[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29224-29226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12039]


 ========================================================================
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 98 / Thursday, May 21, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 29224]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0900; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-12-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. 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 Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines with a certain part 
number oil pump installed. This proposed AD was prompted by cases of 
deterioration of the gas generator front bearing due to a link loss 
between the pump driver and the oil pump shaft. This proposed AD would 
require inspection, and if necessary, replacement before further flight 
of the oil pump driver assembly and/or the oil pump shaft, or the oil 
pump itself. We are proposing this AD to prevent link loss between the 
pump driver and the oil pump shaft, which could lead to an engine in-
flight shutdown, forced landing, and damage to the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     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 
Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; 
telex: 570 042; fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 15. 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-2015-
0900; 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 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: Philip Haberlen, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7770; 
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-2015-0900; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-12-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

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2015-0049, dated March 17, 2015 (Corrected May 7, 2015) (referred to 
hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    A risk of an in-flight shutdown (IFSD) has been identified on an 
ARRIUS 2F engine, due to deterioration of gas generator front 
bearing. This could be the result of lack of lubrication, due to a 
link loss between pump driver and oil pump shaft.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
cases of IFSD, possibly resulting in forced landing with consequent 
damage to the helicopter and injury to occupants.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-0900.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Turbomeca S.A. has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 319 
79 4834, Version B, dated October 21, 2014. The MSB describes 
procedures for inspecting the oil pump driver assembly on the oil pump 
shaft, the pump driver splines, and the oil pump splines. This service 
information is reasonably available because the interested parties have 
access to it through their normal course of business or by the means 
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this NPRM.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of France, 
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our 
bilateral agreement with the European Community, EASA has 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 EASA 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 inspection, and if necessary, 
replacement before further flight, of the oil pump driver

[[Page 29225]]

assembly and/or the oil pump shaft, or the oil pump itself.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects about 96 engines 
installed on helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
would take about two hours per product to comply with this proposed AD. 
The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts would cost about 
$17,312 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of 
this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $1,678,272.

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),
    (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):

Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2015-0900; Directorate Identifier 
2015-NE-12-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 20, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft 
engines with oil pump, part number (P/N) 0319155050, installed, 
except for:
    (1) Engines, equipped with an oil pump, P/N 0319155050, that 
were overhauled in a Turbomeca repair center after January 1, 2013, 
and
    (2) Engines with a serial number of 34776 or higher, provided 
that the oil pump was not replaced on that engine since the first 
flight of that engine on a helicopter.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by cases of deterioration of the gas 
generator front bearing due to a link loss between the pump driver 
and the oil pump shaft. We are issuing this AD to prevent link loss 
between the pump driver and the oil pump shaft, which could lead to 
an engine in-flight shutdown, forced landing, and damage to the 
helicopter.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Inspect the pump driver assembly on the oil pump shaft, the 
pump driver splines, and the oil pump splines, using paragraph 
2.4.2, Operating Instructions, of Turbomeca S.A. Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) No. 319 79 4834, Version B, dated October 21, 2014, 
as follows:
    (i) After the effective date of this AD, for engines with less 
than 250 engine hours (EH), since new, since last overhaul, or since 
last installation of an affected oil pump, whichever occurred later, 
inspect before exceeding 300 EH since new, since last overhaul, or 
since last installation of an affected oil pump, as applicable.
    (ii) After the effective date of this AD, for engines with 250 
EH or more, but less than 300 EH, accumulated since new, since last 
overhaul, or since last installation of an affected oil pump, 
whichever occurred later, inspect within 50 EH.
    (iii) After the effective date of this AD, for engines with 300 
EH or more, but less than 800 EH, accumulated since new, since last 
overhaul, or since last installation of an affected oil pump, 
whichever occurred later, inspect within 100 EH.
    (iv) After the effective date of this AD, for engines with 800 
EH or more, accumulated since new, since last overhaul, or since 
last installation of an affected oil pump, whichever occurred later, 
inspect during the next scheduled 500 EH inspection.
    (2) If any oil pump drive assembly and/or oil pump shaft, or the 
oil pump itself, fails the inspection required by this AD, then 
before further flight, replace the failed part(s) with part(s) 
eligible for installation.
    (3) The instruction to report inspection results and the 
instruction to return a compliance certificate to Turbomeca S.A. as 
stated in paragraph 2.4.2, Operating Instructions, of Turbomeca S.A. 
MSB No. 319 79 4834, Version B, dated October 21, 2014, are not 
required by this AD.

(f) Credit for Previous Action

    If you inspected the oil pump driver assembly on the oil pump 
shaft, the pump driver splines, and the oil pump splines, and 
replaced any part(s) with part(s) eligible for installation before 
the effective date of this AD in accordance with Turbomeca S.A. MSB 
No. 319 79 4834, Version A, dated November 25, 2013, you met the 
requirements 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 to make your 
request. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Philip Haberlen, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7770; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2015-0049, 
dated March 17, 2015 (Corrected May 7, 2015), 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-2015-0900.
    (3) Turbomeca S.A. MSB No. 319 79 4834, Version B, dated October 
21, 2014, can be obtained from Turbomeca S.A., using the contact 
information in paragraph (h)(4) of this proposed AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Turbomeca, S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 
40 00; telex: 570 042; fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 15.

[[Page 29226]]

    (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 May 11, 2015.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-12039 Filed 5-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P