DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0479; Product Identifier 2016-NE-23-AD; Amendment
39-19369; AD 2018-17-15]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turboprop
and Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-02-14 for
certain Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) TPE331 turboprop and
TSE331 turboshaft engines. AD 2018-02-14 required inspection of the
affected combustion chamber case assembly, replacement of those
assemblies found cracked, and removal of affected assemblies on certain
TPE331 and TSE331 engines. This AD retains the inspection and
replacement requirements in AD 2018-02-04; revises the Applicability to
add the TPE331-12 engine model and the related inspection action,
correct references to certain engine models; and revises compliance to
allow certain weld repair procedures. This AD was prompted by comments
to revise the applicability and required actions of AD 2018-02-14 to
include the TPE331-12B engine model, correct certain TPE engine model
typographical errors, and to allow certain weld repair procedures. We
are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 22, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 22,
2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
February 28, 2018 (83 FR 3263, January 24, 2018).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ,
85034-2802; phone: 800-601-3099; website: https://myaerospace.honeywell.
com/wps/portal. 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-2018-0479.

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-
0479; 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 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: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los
Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA, 90712-
4137; phone: 562-627-5246; fax: 562-627-5210; email:
joseph.costa@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2018-02-14, Amendment 39-19167 (83 FR 3263,
January 24, 2018), (``AD 2018-02-14''). AD 2018-02-14 applied to
certain Honeywell TPE331 turboprop and TSE331 turboshaft engines. The
NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2018 (83 FR 29479).
The NPRM was prompted by comments to revise the applicability and
required actions of AD 2018-02-14 to include the TPE331-12B engine
model, correct certain TPE engine model typographical errors, and to
allow certain weld repair procedures. The NPRM proposed to continue to
require the inspection and replacement of the affected combustion
chamber case assembly on certain TPE331 and TSE331 engines. The NPRM
also proposed to revise the Applicability to include the TPE331-12B
engine model and the related inspection action, correct references to
the TPE331-43-A, -43-BL, -47-A, -55-B, and -61-A engine models, and to
allow weld repair procedures to the applicable combustion chamber case
assemblies provided those procedures are approved by the Manager, Los
Angeles ACO Branch. 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. 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 Honeywell Service Bulletin (SB) TPE331-72-2178,
Revision 0, dated May 3, 2011 and Honeywell SB TPE331-72-2179, Revision
0, dated May 3, 2011. Honeywell SB TPE331-72-2178, Revision 0,
describes procedures for inspection and removal of the affected
combustion chamber case assemblies installed on all affected engines
except for the TPE331-12B engine model. Honeywell SB TPE331-72-2179,
Revision 0, describes procedures for inspection and removal of the
affected combustion chamber case assemblies installed on the TPE331-12B
engine model. 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.

Other Related Service Information

We reviewed Honeywell SBs TPE331-72-2228, Revision 0, dated June
12, 2014; TPE331-72-2230, Revision 0, dated June 19, 2014; TPE331-72-
2218, Revision 2, dated February 18, 2017; TPE331-72-2244, Revision 2,
dated March 20 2017; TPE331-72-2235, Revision 2, dated February 18,
2017; TPE331-72-2281, Revision 0, dated July 22, 2016; TPE331-72-2294,
Revision 0, dated December 22, 2016; TPE331-72-2231, Revision 1, dated
August 1, 2017; and TSE331-72-2245, Revision 0, dated November 11,
2016. These SBs provide guidance on replacement of the affected
combustion chamber case assemblies.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 5,644 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We
estimate that 158 engines will need this replacement during the first
year of inspection.

On-Condition 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

We have 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 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, 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2018-02-14, Amendment 39-19167 (83 FR 3263, January 24, 2018), and
adding the following new AD: