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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0020; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-33-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turbofan
Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain Honeywell International Inc. AS907 series turbofan engines.
This proposed AD was prompted by two loss-of-thrust-control events, and
two in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) of new production, low-time engines
attributed to water intrusion of the engine electronic control unit
(ECU). This proposed AD would require applying sealant to identified
areas of the ECU and requires inserting a copy of certain airplane
operating procedures into the applicable flight manuals. We are
proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September
18, 2017.
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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Honeywell
International Inc., 111 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034-2802; phone:
800-601-3099; Internet: https://myaerospace.honeywell.com/wps/portal/!ut/.
You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 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-2017-0020;
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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments
received, and other information. The street 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: 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:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments
about this NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed under the
ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-0020; Directorate
Identifier 2016-NE-33 AD" at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 NPRM.
Discussion
We received reports of two loss-of-thrust-control events and two
IFSDs of new production, low-time AS907-2-1A engines, attributed to
water intrusion into the ECU at the ECU cover-to-body splitline, cover
screws and cavities, leading to internal board electrical faults.
Similar events have occurred on AS907-1-1A engines when rainwater
dripped through the ECU and T2 engine access panels at 10 and 2 o'clock
locations onto the ECU and harnesses while the airplane was on the
ground. This proposed AD would require application of sealant to
identified areas of the ECU and requires inserting a copy of certain
airplane operating procedures into the applicable flight manuals. These
procedures describe interim actions for not dispatching the airplane
under certain engine electronic fault conditions. This condition, if
not corrected, could result in dual engine power loss, loss of thrust
control, and damage to the engine and airplane.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Honeywell Service Bulletin (SB); SB AS907-76-9021,
Revision 1, dated April 20, 2017; Operating Information Letter (OIL)
OIAS907-0001R00, dated March 14, 2017; Component Maintenance Manual
(CMM) 2119576, Temporary Revision (TR) No. 76-1, Section 76-10-15,
dated September 6, 2016; and CMM 2119576, TR No. 76-1, Section 76-10-
29, dated August 2, 2016.
In combination, the SB and TRs describe procedures for applying
sealant to identified areas of the ECU to prevent water from entering
the ECU on AS907 series engines. The OIL provides instructions for
interrogating the onboard Maintenance Data Computer to clear engine
electronic fault conditions. 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.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing 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.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require applying sealant to identified areas
of the ECU.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
Honeywell SB AS907-76-9021, Revision 1, dated April 20, 2017
recommends complying after 400 engine operating hours, not to exceed 18
months from the date of issuance of the SB. This NPRM proposes
complying within 200 engine operating hours or 9 months after the
effective date of the AD, whichever occurs first.
Interim Action
We consider this proposed AD interim action. Honeywell is developing
design changes that will eliminate the need to apply sealant to the ECU.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this ECU sealing affects 477 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
| Inserting Figure into AFM |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170.00 |
$0 |
$170.00 |
$81,090.00 |
| Application of sealant, on-wing |
5.5 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $467.50 |
50.00 |
517.50 |
246,847.50 |
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary fault checks of
the Maintenance Data Computer (MDC)/Onboard Messaging System (OMS). We
estimate that 20 engines will need this fault check.
On-Condition Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
| Fault Check of Maintenance Data
Computer |
5 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$425.00 |
$0 |
$425.00 |
According to the manufacturer, some
of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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 rule-
making action.
Regulatory Findings
We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 proposed
regulation:
(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, 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.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA proposes to amend 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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