DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0683; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-25-AD;
Amendment 39-18065; AD 2015-02-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Technify Motors GmbH (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH) Reciprocating
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2011-23-01 for
all Technify Motors GmbH (TMG) models TAE 125-01 and TAE 125-02-99
reciprocating engines with certain part number (P/N) and serial number
(S/N) clutch assemblies installed. AD 2011-23-01 required replacement
of certain P/N and S/N clutch assemblies. This AD requires the same
actions but expands the population of affected P/N and S/N clutch assemblies.
This AD was prompted by an additional report of a clutch assembly that
malfunctioned due to disk springs that received a nonconforming heat
treatment process. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the
clutch assembly, which could lead to failure of the engine, in-flight
shutdown, and loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective February 13, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 13,
2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
November 22, 2011 (76 FR 68636, November 7, 2011).
We must receive any comments on this AD by March 16, 2015.

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 http://www.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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Technify
Motors GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14, D-09356 Sankt Egidien, Germany; phone:
+49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-696-55; email: engines.com">info@centurion-
engines.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
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2010-
0683; 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,
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information.
The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McGuire, Aerospace
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: 781-238-7120; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: Chris.McGuire@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include
``Docket No. FAA-2010-0683; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-25-AD'' at
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.

Discussion

On August 16, 2010, we issued AD 2010-18-02, Amendment 39-16415 (75
FR 52240, August 25, 2010), (``AD 2010-18-02''), for certain Thielert
Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) (previous certificate holder) models TAE
125-01 and TAE 125-02-99 reciprocating engines. AD 2010-18-02 resulted
from reports of engine in-flight shutdowns. Preliminary investigation
showed that nonconforming disc springs used in a certain production
batch of the clutch caused the shutdowns. AD 2010-18-02 required
replacement of certain clutch assemblies.
On October 19, 2011, we superseded AD 2010-18-02, issuing AD 2011-
23-01, Amendment 39-16852 (76 FR 68636, November 7, 2011), for certain
TAE models TAE 125-01 and TAE 125-02-99 reciprocating engines. AD 2011-
23-01 required replacement of certain P/N and S/N clutch assemblies due
to clutch failure. AD 2011-23-01 resulted from TAE identifying
additional clutch assemblies with nonconforming disc springs.

Actions Since AD 2011-23-01 Was Issued

Since we issued AD 2011-23-01, Amendment 39-16852 (76 FR 68636,
November 7, 2011), we received an additional report of a malfunctioning
clutch assembly. Investigation found that the same unsafe condition
exists on approximately 40 additional S/N clutch assemblies that have
nonconforming disk springs. Those additional nonconforming disc springs
are identified in TMG Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-0021, Revision 2,
dated October 13, 2014.

FAA's Determination

We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type
designs.

AD Requirements

This AD requires, for engines with affected clutch assemblies with
more than 100 hours time since new (TSN), replacement of affected
clutch assemblies before further flight. This AD also requires, for
those engines with affected clutch assemblies that have accumulated
less than 100 hours TSN, replacement of affected clutch assemblies
before accumulating 100 hours TSN.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because TMG
identified additional clutch assemblies with nonconforming disc springs
and the need for operators to comply with some of the AD actions before
further flight. Therefore, we find that notice and opportunity for
prior public comment are impracticable and that good cause exists for
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect about 111 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 16
hours per engine to perform the clutch assembly replacement. The
average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts will cost about
$1,796. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S.
operators to be $350,316.

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

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 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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (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)
2011-23-01, Amendment 39-16852 (76 FR 68636, November 7, 2011), and
adding the following new AD: