AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain
serial number Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (P&WC) model PW150A
turboprop engines. This AD requires rerouting of the igniter cables and
installation of new support brackets. This AD was prompted by reports
of damage to a high-pressure fuel line, which could result in a high-
pressure fuel leak into the engine nacelle. We are issuing this AD to
prevent high-pressure fuel leaks, which could cause engine fire and
damage to the engine and the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective August 27, 2014.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 27,
2014.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Pratt
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada,
J4G 1A1; phone: (800) 268-8000; fax: (450) 647-2888; Internet:
www.pwc.ca. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0159; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI), 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: Wego Wang, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7134;
fax: (781) 238-7199; email: wego.wang@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2014 (79 FR
19844). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
There have been reports of damage in excess of acceptable
criteria to the high-pressure fuel line from the P&WC PW150A engine
flowmeter to the flow divider. Damage has included fretting wear
through contact with the engine igniter cables. The contact is the
result of incorrectly routed igniter cables. While there has been no
report of associated fuel leakage, the fretting wear, if undetected,
could progress to a point where high-pressure fuel would leak into
the engine nacelle.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We considered the comment received.
Request To Clarify Definition of Shop Visit
One commenter requested that we clarify the definition of shop
visit because the igniter cables are on the exterior of the engine and
no disassembly is required to gain access to the igniter cables.
We agree. We changed the definition of shop visit in paragraph (f)
of this AD to be when an engine is inducted into the shop to perform
maintenance.
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data, including the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the changes described previously. We determined that these
changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or
increase the scope of this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 180 engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 hour per
engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour.
Required parts cost about $682 per engine. Based on these figures, we
estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $138,060.
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 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 this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
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