[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 33 (Monday, February 22, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10501-10504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01780]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1180; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00517-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Turbomeca, S.A.) Turboshaft 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 Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran Helicopter Engines) 
Arriel 2B, 2B1, 2C, 2C1, 2C2, 2S1 and 2S2 model turboshaft engines. 
This proposed AD was prompted by reports of non-conforming fuel filter 
pre-blockage pressure switches. This proposed AD would require 
repetitive visual inspections of the fuel filter by-pass indicator pop-
up, a one-time operational test of the fuel filter pre-blockage 
pressure switch and, depending on the findings, replacement of the fuel 
filter pre-blockage pressure switch with a part eligible for 
installation. 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 April 8, 
2021.

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 https://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 Safran 
Helicopter Engines, S.A., Avenue du 1er Mai, Tarnos, France; phone: +33 
(0) 5 59 74 45 11. 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1180; 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), any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wego Wang, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7134; 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 AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-1180; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2020-00517-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The 
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be

[[Page 10502]]

placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 
should be sent to Wego Wang, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2019-0180, dated July 25, 2019 (referred to after this 
as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these products. 
The MCAI states:

    Occurrences have been reported of non-conforming fuel filter 
pre-blockage pressure switches, manufactured before December 2016. 
The non-conformity of the fuel filter pre-blockage pressure switch 
can cause its non-activation in case of fuel system contamination, 
with consequent opening of the by-pass without indication in the 
cockpit.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, and in case of 
fuel contamination, could lead to an uncommanded in-flight shut-
down, possibly resulting in an emergency autorotation landing on a 
single engine helicopter, or to a double uncommanded in-flight shut-
down on a twin engine helicopter.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, SAFRAN issued the 
MSB, providing inspection instructions.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA AD] requires 
repetitive daily visual checks of the fuel filter by-pass indicator 
pop-up. This [EASA] AD also requires a one-time operational check of 
the affected part and, depending on findings, replacement of that 
part, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive daily 
checks as required by this [EASA] AD.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2020-1180.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by EASA 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. The FAA is proposing this AD because the agency evaluated all 
the relevant information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Task 73-23-01-750-801-A01--Pre-Blockage Pressure 
Switch of the Fuel Filter Tests (Electrical), dated November 30, 2012, 
from the Turbomeca Arriel 2 S1 Maintenance Manual. Task 73-23-01-750-
801-A01 provides instructions for performing an operational test of the 
fuel filter pre-blockage pressure switch. 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 
ADDRESSES.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Safran Helicopter Engines Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) No. 292 73 2869, Version B, dated December 2018. The MSB 
describes procedures for identifying and securing pre-blockage pressure 
switches of fuel filter part number P/N 9 550 17 200 0, which are 
potentially non-conforming.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require repetitive visual inspections of the 
fuel filter by-pass indicator pop-up, a one-time operational test of 
the fuel filter pre-blockage pressure switch and, depending on the 
findings, replacement of the fuel filter pre-blockage pressure switch 
with a part eligible for installation.

Justification for Allowing Pilot To Perform Visual Inspection

    This proposed AD would allow the visual inspections required by 
paragraph (g)(1) of this NPRM to be performed by an aircrew member 
holding at least a private pilot certificate. Performing a visual 
inspection to determine if the fuel filter by-pass indicator pop-up has 
been activated is not considered an action that must be performed by a 
certified person under 14 CFR 43.3. This authorization is an exception 
to our standard maintenance regulations.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or the Service 
Information

    EASA AD 2019-0180 defines ``Group 1'' engines as Safran Helicopter 
Engines Arriel 2B, 2B1, 2B1A, 2C, 2C1, 2C2, 2S1 and 2S2 model 
turboshaft engines with an affected a fuel filter pre-blockage pressure 
switch and ``Group 2'' engines as the same Safran Helicopter Engines 
Arriel turboshaft engines not equipped with an affected fuel filter 
pre-blockage pressure switch. This AD does not define or use ``Group 
1'' or ``Group 2'' and identifies both the affected engines and the 
affected fuel filter pre-blockage pressure switch in the Applicability 
paragraph. This AD does not include Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 
2B1A model turboshaft engines since these engines are not type 
certificated in the United States.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 775 engines installed on helicopters 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
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Visual inspection of fuel filter by-    1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85         $65,875
 pass indicator.                         hour = $85.
Operational test of the fuel filter     3 work-hours x $85 per                 0             255         197,625
 pre-blockage pressure switch.           hour = $255.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacement that would be required based on the results of the proposed 
inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of aircraft 
that might need this replacement.

[[Page 10503]]



                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace fuel filter pre-blockage pressure       2 work-hours x $85 per hour =               $225            $395
 switch.                                         $170.
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    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected operators.

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

    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, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:

Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Turbomeca, S.A.): Docket No. FAA-2020-1180; Project Identifier MCAI-
2020-00517-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by April 8, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., (type 
certificate previously held by Turbomeca, S.A.) Arriel 2B, 2B1, 2C, 
2C1, 2C2, 2S1 and 2S2 model turboshaft engines with a fuel filter 
pre-blockage pressure switch, part number 9 550 17 200 0, and serial 
number (S/N) 00001 to 12753, inclusive, and S/N A0001 to A0247, 
inclusive, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7321 Fuel Control/
Turbine Engines.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports from the manufacturer of non-
conforming fuel filter pre-blockage pressure switches manufactured 
before December 2016. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the non-
conformity of the fuel filter pre-blockage pressure switch, which 
can cause its non-activation in case of fuel system contamination, 
with consequent opening of the by-pass without indication in the 
cockpit. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
uncommanded in-flight shut-down of the engine, an emergency 
autorotation landing on a single engine helicopter, or an 
uncommanded in-flight shut-down of both engines on a twin engine 
helicopter.

(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, during the pre-flight 
inspection for the first flight of each day the engine is operated, 
perform a visual inspection of the fuel filter by-pass indicator to 
determine if the fuel filter by-pass indicator pop-up has been 
activated.
    (2) Within the next 300 hydro-mechanical metering unit (HMU) 
operating hours or 180 days after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first, perform an operational test of the fuel 
filter pre-blockage pressure switch in accordance with Task 73-23-
01-750-801-A01--Pre-Blockage Pressure Switch of the Fuel Filter 
Tests (Electrical), dated November 30, 2012, (the Task) from the 
Turbomeca Arriel 2 S1 Maintenance Manual.
    (3) During any visual inspection required by paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD, if the fuel filter by-pass indicator pop-up has been 
activated or, during the operational test required by paragraph 
(g)(2) of this AD, any discrepancy is detected as described by the 
Task, before next flight, replace the fuel filter pre-blockage 
pressure switch with a part eligible for installation.
    (4) The actions required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD may be 
performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private 
pilot certificate, and must be entered into the aircraft records 
showing compliance with this AD, in accordance with 14 CFR 
43.9(a)(1) through (4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The records must 
be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.

(h) Terminating Action

    Passing the operational test (no failure detected) of the fuel 
filter pre-blockage pressure switch, as required by paragraph (g)(2) 
of this AD, or replacement of the fuel filter pre-blockage pressure 
switch with a part eligible for installation, constitutes a 
terminating action for the repetitive visual inspections required by 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD for that engine.

(i) Definition

    A part eligible for installation is a fuel filter pre-blockage 
pressure switch that is not listed in the Applicability, paragraph 
(c), of this AD, or a fuel filter pre-blockage pressure switch that 
has passed the operational test (no discrepancies detected) required 
by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD.

(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

[[Page 10504]]

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 
Related Information. 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 Wego Wang, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7134; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to EASA AD 2019-0180, dated July 25, 2019, for more 
information. You may examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2020-1180.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., Avenue du 1er Mai, Tarnos, France; 
phone: +33 (0) 5 59 74 40 00. You may view this referenced 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.

    Issued on January 22, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-01780 Filed 2-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P