[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 14, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56286-56289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19704]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1159; Project Identifier AD-2022-00692-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Continental Aerospace Technologies,
Inc. Reciprocating Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2022-04-04, which applies to certain Continental Aerospace
Technologies, Inc. (Continental) C-125, C145, IO-360, IO-470, IO-550,
O-300, O-470, TSIO-360, and TSIO-520 series model reciprocating engines
and certain Continental Motors IO-520 series model reciprocating
engines with a certain oil filter adapter installed. AD 2022-04-04
requires replacing the oil filter adapter fiber gasket (fiber gasket)
with an oil filter adapter copper gasket (copper gasket). Since the FAA
issued AD 2022-04-04, the FAA determined that the reciprocating engines
identified in the applicability of AD 2022-04-04 are incorrect. This
proposed AD would require replacing the fiber gasket with the copper
gasket or the stainless steel embedded within polytetrafluoroethylene
gasket (stainless steel PTFE gasket). This proposed AD would also
revise the applicability to add and remove certain reciprocating engine
models, update the required actions to add an additional part-numbered
stainless steel PTFE gasket as a replacement part, and revise the
special flight permit paragraph to expand the limitations. 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 October 31,
2022.
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 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.
[[Page 56287]]
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-1159; 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, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For Stratus Tool Technologies service information
identified in this NPRM, contact Stratus Tool Technologies, LLC, 2208
Air Park Drive, Burlington, NC 27215; phone: (800) 822-3200; website:
tempestplus.com.
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 (817) 222-5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Hanlin, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA
30337; phone: (404) 474-5584; 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-2022-1159; Project Identifier
AD-2022-00692-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
the 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
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this proposed 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
George Hanlin, Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. 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 FAA issued AD 2022-04-04, Amendment 39-21945 (87 FR 9435,
February 22, 2022) (AD 2022-04-04), for certain Continental (Type
Certificate previously held by Continental Motors, Inc., and Teledyne
Continental Motors) C-125-1, C-125-2, C145-2, C145-2H, IO-360-C, IO-
360-D, IO-360-DB, IO-360-H, IO-360-HB, IO-360-K, IO-360-KB, IO-470-E,
IO-470-S, IO-550-B, IO-550-G, O-300-B, O-300-C, O-300-D, O-300-E, O-
470-A, O-470-B, O-470-G, O-470-J, O-470-K, O-470-L, O-470-M, O-470-N,
O-470-R, O-470-S, O-470-U, O-470-11, O-470-15, TSIO-360-E, TSIO-360-EB,
TSIO-360-F, TSIO-360-FB, TSIO-360-GB, TSIO-360-LB, TSIO-360-MB, TSIO-
360-SB, TSIO-520-C, TSIO-520-CE, TSIO-520-E, and TSIO-520-UB model
reciprocating engines; and certain Continental Motors (Type Certificate
previously held by Teledyne Continental Motors) IO-520-A, IO-520-B, IO-
520-BA, IO-520-BB, IO-520-C, IO-520-D, IO-520-J, and IO-520-L model
reciprocating engines. AD 2022-04-04 was prompted by reports of two
accidents that were the result of power loss due to oil starvation. AD
2022-04-04 requires replacing the fiber gasket with a copper gasket.
The agency issued AD 2022-04-04 to prevent loss of engine power.
Actions Since AD 2022-04-04 Was Issued
Since the FAA issued AD 2022-04-04, the FAA determined that the
reciprocating engines identified in the applicability of AD 2022-04-04
are incorrect. Certain model reciprocating engines were inadvertently
included in the applicability paragraph of AD 2022-04-04; and certain
other model reciprocating engines were inadvertently omitted in the
applicability paragraph of AD 2022-04-04. Further, after the FAA issued
AD 2022-04-04, the FAA approved an additional part-numbered stainless
steel PTFE gasket, in addition to the copper gasket, which was
previously approved as a replacement part. The FAA, therefore, is
proposing to supersede AD 2022-04-04 to revise the applicability by
adding and removing certain model reciprocating engines, to update the
required actions by adding stainless steel PTFE gasket, part number
ST07, as a replacement part, and to revise the special flight permit
paragraph by expanding the limitations.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Stratus Tool Technologies Mandatory Service
Bulletin SB-001 Rev B, dated June 17, 2021. This service information
specifies procedures for removing a fiber gasket and replacing it with
a copper gasket. The Director of the Federal Register previously
approved the incorporation by reference of this service information as
of March 29, 2022 (87 FR 9435, February 22, 2022). 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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 2022-04-
04. This proposed AD would require replacing the fiber gasket with the
copper gasket or the stainless steel PTFE gasket. This proposed AD
would also revise the applicability to add and remove certain
reciprocating engine models, update the required actions to add an
additional part-numbered stainless steel PTFE gasket as a replacement
part, and revise the special flight permit paragraph to expand the
limitations.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 6,300
[[Page 56288]]
engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Replace fiber gasket with copper 2.5 work-hours x $85 $34 $246.50 $1,552,950
gasket or stainless steel PTFE per hour = $212.50.
gasket.
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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 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 that the 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2022-04-04, Amendment 39-21945 (87
FR 9435, February 22, 2022); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2022-1159;
Project Identifier AD-2022-00692-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by October 31, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD replaces AD 2022-04-04, Amendment 39-21945 (87 FR 9435,
February 22, 2022).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. C-
125-1, C-125-2, C145-2, C145-2H, GO-300-A, GO-300-B, GO-300-C, GO-
300-D, GO-300-E, GO-300-F, IO-360-C, IO-360-D, IO-360-DB, IO-360-H,
IO-360-HB, IO-360-K, IO-360-KB, IO-470-C, IO-470-D, IO-470-H, IO-
470-J, IO-470-K, IO-470-L, IO-470-M, IO-470-N, IO-470-S, IO-470-U,
IO-470-V, IO-520-A, IO-520-D, IO-520-F, IO-520-J, IO-520-K, IO-520-
L, IO-550-D, IO-550-E, IO-550-F, O-300-A, O-300-B, O-300-C, O-300-D,
O-300-E, O-470-A, O-470-B, O-470-G, O-470-J, O-470-K, O-470-L, O-
470-M, O-470-N, O-470-R, O-470-S, O-470-U, O-470-11, O-470-15, TSIO-
360-E, TSIO-360-EB, TSIO-360-F, TSIO-360-FB, TSIO-360-GB, TSIO-360-
LB, TSIO-360-MB, TSIO-360-SB, TSIO-470-C, TSIO-520-C, TSIO-520-G,
and TSIO-520-H model reciprocating engines equipped with an F&M
Enterprises, Inc. (F&M), or Stratus Tool Technologies, LLC (Stratus)
oil filter adapter installed per Supplemental Type Certificate
SE8409SW, SE09356SC, or SE10348SC.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 8550, Reciprocating
Engine Oil System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of two accidents that were the
result of power loss due to oil starvation. The FAA is issuing this
AD to prevent loss of engine power. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in failure of the engine, in-flight
shutdown, and loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Before accumulating 50 flight hours after the effective date of
this AD or at the next scheduled oil change after the effective date
of this AD, whichever occurs first, remove any F&M or Stratus oil
filter adapter fiber gasket from service and replace it with an oil
filter adapter copper gasket, part number (P/N) AN900-28, P/N AN900-
29, or a stainless steel polytetrafluoroethylene gasket, P/N ST07,
as applicable, in accordance with the Compliance Instructions,
paragraph 6., pages 7 through 10 (including all detailed
instructions for Figure 5 through Figure 16), of Stratus Tool
Technologies Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-001 Rev B, dated June 17,
2021.
(h) Installation Prohibition
After the effective date of this AD, do not install an F&M or
Stratus oil filter adapter fiber gasket onto any affected engine.
(i) Special Flight Permit
A special flight permit may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR
21.197 and 21.199 to permit a one-time non-revenue ferry flight to
operate the airplane to the nearest location where the maintenance
action can be performed provided that the engine oil pressure and
engine oil temperatures are in their allowable ranges and there is
no noticeable increase in engine noise. This flight must be
performed with no passengers on board.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO, 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 paragraph (k) of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector,
[[Page 56289]]
or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight
standards district office/certificate holding district office.
(3) AMOCs approved for AD 2022-04-04 (87 FR 9435, February 22,
2022) are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding provisions of this
AD.
(k) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact George Hanlin,
Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue,
College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5584; email: [email protected].
(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.
(3) The following service information was approved for IBR on
March 29, 2022 (87 FR 9435, February 22, 2022).
(i) Stratus Tool Technologies Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-001
Rev B, dated June 17, 2021.
(ii) [Reserved]
(4) For Stratus Tool Technologies, LLC, 2208 Air Park Drive,
Burlington, NC 27215; phone: (800) 822-3200; website:
tempestplus.com.
(5) 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 (817) 222-5110.
(6) 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: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued on September 7, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-19704 Filed 9-13-22; 8:45 am]
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