DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0983; Project Identifier AD-2022-00614-E;
Amendment 39-22132; AD 2022-16-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Continental Aerospace Technologies,
Inc., Lycoming Engines, and Textron Lycoming/Subsidiary of Textron,
Inc. Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. GTSIO-520, IO-346, IO-
470, IO-520, IO-550, LTSIO-520, O-470, TSIO-520, and TSIOL-550 series
model reciprocating engines, Lycoming Engines AEIO-320, AEIO-360, AEIO-
540, AIO-320, AIO-360, GO-480, GSO-480, HIO-360, HIO-540, IGO-480, IGO-
540, IGSO-480, IGSO-540, IO-320, IO-360, IO-540, LIO-360, LTIO-540, O-
235, O-320, O-360, O-540, TIGO-541, TIO-360, TIO-540, TIO-541, TVO-435,
VO-435, and VO-540 series model reciprocating engines, and Textron
Lycoming/Subsidiary of Textron, Inc. IO-720 series model reciprocating
engines. This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing quality
escape of improperly lubricated roller bearings installed in certain
magnetos, which may result in overheating and magneto seizure. This AD
requires the replacement of affected magneto or inspection of affected
magneto and, if no white grease is detected, replacement of magneto
components, as applicable, and reassembly of the magneto. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 15, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 15,
2022.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by September 12, 2022.

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 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this final rule, contact
Continental Aerospace Technologies, P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL 36615;
phone: (251) 436-8299; website: www.continental.aero. 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
(817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0983; 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, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Boyce Jones, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone:
(404) 474-5535; email: boyce.jones@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA received a report from Continental Aerospace Technologies,
Inc., of a manufacturing quality escape that identified a certain
population of magnetos that did not meet the design specification due
to improperly lubricated roller bearings. The supplier notified the
manufacturer that roller bearings installed in certain magnetos were
delivered with a light corrosion preventive lubricant instead of the
specified translucent white grease. Analysis by the manufacturer
determined that affected magnetos assembled without the properly
lubricated roller bearing have the potential to overheat, causing
accelerated wear in the contact and cam follower. As a result of its
analysis, the manufacturer published service information that specifies
procedures for the removal and replacement of the affected magneto or
inspection of the affected magneto and, if no white grease is detected,
replacement of magneto components, as applicable, and reassembly of the
magneto. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of
one or more engines, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane. The
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

FAA's Determination

The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in
other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Continental Aerospace Technologies Critical
Service Bulletin CSB673, Revision C, dated May 24, 2022 (the CSB). The
CSB specifies procedures for removing and replacing affected magneto or
inspecting affected magneto and, if no white grease is detected,
replacing magneto components, as applicable, and reassembling the
magneto. This CSB also specifies procedures for returning certain parts
to the manufacturer for warranty replacement. 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 ADDRESSES.

AD Requirements

This AD requires the replacement of the affected magneto or
inspection of the affected magneto and, if no white grease is detected,
replacement of magneto components, as applicable, and reassembly of the
magneto.

Clarification of Requirements

The CSB specifies procedures to return certain parts to the
manufacturer for warranty replacement. However, this AD does not
require returning parts to the manufacturer. The CSB also specifies to
discard the roller bearing after the roller bearing has been pressed
out of the magneto housing. This AD does not require discarding the
roller bearing.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date

Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because affected magnetos assembled without properly lubricated roller
bearings have the potential to overheat, causing accelerated wear in
the contact and cam follower that could lead to seizure and failure of
the magnetos. Since an engine may contain two affected magnetos, there
is a possibility of failure of one or more engines and loss of the
airplane due to loss of ignition. The FAA considers replacement or
inspection of the affected magneto to be an urgent safety issue.
Replacement or inspection of the affected magneto must be accomplished
within 25 operating hours time-in-service (TIS) or, if any affected
magneto has accumulated more than 25 operating hours TIS, before
further flight after the effective date of this AD. Accordingly, notice
and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary
to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days,
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forego notice and
comment.

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ``FAA-2022-0983 and Project Identifier AD-2022-
00614-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments
reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the reason for
any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Boyce
Jones, Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. Any commentary that the FAA receives
which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the
public docket for this rulemaking.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD could affect up to 740 magnetos
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA has no way of
determining the number of operators that will remove the affected
magneto and replace it with a part eligible for installation or, in
lieu of replacing, disassemble, inspect and replace magneto components.
The FAA's estimated cost on U.S. operators reflects the maximum
possible cost based on the 740 affected magnetos installed on products
of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to replace magneto
components. The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need this replacement:

On-Condition Costs

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators.

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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

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: