshaft, which will result in total engine power loss, in-
flight engine failure, and possible loss of the aircraft. Since these 
actions impose an additional burden over that proposed in the NPRM, we 
are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to 
comment on these proposed changes.

DATES: We must receive comments on this supplemental NPRM by June 5, 
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.

[[Page 20744]]

     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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Lycoming, 
652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701; phone: 570-323-6181; fax: 
570-327-7101, or on the internet at www.Lycoming.Textron.com. 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
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 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: Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New 
York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 
516-228-7337; fax: 516-794-5531; email: [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-2006-
24785; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-20-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 because 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 we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We issued an NPRM supersedure to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an 
AD that would apply to Lycoming Engines (L)O-360, (L)IO-360, AEIO-360, 
O-540, IO-540, AEIO-540, (L)TIO-540, IO-580, and IO-720 series 
reciprocating engines. That NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
August 12, 2011 (76 FR 50152). That NPRM supersedure proposed to retain 
all of the requirements of AD 2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 
2006), and would expand the affected engines by moving the start date 
of affected engine models back from March 1, 1997, to January 1, 1997. 
All references to March 1, 1997 in AD 2006-20-09, and the NPRM 
supersedure are, therefore, obsolete and the start date of affected 
models in this supplemental NPRM supersedure is changed to January 1, 
1997. Lycoming also changed its Service Instruction No. 1009AS dated 
May 25, 2006 to Service Instruction No. 1009AU, dated November 18, 
2009. The changes to Service Instruction 1009 do not affect the engine 
overhaul time.

Actions Since Previous NPRM Was Issued

    Since we issued the previous NPRM (76 FR 50152, August 12, 2011), 
Lycoming Engines made us aware of additional engine models with 
crankshafts affected by the unsafe condition. They are the IO-390, 
AEIO-390, and AEIO-580 series reciprocating engines. These engine 
models were considered experimental and did not have a type certificate 
when we issued AD 2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006). These 
models now have type certificates and so we propose to add them in this 
supplemental NPRM.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to comment on the original NPRM. 
We received no comments on that NPRM (76 FR 50152, August 12, 2011).

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this supplemental NPRM 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. Certain changes described above expand the scope of the 
original NPRM (76 FR 50152, August 12, 2011). As a result, we have 
determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment period to provide 
additional opportunity for the public to comment on this supplemental 
NPRM.

Proposed Requirements of the Supplemental NPRM

    This supplemental NPRM would retain all of the requirements of AD 
2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006). This supplemental NPRM 
would also change the start date of affected engine models from March 
1, 1997, to January 1, 1997, and would add Lycoming Engines IO-390, 
AEIO-390, and AEIO-580 series reciprocating engines to the 
applicability.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would require no additional costs 
of compliance over those in the original AD 2006-20-09, which are 
$60,384,000. This proposed AD carries over the original costs of 
compliance. We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 3,774 
engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. Because the proposed 
AD compliance interval coincides with engine overhaul or other engine 
maintenance, we estimate no additional labor hours will be needed to 
comply with this proposed AD. Parts would cost about $16,000 per 
engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the 
proposed AD to be $60,384,000. Our estimate is independent of any 
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

[[Page 20745]]

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),
    (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.

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):

Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming): Docket No. FAA-2006-
24785; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-20-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 5, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2006-20-09, Amendment 39-14778 (71 FR 
57407, September 29, 2006).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Lycoming Engines (L)O-360, (L)IO-360, AEIO-
360, IO-390, AEIO-390, O-540, IO-540, AEIO-540, (L)TIO-540, IO-580, 
AEIO-580, and IO-720 series reciprocating engines listed by engine 
model number and serial number in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or 
Table 4 of Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 569A, dated 
April 11, 2006, and those engines with crankshafts listed by 
crankshaft serial number in Table 5 of Lycoming MSB 569A, dated 
April 11, 2006. These applicable engines are manufactured new, 
rebuilt, overhauled, or had a crankshaft installed after January 1, 
1997.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD results from Lycoming Engines discovering that the March 
1, 1997 start date of affected engine models in MSB No. 569A, is 
incorrect. This AD also results from the need to include the IO-390, 
AEIO-390, and AEIO-580 series engine models having affected 
crankshafts. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
crankshaft, which will result in total engine power loss, in-flight 
engine failure, and possible loss of the aircraft.

(e) Compliance

    You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD 
performed within the compliance times specified unless the actions 
have already been done.

(f) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) If you previously complied with any of the following ADs, no 
further action is required:
    (i) AD 2002-19-03 (67 FR 59139, September 20, 2002); or
    (ii) AD 2005-19-11 (70 FR 54618, September 16, 2005); or
    (iii) AD 2006-06-16 (71 FR 14638, March 23, 2006).
    (2) If you previously accomplished any of the following Lycoming 
MSBs, no further action is required:
    (i) MSB No. 552; or
    (ii) MSB No. 553; or
    (iii) Supplement No. 1 to MSB No. 553; or
    (iv) MSB No. 566; or
    (v) Supplement No. 1 to MSB No. 566; or
    (vi) MSB No. 569, MSB No. 569A, and Supplement 1 to MSB No. 
569A.
    (3) If Lycoming Engines manufactured new, rebuilt, overhauled, 
or repaired your engine, or replaced the crankshaft in your engine 
before January 1, 1997, and you have not had the crankshaft 
replaced, no further action is required.
    (4) If Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or Table 4 of Lycoming MSB No. 
569A, dated April 11, 2006, lists your engine serial number (S/N), 
and Table 5 of MSB No. 569A, dated April 11, 2006, does not list 
your crankshaft S/N, no further action is required.
    (5) For engine model TIO-540-U2A, S/N L-4641-61A, no action is 
required.

(g) Engines for Which Action Is Required

    If you did not previously comply with any of the ADs listed in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, do the following:
    (1) If Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or Table 4 of Lycoming MSB No. 
569A, dated April 11, 2006, lists your engine S/N, and Table 5 of 
MSB No. 569A, dated April 11, 2006, lists your crankshaft S/N, 
replace the affected crankshaft with a crankshaft that is not listed 
in Table 5 of MSB No. 569A at the earliest of the following:
    (i) The time of the next engine overhaul as specified in 
Lycoming Engines Service Instruction No. 1009AU, dated November 18, 
2009; or
    (ii) The next separation of the crankcase, or
    (iii) No later than 12 years from the time the crankshaft first 
entered service or was last overhauled, whichever is later.
    (2) If Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, or Table 4 of Lycoming MSB No. 
569A, dated April 11, 2006, does not list your engine S/N, and Table 
5 of MSB No. 569A does list your crankshaft S/N (an affected 
crankshaft was installed as a replacement), replace the affected 
crankshaft with a crankshaft that is not listed in Table 5 of MSB 
No. 569A at the earliest of the following:
    (i) The time of the next engine overhaul as specified in 
Lycoming Engines Service Instruction No. 1009AU, dated November 18, 
2009; or
    (ii) The next separation of the crankcase, or
    (iii) No later than 12 years from the time the crankshaft first 
entered service or was last overhauled, whichever is later.

(h) Prohibition Against Installing Certain Crankshafts

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
crankshaft that has a S/N listed in Table 5 of Lycoming MSB No. 
569A, dated April 11, 2006, into any engine.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, may approve 
AMOCs to this AD. Use the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request. AMOCs approved for AD 2002-19-03 (67 FR 59139, September 
20, 2002) and AD 2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006) are 
approved as AMOCs for this AD.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Norm Perenson, 
Aerospace Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7337; fax: 516-794-5531; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Lycoming, 652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701; telephone: 570-
323-6181; fax: 570-327-7101, or on the internet at 
www.Lycoming.Textron.com. 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 April 2, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-8287 Filed 4-5-12; 8:45 am]
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