DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-0900; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-12-AD;
Amendment 39-18251; AD 2015-17-18]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain
Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines with a certain part number
oil pump installed. This AD requires inspection, and if necessary,
replacement before further flight of the oil pump driver assembly and/
or the oil pump shaft, or the oil pump itself. This AD was prompted by
cases of deterioration of the gas generator front bearing due to a link
loss between the pump driver and the oil pump shaft. We are issuing
this AD to prevent link loss between the pump driver and the oil pump
shaft, which could lead to an engine in-flight shutdown, forced
landing, and damage to the helicopter.
DATES: This AD becomes effective October 2, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 2,
2015.
ADDRESSES: 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-2015-0900.
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-2015-
0900; 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: 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:
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 May 21, 2015 (80 FR
29224). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
A risk of an in-flight shutdown (IFSD) has been identified on an
ARRIUS 2F engine, due to deterioration of gas generator front
bearing. This could be the result of lack of lubrication,
due to a link loss between pump driver and oil pump shaft.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
cases of IFSD, possibly resulting in forced landing with consequent
damage to the helicopter and injury to occupants.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Turbomeca S.A. has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 319
79 4834, Version B, dated October 21, 2014. The MSB describes
procedures for inspecting the oil pump driver assembly on the oil pump
shaft, the pump driver splines, and the oil pump splines. 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.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 29224, May 21,
2015).
Conclusion
We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects about 96 engines installed on
helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about
two hours per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is
$85 per hour. Required parts would cost about $17,312 per engine. Based
on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to
be $1,678,272.
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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