DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0027; Project Identifier AD-2022-01586-E;
Amendment 39-22319; AD 2023-02-12]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Continental Aerospace Technologies,
Inc. Reciprocating Engines With a Certain Superior Air Parts, Inc.
Intake Valve Installed

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. (Continental) GTSIO-
520, IO-470, IO-520, IO-550, IOF-550, LIO-470, LIO-520, LTSIO-520, O-
470, TSIO-470, TSIO-520, TSIO-550, TSIOF-550, and TSIOL-550 model
reciprocating engines with a certain Superior Air Parts, Inc. (SAP)
cylinder assembly or intake valve installed. The affected cylinder
assemblies and intake valves are installed as a replacement part under
parts manufacturer approval (PMA) on certain affected Continental
engines. This AD was prompted by three intake valve failures on
reciprocating engines that resulted in engine damage and emergency
landing or aborted takeoff. This AD requires replacement of the
affected engine intake valve. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 17, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 17,
2023.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by March 20, 2023.

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 by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-0027; 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 Docket
Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Superior Air Parts, Inc., 621 S Royal Lane, Suite 100, Coppell,
TX 75019; phone: (800) 420-4727; email: sales@superiorairparts.com;
website: superiorairparts.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 (817) 222-5110. It is
also available at regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2023-0027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Carter, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort
Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222-5146; email: justin.carter@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA received reports of three intake valve failures on GTSIO-
520, IO-550, and TSIO-520 model reciprocating engines. The intake valve
failure on the GTSIO-520 engine resulted in no loss of engine power,
while the IO-550 engine experienced engine damage and aborted takeoff.
The intake valve failure on the TSIO-520 engine resulted in engine
damage and an emergency landing. Subsequent metallurgical analysis
revealed that the intake valve material on SAP part number (P/N)
SA539988, with lot number 19077 O, was out of specification and did not
meet the minimum requirement for elongation; a condition that may cause
rupture of the valve stem surface and valve head surface. SAP shipped
the affected intake valves installed in cylinder assemblies between
January 20, 2022 and March 22, 2022. SAP also shipped individual
affected intake valves between January 20, 2022 and May 18, 2022. The
affected cylinder assemblies and intake valves may be installed on
certain Continental GTSIO-520-C, -D, -E, -F, -H, -K, -L, -M, and -N;
IO-470-A, -C, -D, -E, -F, -G, -H, -J, -K, -L, -LO, -M, -N, -P, -R, -S,
-T, -U, -V, and -VO; IO-520-A, -B, -BA, -BB, -C, -CB, -D, -E, -F, -J, -
K, -L, -M, -MB, -N, -NB, and -P; IO-550-A, -B, -C, -D, -E, -F, -G, -L,
-N, -P, and -R; IOF-550-B, -C, -D, -E, -F, -L, -P, and -R; LIO-470-A;
LIO-520-P; LTSIO-520-AE; O-470-A, -E, -G, -G-CI, -H, -J, -K, -K-CI, -L,
-L-CI, -M, -M-CI, -N, -P, -R, -S, -T, and -U; TSIO-470-B, -C, and -D;
TSIO-520-A, -AE, -AF, -B, -BB, -BE, -C, -CE, -D, -DB, -E, -EB, -G, -H,
-J, -JB, -K, -KB, -L, -LB, -M, -N, -NB, -P, -R, -T, -U, -UB, -VB, and -
WB; TSIO-550-A, -B, -C, -E, -G, and -K; TSIOF-550-D, -J, and -K; and
TSIOL-550-A, and -C model reciprocating engines. This condition, if not
addressed, could result in failure of the engine, 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 SAP Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB22-01 A, dated
December 16, 2022 (SAP MSB22-01 A). This service information provides a
listing of the affected cylinder assemblies and affected 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.

AD Requirements

This AD requires the removal from service and replacement of any
affected engine intake valve installed, except as discussed under
``Differences Between the AD and the Service Information.''

Differences Between the AD and the Service Information

SAP MSB22-01 A specifies to remove and replace the affected intake
valve before further flight, while this AD requires removal and
replacement of the affected intake valve within 30 days from the
effective date of this AD.

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 the urgency of the unsafe condition requires removal of any
affected intake valve installed within 30 days from the effective date
of this AD. The material used to manufacture the intake valves was out
of specification and did not meet the minimum requirement for
elongation, a condition that may cause rupture of the valve stem
surface and valve head surface. Intake valve rupture could lead to
failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane.
Three intake valve failures on affected reciprocating engines have
already been reported, which resulted in engine damage, emergency
landing, and aborted takeoff. As the affected intake valve must be
replaced within 30 days from the effective date of this AD, the
compliance time for the required actions is shorter than the time
necessary to allow for public comment and for the FAA to publish a
final rule. 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 ``Docket No. FAA-2023-0027 and Project Identifier
AD-2022-01586-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
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 Justin Carter, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort
Worth, TX 76177. 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 the 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 affects 450 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need these replacements:

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: