DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0913; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-23-AD;
Amendment 39-18261; AD 2015-18-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turboprop
Engines (Type Certificate Previously Held by AlliedSignal Inc., Garrett
Engine Division; Garrett Turbine Engine Company; and AiResearch
Manufacturing Company of Arizona)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Honeywell International Inc. TPE331-5, -5A, -5AB, -5B, -10, -10R, -10U,
-10UF, -10UG, -10UGR, and -10UR model turboprop engines. This AD was
prompted by engine propeller shaft coupling failures, leading to
unexpected propeller pitch changes causing increased aerodynamic and
asymmetric drag on the airplanes using these engines. This AD requires
removing certain part number (P/N) engine propeller shaft couplings
from service. This AD also requires inserting a copy of certain
airplane operating procedures into applicable flight manuals. We are
issuing this AD to prevent loss of airplane control, leading to an
accident.

DATES: This AD is effective November 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Honeywell International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-
2802; phone: 800-601-3099; Internet: http://portal.honeywell.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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2012- 0913.

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-2012-
0913; 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: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; phone: 562-
627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email: joseph.costa@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 certain Honeywell
International Inc. TPE331-5, -5A, -5AB, -5B, -10, -10R, -10U, -10UF, -
10UG, -10UGR, and -10UR model turboprop engines. The NPRM published in
the Federal Register on May 12, 2014 (79 FR 26906). The NPRM was
prompted by numerous reports of engine propeller shaft coupling
failures, leading to engine overspeed and unexpected propeller pitch
changes. This condition causes high aerodynamic and asymmetric drag
that has resulted in uncommanded airplane yaw and roll. The NPRM
proposed to require removing certain P/N engine propeller shaft
couplings from service within certain compliance times to address the
flight safety risk. The NPRM also proposed to insert a copy of certain
airplane operating procedures into the applicable flight manuals. These
procedures describe an emergency procedure for pilot reaction to an
engine overspeed event after an engine propeller shaft coupling
failure. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of airplane control,
leading to an accident.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment received on the NPRM (79 FR
26906, May 12, 2014) and the FAA's response to the comment.

Request To Change Compliance Time Basis

Honeywell International questioned whether compliance time should
be stated in flight hours as opposed to flight cycles as used in the
NPRM (79 FR 26906, May 12, 2014). Major periodic inspections are based
on hours and not cycles.
We disagree. The FAA practice of stating compliance time is based
on the component's mode of failure. In this case the failure mode was
fatigue; therefore, a compliance time in flight cycles is appropriate.
We did not change this AD.

Clarified Requirement

Since we issued the NPRM (79 FR 26906, May 12, 2014), we discovered
that paragraph (e)(4) of the Compliance section required clarification.
We clarified that paragraph in this AD by deleting the requirement to
insert a copy of Honeywell International Inc. Operating Information
Letter (OIL) and requiring that Figure 1 to Paragraph (e)--Airplane
Operating Procedures be inserted. Reference to the OIL was added as
related information. The replacement procedure provides simplified,
more concise text, for increased clarity.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with clarification.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 485 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about
one hour per engine to perform the actions required by this AD, if done
at the next scheduled turbine hot section inspection (HSI), and 40
hours per engine if done during an unscheduled access of the engine
propeller shaft coupling. We also estimate that 400 engines will have
the replacement actions done at a scheduled time of next turbine HSI,
and 85 engines will have the replacement actions done at an unscheduled
access of the engine propeller shaft coupling. The average labor rate
is $85 per hour. Required parts will cost about $12,000 per engine.
Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this AD to U.S.
operators to be $6,143,000.

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 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):