DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0136; Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00114-E;
Amendment 39-21168; AD 2020-15-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-18-02
for certain Austro Engine GmbH model E4 engines and all Austro Engine
GmbH model E4P engines. AD 2018-18-02 required replacement of the
timing chain and amending certain airplane flight manuals (AFMs) to
limit the use of windmill restarts. This AD requires amendment of
certain existing AFMs to limit the use of windmill restarts and removes
the timing chain replacement requirement in AD 2018-18-02. This AD was
prompted by reports of considerable wear of the timing chain on the
affected engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 31, 2020.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of August 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Diamond Aircraft Industries, N. A., Otto-Stra[beta]e 5, A-2700
Wiener Neustadt, A2700, Austria; phone: +43 2622 26700; fax: +43 2622
26780; website: www.diamondaircraft.com. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety 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 https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0136.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0136; 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), any comments received, and other information. The address for
Docket Operations is 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: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aerospace Engineer, ECO
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7743; fax: 781-238-7199; email: Mehdi.Lamnyi@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2018-18-02, Amendment 39-19381 (83 FR
53802, October 25, 2018), ("AD 2018-18-02"). AD 2018-18-02 applied to
certain Austro Engine GmbH model E4 engines and all Austro Engine GmbH
model E4P engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March
17, 2020 (85 FR 15079). The NPRM was prompted by reports of
considerable wear of the timing chain on the affected engines. The NPRM
proposed to retain the requirements of AD 2018-18-02 for amending
certain AFMs to limit the use of windmill restarts to emergency
procedures. The NPRM also proposed to remove the requirement in AD
2018-18-02 for replacing the timing chain. The FAA is issuing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has
issued EASA AD 2017-0103R1, dated February 25, 2019 (referred to after
this as "the MCAI"), to address the unsafe condition on these
products. The MCAI states:

Considerable wear of the timing chain has been detected on some
engines. This may have been caused by windmilling restarts, which
are known to cause high stress to the timing chain. This condition,
if not detected and corrected, could lead to failure of the timing
chain and consequent engine power loss, possibly resulting in
reduced control of the aeroplane.

To address this potential unsafe condition, AE included
instructions in the engine maintenance manual to periodically
inspect the condition of the timing chain and, depending on
findings, to replace the timing chain and the chain wheel. The
operation manual was updated to allow windmilling restart only as an
emergency procedure. AE also published Mandatory Service Bulletin
(MSB) MSB-E4-017/2, providing instructions to replace the timing
chain for engines with known windmilling restarts, and EASA issued
AD 2017-0103, requiring replacement of the timing chain for engines
with known windmilling restarts, and amendment of the applicable
Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM). Since that [EASA] AD was issued, AE
revised the applicable Airworthiness Limitation Section (ALS)
including, among others, the limitation required by that AD.
Consequently, EASA published AD 2019-0041, requiring accomplishment
of the actions specified in the ALS.

For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD is revised
accordingly, removing the requirement of timing chain replacement.
This action remain required through EASA AD 2019-0041.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0136.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed
except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has 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

The FAA reviewed Diamond Aircraft (DA) Temporary Revision (TR) TR-
MAM-42-973, dated August 12, 2016, for the Diamond Aircraft
Industries (DAI) model DA 42 NG Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and DA TR
TR-MAM-62-240, dated August 12, 2016, for the DAI model DA 62 AFM.
These TRs define the removal of the normal operation procedure for
windmilling restart for the respective airplanes. 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.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 211 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates 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.

The FAA is 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.

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) 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. 9.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by:

a. Removing AD 2018-18-02, Amendment 39-19381 (83 FR 53802, October 25,
2018); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):