[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 83655-83657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27922]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9103; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-18-AD; 
Amendment 39-18711; AD 2016-23-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG 
Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax 912 F2, 912 F3, 912 F4, 912 S2, 912 
S3, 912 S4, 914 F2, 914 F3, and 914 F4 reciprocating engines. This AD 
requires replacement of any affected carburetor float with a float that 
is eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by a report of a 
quality escape in the manufacturing of the affected floats. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the carburetor float, failure of 
the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 7, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 7, 
2016.
    We must receive comments on this AD by January 6, 2017.

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: 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 BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co KG, Rotaxstrasse 1, A-4623 Gunskirchen, Austria; 
phone: +43 7246 6010; fax: +43 7246 601 9130; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.FLYROTAX.com. You may view 
this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of

[[Page 83656]]

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-2016-9103.

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-2016-
9103; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), 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: Michael Richardson-Bach, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7747; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2016-9103; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-NE-18-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
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 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 2016-0144, dated July 19, 2016 (corrected July 25, 2016) (referred 
to hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Due to a quality escape in the manufacturing process of certain 
floats, Part Number (P/N) 861185, a partial separation of the float 
outer skin may occur during engine operations. Separated particles 
could lead to a restriction of the jets in the carburetor, possibly 
reducing or blocking the fuel supply to the affected cylinder.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to in-
flight engine shutdown and forced landing, possibly resulting in 
damage to the aeroplane and injury to the 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-2016-9103.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG has issued Alert Service Bulletin ASB-
912-069R1/ASB-914-051R1 (one document), Revision 1, dated July 22, 
2016. The service information describes procedures for removal and 
replacement of the carburetor float. 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of 
Austria, 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 issuing 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 AD requires removal and replacement of the 
affected carburetor float.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, we find that 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and 
that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 
30 days.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 0 engines installed on aircraft of 
U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4 hours per 
engine to search maintenance records, disassemble the carburetor, and 
replace the float. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$0.

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:

[[Page 83657]]

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):

2016-23-04 BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG (formerly BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co 
KG, Bombardier-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG, and Bombardier-Rotax GmbH): 
Amendment 39-18711; Docket No. FAA-2016-9103; Directorate Identifier 
2016-NE-18-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective December 7, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax model 912 
F2, 912 F3, 912 F4, 912 S2, 912 S3, and 912 S4 engines, and Rotax 
914 F2, 914 F3, and 914 F4 engines with:
    (1) Engine serial numbers (S/Ns) listed in Planning Information, 
Paragraph 1, Criterion A, of BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) ASB-912-069R1/ASB-914-051R1 (one document), 
Revision 1, dated July 22, 2016.
    (2) Carburetor part numbers (P/Ns) and S/Ns listed in Planning 
Information, Paragraph 1, Criterion B, of BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co 
KG ASB ASB-912-069R1/ASB-914-051R1 (one document), Revision 1, dated 
July 22, 2016; or
    (3) Carburetor floats, P/N 861185, that do not have 3 dots 
molded on the surface, and installed after May 9, 2016.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of a quality escape in the 
manufacturing of the affected carburetor floats. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the carburetor float, failure of the 
engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 25 flight hours (FHs) or 30 days after the effective 
date of this AD, replace any affected carburetor float with a float 
that is eligible for installation in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, Paragraph 3, of BRP-Powertrain GmbH & 
Co KG Rotax ASB ASB-912-069R1/ASB-914-051R1 (one document), Revision 
1, dated July 22, 2016.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install on any 
engine a carburetor float, P/N 861185, delivered between May 8, 
2016, and July 17, 2016, that does not have 3 dots molded into the 
surface. If the delivery date is not documented, do not install the 
part.

(f) 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].

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Michael 
Richardson-Bach, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, 
FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7747; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2016-0144, 
dated July 19, 2016 (corrected July 25, 2016), 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-2016-9103.

(h) 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) BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Alert Service Bulletin ASB-912-
069R1/ASB-914-051R1 (one document), Revision 1, dated July 22, 2016.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG service information 
identified in this AD, contact BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG, 
Rotaxstrasse 1, A-4623 Gunskirchen, Austria; phone: +43 7246 6010; 
fax: +43 7246 601 9130; email: [email protected]; Internet: 
http://www.FLYROTAX.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 
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 November 7, 2016.
Ann C. Mollica,
Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-27922 Filed 11-21-16; 8:45 am]
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