[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 21, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43987-43989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15606]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 140 / Tuesday, July 21, 2020 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 43987]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-1113; Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00117-E; 
Amendment 39-21161; AD 2020-14-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Austro Engine GmbH model E4 and E4P diesel piston engines. This AD was 
prompted by reports of considerable wear of the timing chain and 
failure of fuel injectors on these engines. This AD requires 
replacement of the timing chain and fuel injectors on the affected 
Austro Engine GmbH model E4 and E4P diesel piston engines. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 25, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 25, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Austro Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A-2700 Weiner 
Neustadt, Austria; phone: +43 2622 23000; fax: +43 2622 23000-2711; 
website: www.austroengine.at. You may view this service information at 
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also 
available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-1113.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
1113; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for 
Docket Operations is 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: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7743; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Austro Engine GmbH 
model E4 and E4P diesel piston engines. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on March 20, 2020 (85 FR 16014). The NPRM was prompted 
by reports of considerable wear of the timing chain and failure of fuel 
injectors on these engines. The NPRM proposed to require replacement of 
the timing chain and fuel injectors on the affected Austro Engine GmbH 
model E4 and E4P diesel piston engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.
    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2019-0041, dated February 25, 2019 (referred to after 
this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these 
products. The MCAI states:
    The airworthiness limitations and maintenance tasks for the Austro 
Engine E4 and E4P engines, which are approved by EASA, are currently 
defined and published in the Austro Engine MM, Chapter 04. These 
instructions have been identified as mandatory for continued 
airworthiness.
    Failure to accomplish these instructions could result in an unsafe 
condition.
    Austro Engine recently revised the ALS, introducing life limit for 
the engine timing chain and for the fuel injectors. For the reason 
described above, this [EASA] AD requires accomplishment of the actions 
specified in the ALS.
    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-1113.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or 
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Austro Engine Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 
MSB-E4-025, Rev. No. 3, dated January 8, 2019. The MSB describes 
procedures for replacing the fuel injectors. 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.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Austro Engine Maintenance Manual (MM) Temporary 
Revision (TR) MM-TR-MDC-E4-454, dated October 3, 2018. The MM TR 
updates the time limits for the fuel injectors and timing chain and 
describes procedures for updating the Airworthiness Limitation Section 
in the existing approved MM.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 263 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 43988]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the timing chain..............  2.5 work-hours x $85 per          $2,980       $3,192.50     $839,627.50
                                         hour = $212.50.
Replace the fuel injectors............  2.5 work-hours x $85 per           2,590        2,802.50      737,057.50
                                         hour = $212.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Regulatory Findings

    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) 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.

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):

2020-14-07 Austro Engine GmbH: Amendment 39-21161; Docket No. FAA-
2019-1113; Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00117-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective August 25, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Austro Engine GmbH Model E4 and E4P diesel 
piston engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7322, Fuel Control/
Reciprocating Engines and Code 8520, Reciprocating Engine Power 
Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of considerable wear of the 
timing chain and failure of fuel injectors on the affected engines. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the timing chain 
and fuel injectors. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in loss of engine thrust control and reduced control of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For engines that have had a windmill restart before the 
effective date of this AD or for engines with a timing chain in 
which it cannot be determined if the engine has experienced any 
windmilling, after the effective date of this AD, remove the timing 
chain and replace with a part eligible for installation as follows, 
whichever occurs later:
    (i) Before the timing chain exceeds 900 flight hours (FHs) since 
new, or;
    (ii) Within 100 FHs after the windmilling restart, or;
    (iii) Before further flight.
    (2) For engines that have a windmill restart after the effective 
date of this AD, remove the timing chain before it exceeds 900 FHs 
since new or within 100 FHs after the windmilling restart, whichever 
occurs later, and replace with a part eligible for installation.
    (3) Remove the fuel injectors and replace with parts eligible 
for installation before they exceed 900 FHs since new or before 
further flight after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later.
    (i) Use Accomplishment/Instructions, paragraph 2.1, of Austro 
Engine Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB-E4-025, Rev. No. 3, 
dated January 8, 2019, to perform the required actions in paragraph 
(g)(3) of this AD.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (4) Thereafter, repeat the replacement of the fuel injectors 
required by paragraph (g)(3) of this AD at intervals not exceeding 
900 FHs since new.

(h) Exception to Paragraph (g)(3)(i)

    The tagging and returning of the removed fuel injectors to the 
manufacturer, referenced in the Accomplishment/Instructions, 
paragraph 2.1, of Austro Engine MSB No. MSB-E4-025, Rev. No. 3, 
dated January 8, 2019, are not required by this AD.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the replacement of the timing chain that 
is required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD if you performed this 
replacement before the effective date of this AD using Austro Engine 
MSB No. MSB-E4-017/2, Revision 2, dated December 2, 2016.

(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)(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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Mehdi Lamnyi, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA, 01803; phone: 781-238-7743; fax: 781-238-7199; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2019-0041, dated February 25, 2019, for more information. You

[[Page 43989]]

may examine the EASA AD in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2019-1113.

(l) 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) Austro Engine Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB-E4-025, 
Rev. No. 3, dated January 8, 2019.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Austro Engine GmbH service information identified in 
this AD, contact Austro Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A-
2700 Weiner Neustadt, Austria; phone: +43 2622 23000; fax: +43 2622 
23000-2711; website: www.austroengine.at.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA, 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on July 9, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-15606 Filed 7-20-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P