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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-1414; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01303-E;
Amendment 39-22304; AD 2023-01-10]
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.) Turboprop Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for
certain GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-
11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F model turboprop engines. This AD was
prompted by the exclusion of life limits for certain compressor cases
and compressor drums from the airworthiness limitations section (ALS)
of the engine maintenance manual (EMM). This AD was also prompted by
certain compressor cases that, following rework, were improperly re-
identified and the engine logbook entries were not completed. This AD
requires recalculation of the consumed life for the affected compressor
cases and compressor drums and, depending on the results of the
recalculation, removal and replacement of the affected compressor case
or compressor drum with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective March 13, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 13,
2023.
ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1414; 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 GEAC service information identified in this final
rule, contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranovych 65, 199 02
Praha 9, Letnany, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111.
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-2022-1414.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
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 by adding an AD that would apply to certain GEAC M601E-11,
M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, M601E-21, M601F, and M601FS model
turboprop engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
November 09, 2022 (87 FR 67579). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2021-0264,
dated November 22, 2021, issued by the European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union (referred to after this as the MCAI). The MCAI
states that the life limits for certain compressor cases and compressor
drums were not published in the applicable ALS of the EMM for certain
GEAC M601 model turboprop engines. The MCAI also states that following
rework of certain compressor cases from part number (P/N) M601-154.6 to
P/N M601-154.51, those compressor cases were improperly re-identified
and the engine logbook entries were not completed, which could cause
the compressor case to remain in service beyond its applicable life
limit. This condition can lead to failure of an affected part, possibly
resulting in engine mount failure and high energy debris release.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require recalculation of the
consumed life for the affected compressor cases and compressor drums
and, depending on the results of the recalculation, removal and
replacement of the affected compressor case or compressor drum with a
part eligible for installation. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1414.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Revision of Paragraph (c), Applicability
In this Final Rule, the FAA has removed GEAC M601E-21 and M601FS
model turboprop engines from paragraph (c), Applicability, because
those models do not have an FAA type certificate.
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 and any other
changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed in the
NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed GEAC Alert Service Bulletin ASB-M601F-72-30-00-
0061 [01] and ASB-M601E-72-30-00-0110 [01], (single document; formatted
as service bulletin identifier [revision number]), dated October 15,
2021. This service information describes procedures for recalculation
of the consumed life of certain compressor cases and compressor drums.
This service information also provides the part numbers of the affected
compressor cases and compressor drums installed on GEAC M601E-11,
M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F model turboprop engines.
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 7 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
|
| Recalculate the consumed life
of compressor case and compressor drum. |
.25 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $21.25 |
$0
|
$21.25
|
$148.75
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the recalculated consumed
life of the affected parts. The agency has no way of determining the
number of aircraft that might need these replacements:
On-Condition Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Remove and replace compressor
case |
10 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $850 |
$5,000
|
$5,850
|
| Remove and replace compressor
drum |
40 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $3,400 |
$7,000
|
$10,400
|
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,
(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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
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