[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19844-19846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08009]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0159; Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-01-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation 
Turboprop 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 
certain serial number Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (P&WC) model 
PW150A turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of 
damage to a high-pressure fuel line, which could result in a high-
pressure fuel leak into the engine nacelle. This proposed AD would 
require rerouting of the igniter cables and installation of new support 
brackets. We are proposing this AD to prevent high-pressure fuel leaks, 
which could cause engine fire and damage to the engine and the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 9, 2014.

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.

[[Page 19845]]

     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, 
Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Internet: 
www.pwc.ca. 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0159; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), 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: Wego Wang, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7134; 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-2014-0159; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-01-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.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation, which is the aviation authority 
for Canada, has issued Transport Canada AD CF-2014-09, dated February 
12, 2014, (referred to hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    There have been reports of damage in excess of acceptable 
criteria to the high pressure fuel line from the P&WC PW150A engine 
flowmeter to the flow divider. Damage has included fretting wear 
through contact with the engine igniter cables. The contact is the 
result of incorrectly routed igniter cables. While there has been no 
report of associated fuel leakage, the fretting wear, if undetected, 
could progress to a point where high pressure fuel would leak into 
the engine nacelle.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-
2014-0159.

Relevant Service Information

    P&WC has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. PW150-72-35274, Revision 
1, dated May 3, 2012. The SB describes procedures for rerouting the 
igniter cables and installing new support brackets.

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 proposing this AD because we evaluated all information 
provided by Transport Canada Civil Aviation 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 rerouting of the 
igniter cables and installation of new support brackets.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 180 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 
hour per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about $682 per engine. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on U.S. 
operators to be $138,060.

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 proposed 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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

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):


[[Page 19846]]


Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2014-0159; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-NE-01-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 9, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (P&WC) 
model PW150A turboprop engines, serial number PCE-FA0916 and 
earlier.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of damage to a high-pressure 
fuel line, which could result in a high-pressure fuel leak into the 
engine nacelle. We are issuing this AD to prevent high-pressure fuel 
leaks, which could cause engine fire and damage to the engine and 
the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) At the next shop visit, but before 36 months from the 
effective date of this AD, reroute the igniter cables and install 
new support brackets in accordance with Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 3.B., of P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) No. PW150-72-35274, 
Revision 1, dated May 3, 2012.
    (2) Reserved.

(f) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a shop visit is when the engine is 
disassembled to the extent necessary to gain access to the igniter 
cables.

(g) Credit for Previous Action

    If you performed the actions of paragraph (e) of this AD before 
the effective date of this AD using P&WC SB No. PW150-72-35274, 
Initial Issue, dated March 23, 2012, you met the requirements of 
this AD.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to 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 Wego Wang, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7134; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD CF-2014-09, dated February 
12, 2014, for more information. You may examine the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2014-0159.
    (3) P&WC SB No. PW150-72-35274, Revision 1, dated May 3, 2012, 
pertains to the subject of this AD and can be obtained from P&WC 
using the contact information in paragraph (i)(4) of this AD.
    (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; Internet: 
www.pwc.ca.
    (5) 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 3, 2014.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-08009 Filed 4-9-14; 8:45 am]
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