[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58466-58469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20857]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1239; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00301-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 certain GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-
11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, M601F, H75-100, H75-200, H80, H80-100, H80-
200, H85-100, and H85-200 model turboprop engines. This proposed AD was 
prompted by reports of cracks in dilution tube weld areas of the 
combustion chamber outer liner. This proposed AD would require initial 
and repetitive borescope inspections (BSIs) of the dilution tube weld 
areas of the combustion chamber outer liner and, depending on the 
results of the inspections, replacement of the combustion chamber outer 
liner 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 NPRM by November 14, 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.
     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 under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1239; 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For GEAC service information identified in this NPRM, 
contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., 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 (817) 222-5110.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7146; 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-2022-1239; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-00301-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 
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

[[Page 58467]]

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 Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2022-0034, dated March 4, 2022 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on M601D, M601D-1, M601D-2, 
M601D-11, M601D-11NZ, M601E, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-
11S, M601E-21, M601F, M601FS, M601Z, H75-100, H75-200, H80, H80-100, 
H80-200, H85-100, and H85-200 engines, all serial numbers. The MCAI 
states that occurrences of cracks in dilution tube weld areas of the 
combustion chamber outer liner have been reported. These cracks can 
lead to crack propagation, possibly resulting in part separation, loss 
of engine power, and reduced control of the aircraft.
    As a result of this unsafe condition, the MCAI specifies initial 
and repetitive BSIs of the dilution tube weld areas of the combustion 
chamber outer liner and, depending on the outcome of the inspections, 
corrective action in accordance with the service information.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1239.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed GEAC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) ASB-H75-72-40-
00-0056 [01], ASB-M601E-72-40-00-0113 [01], ASB-H80-72-40-00-0099 [01], 
ASB-M601D-72-40-00-0081[01], ASB-M601F-72-40-00-0064[01], ASB-M601Z-72-
40-00-0063 [01], and ASB-H85-72-40-00-0045 [01], (single document; 
formatted as service bulletin identifier [revision number]), dated 
February 16, 2022. This service information specifies procedures for 
BSIs of the dilution tube weld areas of the combustion chamber outer 
liner and replacement of the combustion chamber outer liner.
    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.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI and service information described above. 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.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive BSIs of the 
dilution tube weld areas of the combustion chamber outer liner and, 
depending on the results of the inspections, corrective action in 
accordance with the service information.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    EASA AD 2022-0034 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, M601Z, H75-100, H75-200, H80, H80-100, H80-
200, H85-100, and H85-200 model turboprop engines, all serial numbers. 
GEAC M601D, M601D-1, M601D-2, M601D-11NZ, M601E, M601E-21, M601FS, and 
M601Z model turboprop engines are not certificated by the FAA and are 
not included on the U.S. type certificate data sheet; this proposed AD 
therefore does not include those engines in the applicability.

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
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BSI of combustion chamber outer liner.  2.5 work-hours x $85 per              $0         $212.50       $7,012.50
                                         hour = $212.50.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these replacements:

                                                On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On-wing replacement of combustion chamber       64 work-hours x $85 per hour =          *$74,909         $80,349
 outer liner.                                    $5,440.
In-shop replacement of combustion chamber       56 work-hours x $85 per hour =            74,909          79,669
 outer liner.                                    $4,760.
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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,

[[Page 58468]]

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:

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-2022-
1239; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00301-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 14, 2022.

(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, M601F, H75-100, H75-200, 
H80, H80-100, H80-200, H85-100, and H85-200 model turboprop engines 
installed on single-engine airplanes, with an installed combustion 
chamber outer liner having part numbers (P/Ns) M601-229.3, M601-
229.3A, M601-229.3B, M601-229.31A, or M601-229.31B.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7240, Turbine Engine 
Combustion Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in dilution tube weld 
areas of the combustion chamber outer liner. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the combustion chamber outer liner. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained 
release of the combustion chamber outer liner, loss of engine power, 
and reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) At the next 300-hour (Type 3) engine inspection, or within 
25 flight hours (FHs) after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs later, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 300 FHs, 
perform a borescope inspection (BSI) of the dilution tube weld areas 
of the combustion chamber outer liner in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.1 of GEAC Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) ASB-H75-72-40-00-0056 [01], ASB-M601E-72-40-00-0113 
[01], ASB-H80-72-40-00-0099 [01], ASB-M601D-72-40-00-0081[01], ASB-
M601F-72-40-00-0064[01], ASB-M601Z-72-40-00-0063 [01], and ASB-H85-
72-40-00-0045 [01] (single document; formatted as service bulletin 
identifier [revision number]), dated February 16, 2022 (the ASB).
    (2) If a crack is detected during any BSI required by paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD, before further flight, perform the applicable 
corrective actions in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 2.1, Table 1 of the ASB.

(h) Terminating Action

    Replacing the affected combustion chamber outer liner with a 
combustion chamber outer liner that does not have P/N M601-229.3, 
M601-229.3A, M601 229.3B, M601-229.31A, or M601-229.31B, constitutes 
a terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.

(i) Conditional Part Installation

    (1) After the effective date of this AD, it is permissible to 
install an engine having an affected combustion chamber outer liner 
installed on a single-engine airplane, provided that prior to 
operation, the BSI required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD is 
performed and, depending on the findings, the applicable corrective 
actions are performed as required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, it is permissible to 
install an affected combustion chamber outer liner on the engine of 
a single-engine airplane, provided that it is a part eligible for 
installation, as defined in paragraph (j) of this AD, and provided 
that prior to operation, the BSI required by paragraph (g)(1) of 
this AD is performed and, depending on the findings, the applicable 
corrective actions are performed as required by paragraph (g)(2) of 
this AD.

 (j) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD, a ``part eligible for installation'' 
is an affected combustion chamber outer liner, which was not 
previously installed on an engine, or an affected combustion chamber 
outer liner that, before installation, has passed an inspection (no 
defects found) in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 of the ASB, or a combustion chamber outer 
liner that does not have P/Ns M601-229.3, M601-229.3A, M601-229.3B, 
M601-229.31A, or M601-229.31B.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in Sec.  39.19. 
In accordance with Sec.  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 (l)(2) of this AD or email to: [email protected]. 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) Additional Information

    (1) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0034, dated March 4, 2022, for related information. This EASA 
AD may be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. 
FAA-2022-1239.
    (2) 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; email: 
[email protected].

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this

[[Page 58469]]

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 s.r.o. (GEAC) Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
ASB-H75-72-40-00-0056 [01], ASB-M601E-72-40-00-0113 [01], ASB-H80-
72-40-00-0099 [01], ASB-M601D-72-40-00-0081[01], ASB-M601F-72-40-00-
0064[01], ASB-M601Z-72-40-00-0063 [01], and ASB-H85-72-40-00-0045 
[01] (single document; formatted as service bulletin identifier 
[revision number]), dated February 16, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For GEAC service information identified in this AD, contact 
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9, 
Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111.
    (4) 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.
    (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: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on September 21, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director,Compliance & Airworthiness Division,Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-20857 Filed 9-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P