[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66767-66768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27169]



[[Page 66767]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0942; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-24-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain serial number Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW206B, 
PW206B2, PW206C, PW207C, PW207D, PW207D1, PW207D2, and PW207E 
turboshaft engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery that 
certain power turbine (PT) disks were made to specific heat codes that 
may not achieve the maximum in-service life. This proposed AD would 
require re-identification of the PT disk to a part number (P/N) with a 
lower life limit. We are proposing this AD to prevent possible 
uncontained PT disk failure and loss of helicopter control.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 7, 2013.

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.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt & 
Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, 
J4G 1A1; phone 800-268-8000; fax 450-647-2888; Web site: www.pwc.ca. 
You may view 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: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7176; 
fax: 781-238-7199; 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-2012-0942; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-24-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

    Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has 
issued Canada AD CF-2012-23, dated July 26, 2012 (referred to 
hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Certain power turbine (PT) disks, part number (P/N) 3044188-01, 
made to specific heat codes may not achieve the established maximum 
in-service life when installed in Turbomachinery Assembly P/N 
3058588. The PT disk in-service life for engines using this specific 
PT disk and compressor turbine (CT) vane combination is reduced when 
operated in a particular temperature and speed environment.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    P&WC has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. PW200-72-A28311, 
Revision 2, dated July 24, 2012. P&WC has also issued Engine 
Maintenance Manual (EMM) Temporary Revisions AL-3, AL-4, AL -12, AL-13, 
AL-16, AL-18, AL-19, and AL-20, all dated June 5, 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 the aviation authority of Canada, 
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our 
bilateral agreement with Canada, they have notified us of the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced 
above. We are issuing this proposed AD because we evaluated all 
information provided by Canada 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 re-identification of the PT disk to 
a P/N with a lower life limit.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI requires the re-identification or replacement of affected 
PT disks for engines with other than Turbomachinery Assembly P/N 
3058588 installations. This proposed AD would not.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 83 engines 
installed on helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
would take about 4 hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. 
The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Prorated parts life will cost 
about $8,900. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $766,920.

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

[[Page 66768]]

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.
    4. 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):

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (Formerly Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc.): 
Docket No. FAA-2012-0942; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-24-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 7, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) model 
PW206B, PW206B2, PW206C, PW207C, PW207D, PW207D1, PW207D2, and 
PW207E turboshaft engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by certain power turbine (PT) disks, part 
number (P/N) 3044188-01, made to specific heat codes that may not 
achieve the established maximum in-service life when installed in 
Turbomachinery Assembly P/N 3058588. The PT disk in-service life for 
engines using this specific PT disk and compressor turbine vane 
combination is reduced when operated in a particular temperature and 
speed environment. We are issuing this AD to prevent possible 
uncontained PT disk failure and loss of helicopter control.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.

(f) Affected PT Disks Installed With Turbomachinery Assembly P/N 
3058588 Installation

    (1) For any PT disk P/N 3044188-01 that is listed by serial 
number (S/N) in Table 1 of P&WC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
PW200-72-A28311, Revision 2, dated July 24, 2012, and, that is 
installed or that had previously been installed with Turbomachinery 
Assembly P/N 3058588 installation, do the following:
    (i) Remove the PT disk P/N 3044188-01 from service before it 
reaches 10,000 cycles-since-new (CSN).
    (ii) Re-identify the PT disk to P/N 3072542-01, at the next 
engine shop visit, not to exceed 10,000 CSN on the PT disk, before 
reinstalling it in any engine. Use paragraphs 3.B.(1) through 
3.B.(1)(b)4 of the Accomplishment Instructions of P&WC ASB No. 
PW200-72-A28311, Revision 2, dated July 24, 2012, to do the re-
identification.
    (iii) After re-identification of the PT disk to P/N 3072542-01, 
retain the total cycles accumulated as P/N 3044188-01. The cycles 
remaining on the re-identified P/N 3072542-01 PT disk must be 
calculated using the difference between the published life limit of 
P/N 3072542-01 and the total number of cycles accumulated as P/N 
3044188-01. The maximum in-service life of PT disk P/N 3072542-01 is 
10,000 CSN.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any PT 
disk P/N 3044188-01 that is listed in Table 1 of P&WC ASB No. PW200-
72-A28311, Revision 2, dated July 24, 2012, in any engine with 
Turbomachinery Assembly P/N 3058588 installation, unless the PT disk 
has been re-identified to P/N 3072542-01. Use paragraphs 3.B.(1) 
through 3.B.(1)(b)4 of the Accomplishment Instructions of P&WC ASB 
No. PW200-72-A28311, Revision 2, dated July 24, 2012, to do the PT 
disk re-identification.

(g) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    You may take credit for the re-identification of the PT disk 
that is required by this AD if you performed the re-identification 
before the effective date of this AD using P&WC ASB No. PW200-72-
A28311, dated March 1, 2012, or P&WC ASB No. PW200-72-A28311, 
Revision 1, dated March 22, 2012.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact James Lawrence, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to Transport Canada AD CF-2012-23, dated July 26, 
2012, and P&WC Alert Service Bulletin No. PW200-72-A28311, Revision 
2, dated July 24, 2012, for related information.
    (3) The Engine Maintenance Manual (EMM) Temporary Revisions 
(TRs) listed in Table 1 to paragraph (i)(3) pertain to the subject 
of this AD.

                  Table 1 to Paragraph (i)(3)--EMM TRs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                EMM P/Ns:                             TR Nos.:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3071602..................................  AL-3, AL-4.
3043612..................................  AL-12, AL-13.
3043322..................................  AL-16.
3039732..................................  AL-18, AL-19.
3038324..................................  AL-20.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, 
Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Web 
site: www.pwc.ca. You may view 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 October 29, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-27169 Filed 11-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P