[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61717-61719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25711]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 198 / Wednesday, October 14, 2015 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 61717]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0486; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-07-AD; 
Amendment 39-18282; AD 2015-20-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6B-37A turboshaft engines. This 
AD requires initial and repetitive inspections until replacement of the 
No. 10 bearing, and eventual replacement of the No. 9 bearing, both 
located in the engine reduction gearbox (RGB) assembly. This AD was 
prompted by reports of incorrect engine torque for PT6B-37A engines. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent axial migration of the No. 10 bearing in 
the engine RGB assembly, which could result in engine overtorque, 
failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the rotorcraft.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 18, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of November 18, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: 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: http://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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
0486.

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-
0486; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this 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 
Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on June 19, 2015 (80 FR 
35260). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Five incidences of incorrect engine torque indication have been 
reported for PT6B-37A engine installations on AW119MKII helicopters. 
A lower than actual engine torque indication due to a faulty 
indication system, particularly on a helicopter being operated at 
max allowable torque (90 to 110%) range, may result in undetected 
over-torque condition.
    Repeated over-torque conditions that are undetected and 
consequently are not corrected in accordance with conditional 
inspection requirements of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICAs), may have a negative 
impact on the operational safety of the aircraft. Investigation by 
P&WC has determined the root cause of the subject torque indication 
anomaly to be the axial migration of part number (P/N) 3310433-03 
bearings at the engine torque sensing gear location.

    The axial migration of the No. 10 bearing is caused by non-optimal 
bearing internal clearance. This migration may cause an erroneous 
torque reading, possibly leading to engine overtorque and engine 
failure. We are also requiring replacement of the No. 9 bearing since 
it may also migrate, has the same part number as a No. 10 bearing, and 
could be installed in the same location as a No. 10 bearing.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 35260, June 19, 
2015).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    P&WC has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. PT6B-72-39095, Revision 
No. 3, dated December 29, 2014. The service information describes 
procedures for inspecting affected bearings. 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 final rule.

Other Related Service Information.

    P&WC has also issued SB No. PT6B-72-39092, Revision No. 4, dated 
December 29, 2014. The service information describes procedures for 
removing affected bearings.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 83 engines installed on rotocraft 
of U.S. registry. We estimate that it will take about 3 hours per 
engine to comply with this AD. We also estimate that it would take 
about 1 hour per engine to replace the affected bearings. The average 
labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about $49,800 per 
engine. Based on

[[Page 61718]]

these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$4,161,620.

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),
    (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.

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2015-20-04 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Amendment 39-18282; Docket 
No. FAA-2015-0486; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-07-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective November 18, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6B-37A 
turboshaft engines with engine serial numbers identified in Table 1 
of paragraph 4, Appendix, in P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) No. PT6B-72-
39095, Revision No. 3, dated December 29, 2014.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of incorrect engine torque for 
PT6B-37A turboshaft engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent axial 
migration of the No. 10 bearing in the engine reduction gearbox 
(RGB) assembly, which could lead to engine overtorque, failure of 
the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the rotorcraft.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(1) Initial Inspection

    (i) Within 50 flight hours (FHs) time in service after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the No. 10 bearing, part number 
(P/N) 3310433-03, in the RGB assembly for axial movement. Use 
paragraphs 3.A. to 3.C. in the Accomplishment Instructions in P&WC 
SB No. PT6B-72-39095, Revision No. 3, dated December 29, 2014, to do 
the inspection. If the bearing fails the inspection, replace the No. 
9 and No. 10 bearings before further flight.

(2) Repetitive Inspection

    (i) For engines with 500 FHs or less total time since new (TSN), 
repeat the inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD every 
100 FHs time since last inspection (TSLI) until 500 hours total TSN, 
and, thereafter, every 200 FHs TSLI until removal.
    (ii) For engines with more than 500 FHs total TSN perform the 
inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) to this AD within 200 FHs 
TSLI, and, thereafter, every 200 FHs TSLI until removal.

(3) Removal and Replacement of Affected Bearings

    (i) For engine serial numbers (S/Ns) PCE-PU0192, PU0193, PU0201, 
PU0208, PU0209, PU0212, PU0213, PU0214, PU0216, PU0219, and PU0220, 
remove the No. 9 and No. 10 bearings, P/N 3310433-03, within 450 FHs 
or 42 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
first, and replace with parts eligible for installation.
    (ii) For all engine S/Ns identified in Applicability paragraph 
(c) of this AD, other than those listed in paragraph (e)(3)(i) of 
this AD, remove the No. 9 and No. 10 bearings, P/N 3310433-03, and 
replace with parts eligible for installation within 42 months after 
the effective date of this AD.
    (iii) Replacement of the No. 9 and No. 10 bearing, P/N 3310433-
03, with the No. 9 and No. 10 bearing, P/N 3310233-03 or P/N 
3310533-03, is terminating action for this AD.

(f) Reporting Requirements

    You do not have to contact your Local Field Service 
Representative as discussed in paragraph 3.C.(3) of P&WC SB No. 
PT6B-72-39095, Revision No. 3, dated December 29, 2014.

(g) Credit for Previous Action

    If you previously replaced the No. 9 and No. 10 bearings in 
accordance with the instructions contained in P&WC SB No. PT6B-72-
39092, Revision No. 2, dated August 8, 2014, or earlier revisions, 
then you have complied with this AD.

(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. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD CF-2015-01, dated January 
20, 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. http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2015-0486.

(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. Service Bulletin (SB) No. PT6B-
72-39095, Revision No. 3, dated December 29, 2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. service information 
identified in this AD, contact Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 
Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada,

[[Page 61719]]

J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Web site: 
www.pwc.ca.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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 September 22, 2015.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25711 Filed 10-13-15; 8:45 am]
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