DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0723; Product Identifier 2018-NE-17-AD; Amendment
39-19350; AD 2018-16-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
GE Aviation Czech H80-200 turboprop engines. This AD requires replacing
the beta switch and adjusting the engine push-pull control to prevent
the propeller governor control from going to a negative thrust
position. This AD was prompted by an accident involving an Aircraft
Industries (AI) L 410 UVP-E20 airplane caused by one propeller going to
a negative thrust position during the landing approach. We are issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 12, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September
12, 2018.
We must receive comments on this AD by October 12, 2018.

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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this final rule, contact GE
Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranovych 65, 199 02 Praha 9--
Letnany, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222
538 222. 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-2018-0723.

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-2018-
0723; 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
(MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is
listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wego Wang, Aerospace Engineer, ECO
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7134; fax: 781-238-7199; email: wego.wang@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD 2018-0075, dated April 5, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:

A fatal accident of an L 410 UVP-E20 aeroplane has been
reported. Preliminary investigation determined that there was an
annunciation of Beta mode on right hand engine, that the propeller
went inadvertently behind the fine pitch position and reached a
negative thrust position, and that the pitch lock system did not
intervene.
This event occurred on approach at a speed and altitude which
did not allow the crew to recover this control system malfunction.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to reduced control
or loss of control of the aeroplane.
To address this unsafe condition, GE Aviation Czech issued the
SB, providing modification instructions.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
modification of the engine. Addressing the same unsafe condition at
aeroplane level, EASA also issued AD 2018-0057, requiring
modification of affected AI L 410 UVP-E20 and L 410 UVP-E20 CARGO
aeroplanes, if equipped with GE Aviation H80-200 engines and Avia
Propeller AV 725 propellers.

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-2018-0723.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed GE Aviation Czech Service Bulletin (SB) SB-H80-76-00-
00-0036, Revision No. 02, dated March 29, 2018. The SB describes
procedures for inspecting and adjusting engine push-pull control, part
number (P/N) M601-76.3, and replacing beta switch, P/N P-S-2, with beta
switch, P/N P-S-2A. 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

This product has been approved by EASA, and is approved for
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement
with the European Community, EASA has notified us of
the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information
referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the
relevant information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other
products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

This AD requires adjusting the engine push-pull control and
replacing the beta switch to prevent the propeller governor control
going to a negative thrust position.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, we find good
cause that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are
unnecessary. In addition, for the reason stated above, we find that
good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30
days.

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or
arguments about this final rule. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2018-
0723 and Product Identifier 2018-NE-17-AD at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final rule. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
final rule 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 final rule.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 0 engines installed on airplanes
of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

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 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.

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):