[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31601-31604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12659]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0499; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00571-E; 
Amendment 39-21612; AD 2021-13-07]
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: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-
11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F model turboprop engines. This AD was 
prompted by the manufacturer finding errors in the Airworthiness 
Limitation Section (ALS) of the Engine Maintenance Manual (EMM), 
including errors in the formula to determine the equivalent flight 
cycles (FCs) of critical parts and errors with certain part numbers (P/
Ns). The manufacturer also determined that the life limit of a certain 
compressor case is not listed in the ALS section of the applicable EMM. 
This AD requires recalculating the life of critical parts and, 
depending on the results of the recalculation, replacement of these 
critical parts. This AD also requires replacement of a certain 
compressor case. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 30, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 30, 
2021.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by July 30, 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 final rule, contact GE 
Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 00 Praha 18, Letnany, 
Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 538 222. 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0499.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0499; 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, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
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:

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA Emergency AD 2021-0125-E, dated May 7, 2021 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Errors have been identified in the ALS section of the EMM 
[Engine Maintenance Manual], including errors in the formula to 
determine the equivalent flight cycles of critical parts, and 
certain part numbers. It was also determined that, inadvertently, 
certain M601E engines have a compressor case P/N M601-154.61 
installed, the life limit of which is not listed in the ALS section 
of the applicable EMM.
    These conditions, if not corrected, may lead to operation of an 
engine beyond the life limit of one or more critical parts, possibly 
resulting in failure of the engine and consequent reduced control of 
the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe conditions, GEAC issued [GEAC 
Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) ASB-M601D-72-00-00-0075, ASB-M601E-72-
00-00-0106, ASB-M601F-72-00-00-0057 and ASB-M601Z-72-00-00-0057 
(issued as a single document)], providing instructions to 
recalculate the consumed life of certain

[[Page 31602]]

critical parts, and [GEAC ASB-M601E-72-30-00-0105], providing 
instructions for certain M601E engines to replace the compressor 
case with an eligible part.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of critical parts, the recalculated life of which 
exceeds the applicable life limit, and replacement of the compressor 
case on certain M601E engines.

    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-2021-0499.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has 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 ASB-M601F-72-00-00-0057 [00], 
ASB-M601E-72-00-00-0106 [00], ASB-M601D-72-00-00-0075 [00], and ASB-
M601Z-72-00-00-0057 [00] (single document; formatted as service 
bulletin identifier [revision number]), dated May 7, 2021. This ASB 
specifies procedures for calculating consumed life of the critical 
parts. 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 GE Aviation Czech ASB-M601E-72-30-00-0105 [00] 
(formatted as service bulletin identifier [revision number]), dated May 
7, 2021. This ASB introduces life limits to compressor case P/N M601-
154.61.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires recalculating the life of critical parts and, 
depending on the results of the recalculation, replacement of critical 
parts. This AD also requires replacement of compressor case, part 
number M601-154.61, installed on GEAC M601E model turboprop engines.

Differences Between the AD and the Service Information

    EASA Emergency AD 2021-0125-E, dated May 7, 2021, applies to GEAC 
M601D, M601D-1, M601D-2, M601D-11, M601D-11NZ, M601E, M601E-11, M601E-
11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, M601E-21, M601F, M601FS, M601F-11, M601F-
22, M601F-32, M601T, and M601Z model turboprop engines. This AD does 
not include GEAC M601D, M601D-1, M601D-2, M601D-11NZ, M601E, M601E-21, 
M601FS, M601F-11, M601F-22, M601F-32, M601T, and M601Z model turboprop 
engines as these engine models are not type certificated in the United 
States.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. This unsafe 
condition is still under investigation by the manufacturer and, 
depending on the results of that investigation, the FAA may consider 
further rulemaking action.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and 
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds 
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule. 
In May 2021, the FAA received a notification from the manufacturer 
about their discovery of errors with the formula for calculating the 
life limit of critical parts located in the ALS of the EMM. The 
manufacturer also discovered that compressor case, P/N M601-154.61, 
which was modified and installed in GEAC M601E model turboprop engines, 
had no corresponding life limit listed in the ALS of the corresponding 
EMM. As a result of discovering these errors, the manufacturer 
published service information providing instructions to update the 
formula used to recalculate life limits on critical parts and introduce 
a life limit for compressor case P/N M601-154.61.
    Critical parts exceeding their life limits can result in failure of 
the engine, further resulting in uncontained release of a critical 
part, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane. The FAA 
considers the failure of a critical part to be an urgent safety issue 
that requires immediate action to avoid damage to the engine and 
airplane.
    Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B). In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less 
than 30 days, for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forego 
notice and comment.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under 
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0499 and Project Identifier 
MCAI-2021-00571-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, 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 final rule 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 final rule.

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 AD 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 AD, 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 AD. 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.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when

[[Page 31603]]

an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule 
without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined that it 
has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and comment, RFA 
analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 9 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recalculate life of critical parts....  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85            $765
                                         hour = $85.
Replace compressor case...............  10 work-hours x $85 per           64,655          65,505         589,545
                                         hour = $850.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this 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

    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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

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:

2021-13-07 GE Aviation Czech s.r.o (Type Certificate previously held 
by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.): Amendment 
39-21612; Docket No. FAA-2021-0499; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-
00571-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 30, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) M601D-11, 
M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F model 
turboprop engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7200, Engine 
(Turbine/Turboprop).

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the manufacturer finding errors in the 
Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS) of the Engine Maintenance 
Manual (EMM), including errors in the formula to determine the 
consumed equivalent flight cycles (FCs) of critical parts and errors 
with certain part numbers (P/Ns). The manufacturer also determined 
that the life limit of compressor case, P/N M601-154.61, installed 
on certain GEAC M601E model engines is not listed in the ALS of the 
applicable EMM. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the failure of 
the engine. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
uncontained release of a critical part, 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) For all affected GEAC model turboprop engines, within one FC 
after the effective date of this AD, perform all actions in the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 2.1 through 2.3, of GE 
Aviation Czech Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) ASB-M601F-72-00-00-0057 
[00], ASB-M601E-72-00-00-0106 [00], ASB-M601D-72-00-00-0075 [00], 
and ASB-M601Z-72-00-00-0057 [00] (single document; formatted as 
service bulletin identifier [revision number]) (the ASB), dated May 
7, 2021.
    (2) For GEAC M601E-11, M601E-11A, and M601F model turboprop 
engines listed in Attachment 1, Group 1 Engines Serial Numbers, in 
the ASB, before the recalculated life exceeds the critical part's 
life limit or within one FC after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later, replace each critical part.
    (3) For GEAC M601D-11, M601E-11AS, and M601E-11S model turboprop 
engines, before the recalculated life exceeds the critical part's 
life limit or within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later, replace each critical part.
    (4) For GEAC M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, and M601E-11S 
model turboprop engines, before the compressor case, P/N M601-
154.61, accumulates 11,000 equivalent FCs or within 350 flight hours 
from the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, remove 
the compressor case from service and replace it with compressor 
case, P/N M601-154.6 or P/N M601-154.65.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install onto any 
airplane an engine with a critical part having a recalculated life 
that exceeds the critical part's life limit as specified in the 
Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS) of the applicable EMM.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    The reporting requirement in the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 2.2.1.4., of the ASB, is not required by this AD.

[[Page 31604]]

(j) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, a ``critical part'' is an engine 
part listed in paragraph 2.3.1, Table B--List of Critical Parts and 
the Accelerating Factor, of the ASB.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, ``recalculated life'' is the 
consumed life of the critical part using the recalculation required 
by (g)(1) of this AD.
    (3) For the purpose of this AD, where the ASB says the 
``applicable Airworthiness Limitation Section'' use the following:
    (i) For affected model engines M601D-1, M601D-11, M601D-11NZ, 
M601D-2, M601Z: ``the ALS section of GE Aviation Engine Maintenance 
Manual 0982309.''
    (ii) For affected model engines M601E-11, M601E-11S, M601E-11A, 
M601E-11AS, M601F, M601FS: ``the ALS section of GE Aviation Engine 
Maintenance Manual 0982302.''

(k) 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.

(l) 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) 
Emergency AD 2021-0125-E, dated May 7, 2021, 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-2021-0499.

(m) 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) GE Aviation Czech Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) ASB-M601F-72-
00-00-0057 [00], ASB-M601E-72-00-00-0106 [00], ASB-M601D-72-00-00-
0075 [00], and ASB-M601Z-72-00-00-0057 [00] (single document; 
formatted as service bulletin identifier [revision number]), dated 
May 7, 2021.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For GE Aviation Czech service information identified in this 
AD, contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 00 
Praha 18, Letnany, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: 
+420 222 538 222.
    (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 June 10, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-12659 Filed 6-11-21; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P