[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53154-53155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21524]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 53154]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Models 
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 all 
TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines. This proposed 
AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown of an airplane equipped with a 
TAE 125-02-99 engine. This proposed AD would require inspection of the 
oil filler plug vent hole at the next scheduled maintenance or within 
110 flight hours after the effective date of this AD. If chips are 
found to be blocking the vent hole, additional corrective action is 
required before next flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent engine 
in-flight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting in reduced control 
of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 30, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking 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 service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350, 
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-696-
2912; email: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.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 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: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email: 
[email protected]; telephone: 781-238-7779; 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-2012-0885; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-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 
Airworthiness Directive No. 2012-0112, dated June 22, 2012 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    An engine in-flight shutdown has been reported on an aeroplane 
equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine. The results of the 
investigation showed that this was due to blockage of the gearbox 
oil filling plug vent hole, which caused pressurisation in the 
gearbox, resulting in oil leakage and a slipping clutch. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in further cases of engine 
in-flight shutdown and consequent loss of control of the aeroplane.

    Further investigation revealed that the blockage to the oil cap 
vent was the result of a residual chip from machining the oil cap vent 
hole. The chip is from the manufacturing process and did not fall off 
the oil plug. This is not the result of material in the oil system 
causing the blockage. You may obtain further information including the 
affected gearbox serial number list by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Thielert Aircraft Engines has issued Service Bulletin TM TAE 125-
1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated April 27, 2012. 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 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 and

[[Page 53155]]

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. The proposed AD would require inspection of the 
oil filler plug vent hole at the next scheduled maintenance or within 
110 flight hours after the effective date of this AD. If chips are 
found to be blocking the vent hole, additional corrective action is 
required before next flight.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 45 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would 
take about 2.5 work-hours per product to comply with this proposed AD. 
The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $30 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of 
the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $10,913.

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: Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by October 30, 2012.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all TAE 125-09-99 and TAE 125-02-114 
reciprocating engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown of an airplane 
equipped with an TAE 125-02-99 engine. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent engine in-flight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting 
in reduced control of the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, within 110 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, or at the next scheduled maintenance, do the 
following.
    (1) Remove the oil filler plug and check for chips blocking the 
vent hole in accordance with TAE Service Bulletin (S/B) TM TAE 125-
1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated April 27, 2012.
    (2) If chips are found during the inspection in paragraph (e)(1) 
of this AD, disassemble the gearbox and check the radial shaft 
sealing rings (at the clutch and the propeller shaft) for leakage. 
If leakage is noted, replace the gearbox before the next flight.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install a gearbox 
with an S/N listed in TAE S/B TM TAE 125-1015, Initial Issued, dated 
April 27, 2012, into any engine unless the oil filler plug has 
passed the inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Frederick Zink, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; email: [email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7779; fax 
(781) 238-7199.
    (2) Refer to MCAI Airworthiness Directive No. 2012-0112, dated 
June 22, 2012, and TAE S/B TM TAE 125-1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated 
April 27, 2012 for related information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350, 
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-
696-2912; email: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.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 August 24, 2012.
Robert G. Mann,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21524 Filed 8-30-12; 8:45 am]
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