[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29419-29421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13193]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0395; Product Identifier 2019-NE-11-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW150A turboprop 
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination by the 
manufacturer that certain PW150A engine high-pressure (HP) centrifugal 
impellers may exhibit a material microstructure anomaly that has a 
potential to adversely affect the low cycle fatigue characteristics of 
the part. This proposed AD would require replacement of the affected HP 
centrifugal impellers. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 8, 
2019.

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.
     Fax: 202 493 2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 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.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Pratt & 
Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, 
J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; internet: http://www.pwc.ca. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine 
and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803. 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-2019-
0395; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), 
the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-0395; 
Product Identifier 2019-NE-11-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive 
verbal contact we receive about this NPRM.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued AD CF-2018-12, dated April 27, 2018 
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe 
condition on these products. The MCAI states:

    Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has determined that certain PW150A 
engine HP centrifugal impellers, part number (P/N) 3049127-01, may 
exhibit a material microstructure anomaly which has a potential to 
adversely affect the low cycle fatigue (LCF) characteristics of the 
part, resulting in a lower LCF life than currently published in the 
engine model's Airworthiness Limitations. The identified discrepancy 
was related to specific parts having been exposed to inappropriate 
temperature levels during the manufacturing process.
    To address the subject potential material microstructure 
problem, P&WC issued SB 35331 Initial Issue, dated 16 March 2016, 
and then subsequently Revision 1, dated 3 May 2016, to recommend 
replacement of specific impeller serial numbers prior to the parts 
reaching the determined thresholds. Subsequent to the release of the 
SB, P&WC voluntarily initiated a fleet campaign to achieve this 
objective.
    The actions specified by this AD are to ensure that HP 
centrifugal impellers with this potential material anomaly condition 
are contained in order to prevent severe engine damage and possible 
aeroplane damage caused by an impeller failure.

    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-2019-0395.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) PW150-72-35331, 
Revision No. 1, dated May 3, 2016. The SB describes procedures for 
replacement of the affected HP centrifugal impeller. 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

    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 in 
this proposed AD. The FAA is proposing this AD because we evaluated all 
the relevant information provided by Transport Canada Civil Aviation 
and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to 
exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

[[Page 29420]]

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require replacement of affected HP 
centrifugal impellers.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information

    P&WC SB No. PW150-72-35331, Revision No. 1, dated May 3, 2016 
(``the SB''), indicates HP centrifugal impellers with serial numbers 
(S/Ns) listed in Table 1 of the SB should be removed prior to March 31, 
2016 (15 days after the issue date of P&WC SB No. 35331, Initial Issue) 
and HP centrifugal impellers with S/Ns listed in Table 2 of the SB 
should be removed within 150 flight cycles or prior to accumulating 
8,000 flight cycles since new. Our proposed AD would require removal of 
only the HP centrifugal impellers with S/Ns listed in Table 2 of the SB 
since the HP centrifugal impellers with S/Ns listed in Table 1 have 
already been removed from service. Our proposed AD is consistent with 
the SB and the MCAI in prohibiting the installation of any HP 
centrifugal impeller listed in Table 1 or Table 2 of the SB after the 
effective date of the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 20 engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace HP centrifugal impeller.....  100 work-hours x $85           $201,921         $210,421       $4,208,420
                                       per hour = $8,500.
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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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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, the FAA certifies this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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):

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Docket No. FAA-2019-0395; Product 
Identifier 2019-NE-11-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by August 8, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW150A 
turboprop engines with a high-pressure (HP) centrifugal impeller, 
part number (P/N) 3049127-01, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 7230, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a determination by the manufacturer that 
certain PW150A engine HP centrifugal impellers may exhibit a 
material microstructure anomaly that has a potential to adversely 
affect the low cycle fatigue characteristics of the part. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of certain HP centrifugal 
impeller. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
uncontained release of the HP centrifugal impeller, 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

    Remove HP centrifugal impeller, P/N 3049127-01, with any serial 
number listed in Table 2 of P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) No. PW150-72-
35331, Revision No. 1, dated May 3, 2016, prior to accumulating 
8,000 flight cycles since new or within 150 flight cycles after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, and replace with 
a part eligible for installation.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install an HP 
centrifugal impeller, P/N 3049127-01, with any serial number listed 
in Table 1 or 2 of P&WC SB No. PW150-72-35331, Revision No. 1, dated 
May 3, 2016, onto any engine.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD,

[[Page 29421]]

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 
(j)(1) of this AD. 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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD CF-2018-
12, dated April 27, 2018, for more information. You may examine the 
TCCA AD in the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0395.
    (3) 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: 
http://www.pwc.ca. You may view this referenced service information 
at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 17, 2019.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-13193 Filed 6-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P