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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-2149; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00136-E;
Amendment 39-22675; AD 2024-03-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type
Certificate Previously Held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and
MOTORLET a.s.) Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-13-16
for all GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) (type certificate previously
held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.) Model
M601D-11 engines; and AD 2022-14-12, for certain GEAC Model M601D-11,
M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F engines. AD 2022-
13-16 required revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of
the existing engine maintenance manual (EMM) to incorporate a visual
inspection of the centrifugal compressor case for cracks. AD 2022-14-12
required replacing the propeller shaft for Model M601F engines. AD
2022-14-12 also required calculating the accumulated life of the
propeller shaft and replacing the propeller shaft, if necessary, for
model M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, and M601E-11S engines.
Since the FAA issued AD 2022-13-16 and AD 2022-14-12, the manufacturer
revised the ALS of the existing EMM to introduce new and more
restrictive tasks and limitations, expand the applicability to all
Model M601 engines, and incorporate certain requirements addressed by
AD 2021-13-07 and AD 2023-01-10, which prompted this AD. This AD
requires revising the ALS of the existing EMM and the operator's
existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, to incorporate new and more restrictive tasks and
limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 17, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 17,
2024.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No.FAA-2023-2149; 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information identified in this final rule,
contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone:
+49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu.
You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
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. It is
also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-2149.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (781) 238-7146; email: barbara.caufield@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2022-13-16, Amendment 39-22102 (87 FR
37986, June 27, 2022) (AD 2022-13-16); and AD 2022-14-12, Amendment 39-
22117 (87 FR 42066, July 14, 2022) (AD 2022-14-12).
AD 2022-13-16 applied to all GEAC Model M601D-11 engines and
required revising the ALS of the existing EMM to incorporate a visual
inspection of the centrifugal compressor case. The FAA issued AD 2022-
13-16 to prevent failure of the centrifugal compressor case.
AD 2022-14-12 applied to certain GEAC Model M601D-11, M601E-11,
M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F engines. For Model M601F
engines, AD 2022-14-12 required replacement of the propeller shaft. For
Model M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, and M601E-11S engines,
AD 2022-14-12 required calculating the accumulated life of the
propeller shaft and replacing the propeller shaft if necessary.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2023 (88
FR 77918). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2023-0020, dated January
23, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0020) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union. The MCAI states that the manufacturer revised the ALS
to incorporate new and more restrictive tasks and limitations, expand
the applicability to all model M601 series engines, and include certain
requirements that were previously addressed by EASA Emergency AD 2021-
0125-E and EASA AD 2021-0264. The MCAI also states that the
manufacturer published service information that specifies instructions
to determine the accumulated life of certain propeller shafts.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2023-2149.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require revising the ALS of the
existing EMM and the operator's existing approved engine maintenance or
inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new and more
restrictive tasks and limitations.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Conclusion
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and
determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed.
Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted
as
proposed in the NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0020, which specifies procedures for
accomplishment of the actions specified in the ALS, including
performing maintenance tasks, replacing life-limited parts, and
revising the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as
applicable, by incorporating the instructions and associated thresholds
and intervals described in the ALS, as applicable to engine model and
depending on engine configuration.
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.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 42 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Revise the ALS |
1 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$0
|
$85
|
$3,570
|
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
The FAA has 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) 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.
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:
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2022-13-16, Amendment 39-22102 (87
FR 37986, June 27, 2022); and Airworthiness Directive 2022-14-12,
Amendment 39-22117 (87 FR 42066, July 14, 2022); and
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
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