AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive
(AD)
for certain Lycoming Engines (L)O-360, (L)IO-360, AEIO-360, O-540, IO-
540, AEIO-540, (L)TIO-540, IO-580, and IO-720 series reciprocating
engines. That AD currently requires replacing certain crankshafts in
the affected engines. This AD continues to require replacing certain
crankshafts, corrects the start date of affected engine models in
Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 569A to the start date in
Supplement No. 1 to Lycoming MSB No. 569A, dated May 27, 2009, and
includes additional (formerly experimental) IO-390, AEIO-390, and AEIO-
580 series engine models having affected crankshafts. This AD was
prompted by Lycoming Engines discovering that the start date of
affected engine models in MSB No. 569A is incorrect and the need to
include additional engine models having the affected crankshafts. We
are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the crankshaft, which will
result in total engine power loss, in-flight engine failure, and
possible loss of the aircraft.
DATES: This AD is effective October 24, 2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of October 24,
2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in the AD as of
November 3, 2006 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006).
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Lycoming, 652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701; phone: 570 323-
6181; fax: 570-327-7101, or on the internet at
www.Lycoming.Textron.com. You may view this service information at the
FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at
the FAA, call 781-238-7125.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov;
or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The address for the
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility,
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: Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer,
New
York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone:
516-228-7337; fax: 516-794-5531; email: norman.perenson@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to
amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2006-20-09, amendment 39-14778 (71
FR 57407, September 29, 2006). That AD applies to the specified
products. The SNPRM published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2012
(77 FR 20743). The original NPRM (76 FR 50152, August 12, 2011)
proposed to retain the requirements of AD 2006-20-09 to replace certain
crankshafts and to correct the start date of MSB No. 569A from March 1,
1997 to January 1, 1997, which is the start date in Supplement No. 1 to
Lycoming MSB No. 569A, dated May 27, 2009. The SNPRM proposed to add
IO-390, AEIO-390, and AEIO-580 series engine models that have the
affected crankshafts to the applicability of the AD. The SNPRM also
proposed to change Service Instruction No. 1009AS, dated May 25, 2006,
to Service Instruction No. 1009AU, dated November 18, 2009, because
Lycoming updated this service instruction. The changes to Service
Instruction 1009AS do not affect the engine overhaul time.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal
and the FAA's response to that comment.
Request To Determine if AD Applies to IO-360 Engine
A commenter asked if the AD applies to the Lycoming Engine IO-360-
A3B6D. We reply that this engine is listed in Lycoming MSB No. 569A, so
if the crankshaft serial number of that engine is also listed in Table
5 of MSB No. 569A, then the AD applies.
Changes to Previous Credit Paragraph
We reviewed our previous credit paragraph in the SNPRM (77 FR
20743, April 6, 2012) and found that not all the ADs and service
bulletins (SBs) listed in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of the SNPRM
resolved the unsafe conditions. Accordingly, we changed the Credit for
Previous Actions paragraphs, paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD,
retaining only Lycoming MSB No. 569A and AD 2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407,
September 29, 2006) in the AD to resolve the unsafe condition and
deleting all other ADs and SBs referenced in the SNPRM. Paragraphs
(g)(1) and (g)(2) now read: ``(1) If you previously complied with AD
2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006), no further action is
required. (2) If you previously accomplished Lycoming MSB No. 569A, no
further action is required.''
Costs of Compliance Paragraph
We reviewed the cost estimate made in AD 2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407,
September 29, 2006) when we added the new affected engine models to the
SNPRM (77 FR 20743, April 6, 2012). We found that the cost estimate in
AD 2006-20-09 included the number of affected engines worldwide rather
than those installed only on aircraft of U.S. registry. We also found
that the cost estimate in AD 2006-20-09 already included the engine
models that we have now added to the applicability of this AD.
Accordingly, we changed the number of affected engine models from 3,774
to 2,831 and the overall cost estimate from $60,384,000 to $45,288,000.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 2,831 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. Because the AD compliance interval
coincides with engine overhaul or other engine maintenance, we estimate
no additional labor hours will be needed to comply with this AD.
Required parts will cost about $16,000 per engine. Based on these
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to be $45,288,000. Our
estimate is independent of any possible warranty coverage.
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.
We are 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
We have determined that 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,
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD)
2006-20-09, Amendment 39-14778 (71 FR 57407), and adding the following
new AD:
|