[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 148 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42698-42700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16544]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0103; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00604-E; 
Amendment 39-21659; AD 2021-15-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW210A and PW210S model turboshaft 
engines. This AD was prompted by a report from the manufacturer that 
the Automated Damage Tracking System (ADTS) may under-count the number 
of cycles accrued by the impeller and the high-pressure compressor 
(HPC) rotor. This AD requires use of the manual low-cycle fatigue (LCF) 
counting method in place of the ADTS counting method to determine the 
number of cycles accrued by the impeller and HPC rotor. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 9, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of September 9, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, 
Quebec, J4G 1A1 Canada; phone: (800) 268-8000. 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-2020-0103.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0103; 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

[[Page 42699]]

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: 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 FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all P&WC PW210A and 
PW210S model turboshaft engines. The NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on February 26, 2021 (86 FR 11651). The NPRM was prompted by a 
report from the manufacturer that the ADTS may under-count the number 
of cycles accrued by the impeller and the HPC rotor. The impeller and 
HPC rotor are both life-limited components and exceeding their 
published life limits could result in the failure of these components. 
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require the use of the manual LCF 
counting method in place of the ADTS counting method to determine the 
number of cycles accrued by the impeller and HPC rotor. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (Transport Canada), which is the 
aviation authority for Canada, has issued Transport Canada AD CF-2020-
13, dated April 28, 2020 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to 
address the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI states:

    The engine manufacturer has discovered that the Automated Damage 
Tracking System (ADTS) may under-count the number of cycles accrued 
by the impeller and the High Pressure (HP) compressor rotor. The 
impeller and HP compressor rotor are both life limited components 
and exceeding their published life limits could result in the 
failure of these components.
    Failure of the impeller or HP compressor rotor could result in 
the uncontained release of the impeller or the HP compressor rotor, 
and subsequently could result in damage to the engine, damage to the 
helicopter, and loss of control of the helicopter.
    This [Transport Canada] AD mandates the use of the Manual Low 
Cycle Fatigue (LCF) Counting method to ensure that the impeller and 
HP compressor rotor do not exceed their published life limits.

    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-2020-0103.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from one commenter. The individual 
commenter supported the NPRM without change.

Clarification That Reporting Is Not Required

    The FAA added paragraph (i) to this AD to clarify that the 
reporting specified in P&WC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. PW210-72-
A57142, Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 2020, and P&WC ASB No. PW210-
72-A57143, Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 2020, is not required by 
this AD.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments 
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting the AD as 
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, and 
any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed 
in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) No. PW210-72-A57142, Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 
2020 (ASB No. PW210-72-A57142); and Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. ASB 
No. PW210-72-A57143, Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 2020 (ASB No. 
PW210-72-A57143). ASB No. PW210-72-A57142 specifies procedures for 
calculating the correct, current LCF cycle count for the impeller and 
HPC rotor on PW210A model turboshaft engines. ASB No. PW210-72-A57143 
specifies procedures for calculating the correct, current LCF cycle 
count for the impeller and HPC rotor installed on PW210S model 
turboshaft engines. 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 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Task 00-00-00-860-801 
and Task 00-00-00-860-803 of Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Engine 
Maintenance Manual (EMM), Manual Part No. 30L2392, Airworthiness 
Limitations Section (ALS), both at Revision 13, dated September 28, 
2020.
    Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Task 00-00-00-860-801 of Pratt & 
Whitney Canada Corp. EMM, Manual Part No. 30L2392, identifies the LCF 
life limits for the impeller and HPC rotor. Pratt & Whitney Canada 
Corp. Task 00-00-00-860-803 of Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. EMM, Manual 
Part No. 30L2392, describes procedures for manually calculating the 
correct, current LCF cycle count for the impeller and HPC rotor and 
provides the formula for manually calculating the accumulated total 
cycles for the impeller and HPC rotor.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. If final action 
is later identified, the FAA might consider additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 66 engines installed on 
helicopters 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manually calculate LCF cycles.......  1 work-hour x $85 per                $0              $85           $5,610
                                       hour = $85.
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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

[[Page 42700]]

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:

2021-15-12 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Amendment 39-21659; Docket 
No. FAA-2020-0103; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00604-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective September 9, 
2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW210A 
and PW210S model turboshaft engines.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report from the manufacturer that the 
Automated Damage Tracking System (ADTS) may under-count the number 
of cycles accrued by the impeller and the high-pressure compressor 
(HPC) rotor, which could result in the failure of these components. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the impeller and 
the HPC rotor. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result 
in the uncontained release of the impeller or the HPC rotor, damage 
to the engine, damage to the helicopter, and loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Before exceeding 7,000 starts or 14,000 flight cycles since new 
on the affected engine, or prior to removal of the engine from the 
aircraft for the purpose of sending the engine to a repair or 
overhaul facility, whichever occurs first after the effective date 
of this AD:
    (1) Use the manual low-cycle fatigue (LCF) counting method to 
determine the accumulated LCF cycles for the impeller and the HPC 
rotor using paragraph 3.A., Accomplishment Instructions, of P&WC 
Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. PW210-72-A57142, Revision No. 1, 
dated March 26, 2020, or P&WC ASB No. PW210-72-A57143, Revision No. 
1, dated March 26, 2020, as applicable for the engine model.
    (2) After performing the actions required by paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD, use the manual LCF counting method specified in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD to count subsequent LCF cycles on the impeller and 
HPC rotor. Do not use the ADTS to count subsequent LCF cycles on the 
impeller or the HPC rotor.

(h) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a ``start'' is an engine start 
followed by one or more flights.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    The reporting requirement specified in the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 3.A.4., of P&WC ASB No. PW210-72-A57142, 
Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 2020, and paragraph 3.A.4., of P&WC 
ASB No. PW210-72-A57143, Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 2020, is 
not required by 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 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.
    (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 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 Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD CF-2020-
13, dated April 28, 2020, for more information. You may examine the 
TCCA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0103.

(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) Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Alert Service Bulletin 
(ASB) No. PW210-72-A57142, Revision No. 1, dated March 26, 2020.
    (ii) P&WC ASB No. PW210-72-A57143, Revision No. 1, dated March 
26, 2020.
    (3) For P&WC service information identified in this AD, contact 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, 
Quebec, J4G 1A1 Canada; phone: (800) 268-8000.
    (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 15, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16544 Filed 8-4-21; 8:45 am]
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