DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-1003; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-33-AD;
Amendment 39-18163; AD 2015-10-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2014-01-01
for
all Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. AD 2014-01-01 required
a one-time inspection of the ejector assembly nozzle of certain serial
number (S/N) lubricating devices and, if a discrepancy was found,
removal and replacement of the affected ejector assembly nozzle with a
part eligible for installation. This AD requires the same action as AD
2014-01-01 and expands the list of affected S/N lubricating devices.
This AD was prompted by the determination that additional lubricating
devices, identifiable by S/N, may have an incorrect bonding of the
nozzle on the ejector assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the ejector assembly nozzle, which could lead to an in-
flight shutdown (IFSD) of the engine, damage to the engine, and damage
to the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective June 12, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 12,
2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
February 6, 2014 (79 FR 3481, January 22, 2014).
We must receive any comments on this AD by July 13, 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 Turbomeca
S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40 00; telex: 570 042;
fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 15. 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. It is also available on the Internet at
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2013-1003.
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-2013-
1003; 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: Philip Haberlen, Aerospace Engineer,
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7770;
fax: 781-238-7199; email: philip.haberlen@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-2013-1003; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-33-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 January 2, 2014, we issued AD 2014-01-01, Amendment 39-17724 (79
FR 3481, January 22, 2014), (``AD 2014-01-01''), for all Turbomeca S.A.
Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. AD 2014-01-01 required a one-time
inspection of the ejector assembly nozzle of certain S/N lubricating
devices and, if a discrepancy was found, removal and replacement of the
affected ejector assembly nozzle with a part eligible for installation.
AD 2014-01-01 resulted from an IFSD of an Arriel 1 engine. We issued AD
2014-01-01 to prevent failure of the ejector assembly nozzle, which
could lead to an IFSD of the engine, damage to the engine, and damage
to the helicopter.
Actions Since AD 2014-01-01 Was Issued
Since we issued AD 2014-01-01 it has been determined that
additional lubricating devices, identifiable by S/N, may have the same
unsafe condition, an incorrect bonding of the nozzle on the ejector
assembly. Also since we issued AD 2014-01-01, the European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) has issued AD 2015-0057, dated April 1, 2015,
which requires inspection, and replacement as necessary, of the
affected lubricating devices.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Turbomeca S.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 319
79 4835, Version B, dated February 12, 2015. The MSB describes
procedures for inspecting the ejector assembly nozzle and, if
necessary, replacing the ejector assembly nozzle. 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 the ADDRESSES section of this AD.
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 the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires a one-time inspection of the ejector assembly
nozzle of certain S/N lubricating devices and, for any ejector assembly
nozzle that fails inspection, removal and replacement with a part
eligible for installation.
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 of
the short compliance time requirement. 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 affects 96 engines installed on
helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about
1 hour per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85
per hour. Required parts cost about $563 per engine. Based on these
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be
$62,208.
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)
2014-01-01, Amendment 39-17724 (79 FR 3481, January 22, 2014), and
adding the following new AD:
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