[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11565-11567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03412]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0942; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-24-AD; 
Amendment 39-17355; AD 2013-03-21]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
serial number Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PW206B, PW206B2, PW206C, 
PW207C, PW207D, PW207D1, PW207D2, and PW207E turboshaft engines. This 
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 AD requires re-identification of the PT disk to a 
part number (P/N) with a lower life limit. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent possible uncontained PT disk failure and loss of helicopter 
control.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 26, 2013. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain 
publication listed in this AD as of March 26, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

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:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 7, 2012 (77 
FR 66767). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
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.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 66767, November 7, 
2012).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed (77 FR 66767, 
November 7, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 83 engines installed on

[[Page 11566]]

helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
4 hours per engine to comply with this 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 this 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 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 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 this AD:
    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 AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

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 AD:

2013-03-21 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Amendment 39-17355; Docket 
No. FAA-2012-0942; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-24-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 26, 
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 the discovery that 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, FAA, 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, for related information.
    (3) The Engine Maintenance Manual (EMM) Temporary Revisions 
(TRs) listed in Table 1 to paragraph (i)(3) of this AD pertain to 
the subject of this AD.

[[Page 11567]]



                  Table 1 to Paragraph (i)(3)--EMM TRs
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                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
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(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Alert Service Bulletin No. 
PW200-72-A28311, Revision 2, dated July 24, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) 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.
    (4) You may view this 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.
    (5) You may view this service information at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 7, 2013.
Robert J. Ganley,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03412 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
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