DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1078; Product Identifier 2017-CE-038-AD; Amendment
39-19178; AD 2018-03-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Various Aircraft Equipped With BRP-
Rotax GmbH & Co KG 912 A Series Engine

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various
aircraft equipped with a BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG (formerly BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG; Bombardier-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG; Bombardier-
Rotax GmbH) 912 A series engine. This AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and address an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as defective valve push-rod assemblies manufactured from June
8, 2016, through October 2, 2017. We are issuing this AD to require
actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 20, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 20,
2018.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1078; or in person at Docket Operations, U.S. Department of
Transportation, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
For service information identified in this AD, contact BRP-Rotax
GmbH & Co. KG, Rotaxstrasse 1, A-4623 Gunskirchen, Austria; phone: +43
7246 601 0; fax: +43 7246 6370; internet: http://www.flyrotax.com. You
may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and
Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816)
329-4148. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for Docket No. FAA-2017-1078.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090;
email: jim.rutherford@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 various aircraft equipped
with a BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG (formerly BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG;
Bombardier-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG; Bombardier-Rotax GmbH) 912 A series
engine. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 22,
2017 (82 FR 55527). The NPRM proposed to address an unsafe condition
for the specified products and was based on mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of
another country.
The MCAI states:

Power loss and engine RPM drop have been reported on Rotax 912/
914 engines in service. It has been determined that, due to a
quality control deficiency in the manufacturing process of certain
valve push-rod assemblies, manufactured between 08 June 2016 and 02
October 2017 inclusive, partial wear on the rocker arm ball socket
may occur, which may lead to malfunction of the valve train.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, may lead to rough
engine operation and loss of power, possibly resulting in a forced
landing, with consequent damage to the aeroplane and injury to
occupants.
To address this potential unsafe condition, BRP-Rotax issued
Service Bulletin (SB) SB-912 i-008/SB-912-070/SB-914-052 (single
document), providing applicable instructions.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection and, depending on findings, replacement of affected
parts. This [EASA] AD also prohibits installation of affected parts
on an engine].

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-1078-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG Rotax Aircraft Engines BRP
Service Bulletin SB-912 i-008 R1/SB-912-070 R1/SB-914-052 R1 (co-
published as one document), Revision 1, dated October 12, 2017. The
service information describes procedures for inspecting and, if
necessary, replacing the valve push-rod assembly on the left and/or
right rocker arms. 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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 63 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to
comply with the basic inspection requirement of this AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $70 per
product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $9,765, or $155 per product.

In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions will
take about 2 work-hours to replace all 8 valve push-rod assemblies and
associated parts on all 4 cylinders and require parts costing $3,093,
for a cost of $3,263 per product. We have no way of determining the
number of products that may need these actions.

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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes, gliders,
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation
Division.

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, 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.

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-
1078; or in person at the Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for the Docket Operations (telephone
(800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 AD: