[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 20, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20465-20467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08056]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0316; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00461-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and 
MOTORLET a.s.) 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 all GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) H75-200, H80-100, and H80-200 
model turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by several 
reports of engine gas generator speed (Ng) rollbacks occurring below 
idle on GEAC H75-200, H80-100, and H80-200 model turboprop engines. 
This proposed AD would require an inspection of a certain part number 
(P/N) fuel control unit (FCU) and, if deficiencies are detected, 
replacement of the FCU 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 June 4, 
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.
     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 GE 
Aviation Czech, Beranov[yacute]ch 65 199 02 Praha 9--Let[ncaron]any, 
Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111. 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-2021-0316; 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: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 
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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0316; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-00461-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

[[Page 20466]]

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 placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Barbara Caufield, 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 2020-0082, dated April 1, 2020 (referred to after this 
as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these products. 
The MCAI states:
    Several occurrences have been reported of engine gas generator 
speed (Ng) rollbacks below idle on engines equipped with an affected 
part.
    The investigation determined that, during these events, the engine 
control lever (ECL) was set to idle, and identified as contributing 
factors specific environmental temperatures, possibly in combination 
with a high power off-take. The idle setting may be used in flight, in 
particular during the approach phase.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to loss of 
engine power and eventually, on a single engine aeroplane, possibly 
result in loss of control.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, GEAC issued the ASB 
providing applicable instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires, for 
engines installed on single-engine aircraft, repetitive functional 
checks of the affected part and, eventually, replacement with 
serviceable part.
    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-2021-0316.

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 the FAA of the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI and service information. The FAA is 
issuing this NPRM 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 GE Aviation Czech Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
ASB-H80-73-00-00-0052[00]/ASB-H75-73-00-00-0022[00] (single document), 
Revision 00, dated February 6, 2020. This service information specifies 
procedures for performing a functional inspection of the FCU, part 
number (P/N) LUN 6590.07-8, and replacing the FCU. 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.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require a functional inspection of the FCU, 
P/N LUN 6590.07-8, and, if deficiencies are detected, replacement of 
the FCU with a part eligible for installation. This proposed AD would 
also require removal and replacement of the FCU, P/N LUN 6590.07-8, 
during the next engine overhaul or within 44 months, whichever occurs 
first after the effective date of this AD.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information or 
MCAI

    The requirement in EASA AD 2020-0082, dated April 1, 2020, to 
perform a functional inspection and if applicable, corrective action, 
is limited to GEAC H75-200, H80-100, and H80-200 model turboprop 
engines installed on single engine airplanes. This proposed AD does not 
base compliance on the type of airplane on which the affected engines 
are installed. In addition, paragraph (g)(2) of this proposed AD 
requires operators to perform steps 1 through 7 of paragraph 2.1.1 in 
the ASB while the ASB specifies doing steps 1 through 8. The FAA 
confirmed with the manufacturer that the reference to step 8 in the ASB 
is an error.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 33 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Functional Inspection of FCU..........  0.50 work-hours x $85                 $0          $42.50       $1,402.50
                                         per hour = $42.50.
Replace FCU...........................  4 work-hours x $85 per            25,000          25,340         836,220
                                         hour = $340.
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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

[[Page 20467]]

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:

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-2021-
0316; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00461-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by June 4, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) (Type 
Certificate previously held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and 
MOTORLET a.s.) H75-200, H80-100, and H80-200 model turboprop 
engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by several reports of engine gas generator 
speed (Ng) rollbacks below idle on GEAC H75-200, H80-100, and H80-
200 model turboprop engines with a fuel control unit (FCU), part 
number (P/N) LUN 6590.07-8, installed. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent engine Ng rollbacks below idle on engines equipped with an 
FCU, P/N LUN 6590.07-8. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in loss of engine power and loss of control of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 100 flight hours (FHs) after the effective date of 
this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 FHs since the 
previous inspection, perform a functional inspection of the FCU, P/N 
LUN 6590.07-8, using the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 
2.1.1, Ground Check Procedure, of GE Aviation Czech Alert Service 
Bulletin No. ASB-H80-73-00-00-0052[00]/ASB-H75-73-00-00-0022[00] 
(single document), Revision 00, dated February 6, 2020 (the ASB).
    (2) If, during any functional inspection required by paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD, the engine Ng is:
    (i) Equal to or greater than 57% up to and including 60%, then 
no further action is required.
    (ii) Equal to or greater than 55% but lower than 57%, then 
follow the steps 1 through 3 under ``Ng speed is equal to or above 
55% and below 57%'' in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 
2.1.2, Ground check results evaluation, of the ASB.
    (iii) Below 55%, then follow steps 1 and 2 under ``Ng speed is 
below 55%'' in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.1.2, 
Ground check results evaluation, of the ASB.

    Note to paragraph (g)(2): In the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 2.1.2, of the ASB, where the ASB states ``Do steps 1 thru 
8 after the FCU adjustment,'' do steps 1 through 7 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.1.1, in the ASB.

    (3) During the next engine overhaul, or within 44 months, 
whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, remove 
the FCU, P/N LUN 6590.07-8, and replace it with a part eligible for 
installation.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install an FCU, P/N 
LUN 6590.07-8, onto any engine.

(i) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a part eligible for installation is 
an FCU, P/N LUN 6590.71-8.

(j) Terminating Action

    Installing a part eligible for installation onto an engine as 
required by paragraph (g)(2) or (3) of this AD, as applicable, 
constitutes terminating action for the functional inspections 
required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD for that engine.

(k) No Reporting Requirements

    The reporting requirements specified in paragraph 2.1.2 of the 
ASB are not required by this AD.

(l) 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 
certification office, 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.

(m) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7146; fax: (781) 238-
7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2020-0082, dated April 1, 2020, 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-2021-0316.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact GE 
Aviation Czech, Beranov[yacute]ch 65 199 02 Praha 9--Let[ncaron]any, 
Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111. 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 April 14, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-08056 Filed 4-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P