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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0024; Product Identifier 2000-NE-12-AD; Amendment
39-19307; AD 2018-12-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A.,
Turboshaft Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-11-09
for
all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., Arrius 2B1 and 2F turboshaft
engines. AD 2013-11-09 required the repetitive replacement of the fuel
injector manifolds and privilege injector, or only the privilege
injector. This AD retains the repetitive hardware replacement
requirements of AD 2013-11-09, but only allows replacement pipe
injector preferred assembly, part number (P/N) 0 319 73 044 0, on the
Arrius 2F engines. This AD was prompted by reports of engine flameouts
as a result of reduced fuel flow due to the presence of coking. We are
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective August 9, 2018.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone:
(33) 05 59 74 40 00; fax: (33) 05 59 74 45 15; internet address:
www.tools.safran-helicopter-engines.com. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also
available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-0024.
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-2013-
0024; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information,
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information.
The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document
Operations, 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: Barbara Caufield, Aerospace Engineer,
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone:
781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email: faa.gov">barbara.caufield@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2013-11-09, Amendment 39-17469 (78 FR 32551,
May 31, 2013), ``AD 2013-11-09''. AD 2013-11-09 applied to all
Turbomeca S.A., Arrius 2B1 and 2F turboshaft engines. The NPRM
published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2017 (82 FR 40503). The
NPRM was prompted by a report that the corrective actions of the
existing AD were insufficient to eliminate the unsafe condition. The
NPRM proposed initial and repetitive replacement of the main fuel
injector half-manifolds and preferred injector for Arrius 2B1
turboshaft engines, and initial and repetitive replacement of the
preferred injector and replacing pipe injector preferred assemblies, P/
N
0 319 73 835 0, with assembly, P/N 0 319 73 044 0, for Arrius 2F
turboshaft engines. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and
the FAA's response to each comment.
Request To Add Safran Service Bulletin (SB) 319 73 4085
An individual commenter requested that we incorporate Safran
service bulletin (SB) No. 319 73 4085, which installs new insulating
seals on the fuel manifold assemblies to limit coking, in this AD. The
commenter does not believe that the proposed AD completely corrects the
unsafe condition, which could result in another revised or supersedure
AD in the future.
We disagree. We have not determined that the Safran SB No. 319 73
4085, Version A, dated March 23, 2016, provides an effective
terminating action to the current AD requirements. We did not change
this AD.
Request To Revise Operating Hours in Figure 1
Safran Helicopter Engines stated there was an error in Figure 1 to
paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this AD requiring the post-mod TU117 main fuel
injector half-manifold be replaced every 600 operating hours. They
stated the replacement interval is 500 hours (plus a 100 hour non-
cumulative tolerance). The application of the non-cumulative tolerance
specified in the Arrius 2B1 Maintenance Manual X 319 L5 301 2 was
misinterpreted.
We agree with commenter's explanation and justification. We revised
the main fuel injector half-manifold--post-mod TU117 operating hours in
Figure 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD from 600 operating hours to 500
operating hours, which is consistent with the approved Airworthiness
Limitations for this engine. We also added paragraph (g)(1)(i)(A) to
this AD that allows a non-cumulative tolerance of 100 operating hours
to the compliance time for the initial replacement of the post-mod
TU117 main injector half-manifolds.
Request To Revise the Compliance Requirements
Safran Helicopter Engines requested that we revise paragraph
(g)(2)(iii) of this AD to replace ``within 16 months after the
effective date of this AD'' with ``August 31, 2018.'' Safran Helicopter
Engines asserted that 16 months was correct when EASA issued AD 2017-
0070, but to be consistent with the compliance in Safran Helicopter
Engines Mandatory SB No. 319 73 4839, this date must be modified to
match August 31, 2018.
We disagree. We determined that 16 months after the effective date
of the AD is a reasonable timeframe to complete the actions and will
meet our safety objectives. We did not change this AD.
Request To Revise the Required Actions
Safran Helicopter Engines requested we clarify paragraph
(g)(2)(iii) of this AD by deleting the words ``before next flight.''
We agree with the commenter's request because this change clarifies
paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of this AD. We revised paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of
this AD as requested.
Request To Revise Contact Information
Safran Helicopter Engines requested that we revise the contact
information for service information in paragraph to the following:
``Please contact your nearest SAFRAN Helicopter Engines technical
representative or connect to www.tools.safran-helicopter-engines.com.''
We agree. We revised the contact information in the ADDRESSES
section of this AD to include Safran's internet address:
www.tools.safran-helicopter-engines.com.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received,
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting
this AD with the changes described previously. 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.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.
Related Service Information
We reviewed Safran Helicopter Engines Mandatory SB No. 319 73 4839,
Version A, dated December 13, 2016. The SB describes procedures for
replacing pipe injector preferred assemblies.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 50 Arrius 2B1 and 105 Arrius 2F
turboshaft engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
| Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
| Arrius 2B1 fuel injector manifolds
and injector replacement |
3 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$255 |
$0 |
$255 |
$12,750 |
| Arrius 2F pipe injector preferred
assembly replacement |
3 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $255 |
3,154 |
3,409 |
357,945 |
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 engines, propellers, and
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.
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 part 39 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2013-11-09, Amendment 39-17469 (78 FR 32551), and adding the following
new AD:
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