|
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-1695; Project Identifier AD-2023-00783-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Lycoming Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD)
for Lycoming Engines (Lycoming) model engines that have a certain
connecting rod assemblies installed. This proposed AD was prompted by
several reports of connecting rod failures, which resulted in
uncontained engine failure and in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs). This
proposed AD would require repetitive oil inspections for bronze metal
particulates and, if found, additional inspections of the connecting
rod bushings for damage, proper fit, movement, and wear, and
replacement if necessary. As terminating action to the connecting rod
bushing inspections, this proposed AD would require replacement of the
connecting rod bushings with parts eligible for installation. The FAA
is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August
12,
2024.
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 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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-1695; 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 NPRM, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference
For service information, contact Lycoming Engines, 652
Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701; phone: (800) 258-3279; website:
lycoming.com/contact/knowledge-base/publications.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Delisio, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone:
(516) 228-7321; email: james.delisio@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-1695; Project Identifier
AD-2023-00783-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 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 proposal 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
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
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 NPRM 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 NPRM, 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to James
Delisio, Aviation Safety Engineer, 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.
Background
The FAA received five reports of uncontained engine failures and
IFSDs due to failed connecting rods on various models of Lycoming
reciprocating engines that were overhauled or repaired using any
replacement part listed in Table 2 of Lycoming Mandatory Service
Bulletin (MSB) No. 632B, dated August 4, 2017 (MSB 632B), which was
shipped from Lycoming during the dates listed in Table 2 of MSB 632B.
As a result, the FAA issued AD 2017-16-11, Amendment 39-18988 (82 FR
37296, August 10, 2017) (AD 2017-16-11), which required an inspection
of connecting rods and replacement of affected connecting rod small end
bushings.
Since the FAA issued AD 2017-16-11, a manufacturer investigation
determined that affected connecting rod small end bushings may be
installed on additional populations of Lycoming engines. The manufacturer
also
determined that degradation of the connecting rod small end bushings is
detectable during oil change inspections. This condition, if not
corrected, could result in connecting rod failure with consequent
uncontained engine failure, total engine power loss, IFSD, and possible
loss of the airplane.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Lycoming MSB No. 630A, dated June 13, 2017, which
specifies procedures for inspection of the connecting rod bushings for
damage, proper fit, movement, and wear. 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.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require repetitive oil inspections for
bronze metal particulates and, if found, additional inspections of the
connecting rod bushings for damage (e.g. deterioration, missing metal),
proper fit, movement, and wear, and replacement if necessary. As
terminating action to the connecting rod bushing inspections, this
proposed AD would require replacement of the connecting rod bushings
with parts eligible for installation.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 16,000 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Inspect oil |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170 |
$65
|
$235
|
$3,760,000
|
| Inspect connecting rod bushings |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
0
|
85
|
1,360,000
|
| Replace connecting rod bushings
(per bushing) |
4.5 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $382 |
380
|
762
|
12,192,000
|
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 determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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:
|