DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-7490; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-40-AD;
Amendment 39-18500; AD 2016-09-02]
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. Astazou XIV B and H turboshaft engines. This AD requires
a one-time inspection of the front surface of the 3rd stage turbine for
a groove. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack on the 3rd stage
turbine wheel. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracks in the 3rd
stage turbine wheel, failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown, and
loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 8, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 8,
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33 (0)5 59 74 40
00; fax: 33 (0)5 59 74 45 15. You may view this service information at
the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue,
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-2015-7490.

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-
7490; 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, 1200
District Avenue, 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 February 2, 2016 (81 FR
5395). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:

During the overhaul of an ASTAZOU XIV engine, a crack was
detected on the front face of the third stage turbine wheel between
two balancing lugs. The cause of the crack is probably linked to a
geometric singularity, likely caused by the transformation operation
aimed at introducing expansion slots between the blades during
embodiment of Turbomeca mod AB 173. Although there is only one known
case of this type of crack, and although it was detected, the
possibility exists that additional parts have the same geometric
singularity.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to
failure of a turbine blade and its associated piece of rim, possibly
resulting in an uncommanded in-flight shut-down and/or release of
high energy debris.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-7490.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (81 FR 5395, February 2,
2016).

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Turbomeca S.A. has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 283 72 0811,
Version A, dated August 25, 2015. The SB describes procedures for
inspection of the 3rd stage turbine wheel. 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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 9 engines installed on helicopters
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 5 hours per
engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $3,825.

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):