[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3287-3291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01124]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0967; Product Identifier 2017-NE-35-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GE 
Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-
11S, M601F, H80, H80-100, H80-200, H75-100, H75-200, H85-100, and H85-
200 turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a review by the 
manufacturer that identified the possibility of a power turbine (PT) 
rotor overspeed and the uncontained release of PT blades. This proposed 
AD would require installing a modified engine outlet system. We are 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this NPRM by March 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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, Docket 
Operations, M-30, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 
DC 20590.
     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 GE 
Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9--
Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 
538 222. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-
238-7759.

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-2017-
0967; or in person at Docket Operations 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 (phone: 800-
647-5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Green, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7754; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES

[[Page 3288]]

section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-0967; Product Identifier 2017-
NE-35-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite 
comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy 
aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all comments received by the 
closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2017-0151, dated August 18, 2017 (referred to hereinafter as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    A recent design review identified the possibility of failure of 
the power turbine (PT) or quill shaft splines.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a PT rotor 
overspeed, with consequent release of PT blade(s), possibly 
resulting in high energy debris and damage to, and/or reduced 
control of, the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, GE Aviation Czech 
(GEAC) designed a modification (mod) of the engine outlet system and 
issued Alert Service Bulletins (ASB) ASB-M601E-72-00-00-0070, ASB-
M601D-72-00-00-0053, ASB-M601F-72-00-00-0036, ASB-M601T-72-00-00-
0029, ASB-M601Z-72-00-00-0039, ASB-H75-72-00-00-0011, ASB-H80-72-00-
00-0025 and ASB-H85-72-00-00-0007 (single document, hereafter 
referred to as ``the ASB'' in this AD), providing instructions for 
modification of engines in service.
    For the reason described above, this AD requires modification of 
the affected engines, and prohibits installation of pre-mod parts.

    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-2017-0967.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed GE Aviation Czech Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) ASB-
M601E-72-00-00-0070 [02], ASB-M601D-72-00-00-0053 [02], ASB-M601F-72-
00-00-0036 [02], ASB-M601T-72-00-00-0029 [02], ASB-M601Z-72-00-00-0039 
[02], ASB-H75-72-00-00-0011 [02], ASB-H80-72-00-00-0025 [02], and ASB-
H85-72-00-00-0007 [02] (single document), dated June 12, 2017. The ASB 
describes procedures for removal and replacement of the engine outlet 
system hardware. 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 Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the 
Czech Republic 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 installing a 
modified engine outlet system.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 167 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP24JA18.000
    
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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

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,

[[Page 3289]]

    (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, 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):

GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type Certificate previously held by WALTER 
Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.): Docket No. FAA-2017-
0967; Product Identifier 2017-NE-35-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 12, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601D-11, M601E-11, 
M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, M601F, H75-100, H75-200, H80, H80-
100, H80-200, H85-100, and H85-200 turboprop engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7810, Engine 
Collector/Tailpipe/Nozzle.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a review by the manufacturer that 
identified the possibility of a power turbine (PT) overspeed and the 
uncontained release of PT blades. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
uncontained release of the PT blades. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in failure of the PT blades, uncontained 
release of the blades, damage to the engine, and damage to the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) After the effective date of this AD, replace the parts 
listed in Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5 to paragraph (g) of this AD with the 
parts identified in Planning Information, Paragraph 1.5, Sections I 
through IV, respectively, in GE Aviation Czech Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) ASB-M601E-72-00-00-0070 [02], ASB-M601D-72-00-00-0053 
[02], ASB-M601F-72-00-00-0036 [02], ASB-M601T-72-00-00-0029 [02], 
ASB-M601Z-72-00-00-0039 [02], ASB-H75-72-00-00-0011 [02], ASB-H80-
72-00-00-0025 [02], and ASB-H85-72-00-00-0007 [02] (single 
document), dated June 12, 2017, at the times specified below, 
whichever occurs first:
    (i) During the next engine shop visit; or
    (ii) within 6,600 engine equivalent cycles since new or since 
last overhaul; or
    (iii) within the compliance times specified in Table 1 to 
paragraph (g) of this AD.
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

[[Page 3290]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP24JA18.001

 BILLING CODE 4910-13-C

(h) Installation Prohibition

    (1) Do not install a part with a P/N listed in Tables 2, 3, 4, 
or 5 to paragraph (g) of this AD on an engine after that engine has 
been modified as required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install a part 
with a P/N listed in Tables 2, 3, 4, or 5 to paragraph (g) of this 
AD on any engine manufactured on or after September 1, 2017.

(i) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, an engine shop visit is when the 
engine is overhauled or rebuilt, or the PT is disassembled.

[[Page 3291]]

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (k). You may email your request to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Robert Green, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7754; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2017-0151, 
dated August 18, 2017, 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-2017-0967.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact GE 
Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9--
Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 
222 538 222. You may view this referenced service information at the 
FAA, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 17, 2018.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-01124 Filed 1-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P