Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation (Formerly Allison Engine Company, Allison Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit Diesel Allison) (RRC) Models 250-C30R/3, -C30R/3M, -C47B, and -C47M Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68769-68771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25791]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NE-23-AD; Amendment 39-13880; AD 2004-24-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation (Formerly 
Allison Engine Company, Allison Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit 
Diesel Allison) (RRC) Models 250-C30R/3, -C30R/3M, -C47B, and -C47M 
Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for RRC models 250-C30R/3, -C30R/3M, -C47B, and -C47M turboshaft 
engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive electrical 
signal inspections of the hydromechanical unit (HMU) Power Lever Angle 
(PLA) potentiometer. This ad continues to require those inspections and 
adds replacement of the existing HMU with a new design HMU as a 
mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspection requirements. 
This AD results from the manufacturer releasing a redesigned HMU that 
has a dual-element potentiometer. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
uncommanded and sudden changes in engine power.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 3, 2005. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of January 3, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Rolls-Royce Corporation, P.O. Box 420, Indianapolis, IN 46206-
0420; telephone (317) 230-6400; fax (317) 230-4243.
    You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA. You may examine the service information, at the FAA, 
New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Khailaa Hosny, Aerospace Engineer, 
Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des 
Plaines, IL 60018-4696; telephone (847) 294-7134; fax (847) 294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to RRC models 250-C30R/3, -
C30R/3M, -C47B, and -C47M turboshaft engines. We published the proposed 
AD in the Federal Register on June 9, 2004 (69 FR 32287). That action 
proposed to require initial and repetitive electrical signal 
inspections of the HMU PLA potentiometer and replacement of the 
existing HMU with a new design HMU as a mandatory terminating action to 
the repetitive inspection requirements.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service 
information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the 
location.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on 
the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that 700 engines installed on helicopters of U.S. 
registry will be affected by this AD. We estimate that it will take 
about 4 work hours per engine to replace a single-element HMU with a 
dual-element HMU. We also estimate that 12 percent of the single-
element HMUs will fail the required inspection and require replacing 
the HMU. The average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts 
cost about $615 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $686,000.

[[Page 68770]]

Regulatory Findings

    We have 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2003-NE-23-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Amendment 39-13210 (68 FR 
38590, June 30, 2003) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-13880, to read as follows:

2004-24-04 Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly Allison Engine Company, 
Allison Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit Diesel Allison): Amendment 
39-13880. Docket No. 2003-NE-23-AD. Supersedes AD 2003-13-10, 
Amendment 39-13210.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective January 3, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2003-13-10.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly Allison 
Engine Company, Allison Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit Diesel 
Allison) (RRC) models 250-C30R/3, -C30R/3M, -C47B, and -C47M 
turboshaft engines that have a hydromechanical unit (HMU) with a 
part number (P/N) listed in 1.A. Group A of RRC Alert Commercial 
Engine Bulletins (ACEB) No. CEB A-73-3103, Revision 4, dated 
December 2, 2003; and No. CEB A-73-6030, Revision 4, dated December 
2, 2003. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Bell 
OH-58D, Bell Helicopter Textron 407, Boeing AH/MH-6M, and MD 
Helicopters Inc. 600N helicopters.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the manufacturer releasing a redesigned 
HMU that has a dual-element potentiometer. The actions specified in 
this AD are intended to prevent uncommanded and sudden changes in 
engine power.

Compliance

    (e) Compliance with this AD is required as indicated, unless 
already done.

Initial Inspection

    (f) Perform an initial electrical signal inspection of the HMU 
Power Lever Angle (PLA) potentiometer, within 300 flight hours (FH) 
after the effective date of this AD. Use paragraphs 2.B. through 
2.B.(8) and 2.B.(10) of the Accomplishment Instructions of RRC ACEB 
No. CEB A-73-3103, Revision 4, dated December 2, 2003; or No. CEB A-
73-6030, Revision 4, dated December 2, 2003; to perform the 
inspection.
    (g) Replace the HMU before further flight if the electrical 
signal inspection result is unacceptable.

Repetitive Inspections

    (h) Thereafter, perform repetitive electrical signal inspections 
of the HMU PLA potentiometer within 300 FH of the last inspection. 
Use paragraphs 2.B. through 2.B.(8) and 2.B.(10) of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of RRC ACEB No. CEB A-73-3103, Revision 
4, dated December 2, 2003; or No. CEB A-73-6030, Revision 4, dated 
December 2, 2003; to perform the inspection.
    (i) Replace the HMU before further flight if the electrical 
signal inspection result is unacceptable.

Mandatory Terminating Action

    (j) Replace the HMU with an HMU that has a P/N not specified in 
this AD within 600 FH after the effective date of this AD, or 
January 31, 2005, whichever occurs earlier. Replacing the HMU with 
an HMU that has a P/N not specified in this AD terminates the 
repetitive inspection requirement specified in paragraph (h) of this 
AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (k) Alternative methods of compliance must be requested in 
accordance with 14 CFR part 39.19, and must be approved by the 
Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use the Rolls-Royce Corporation Alert Commercial 
Engine Bulletins (ACEBs) listed in Table 1 of this AD to perform the 
inspections required by this AD. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved the incorporation by reference of the documents 
listed in Table 1 of this AD in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 
1 CFR part 51. You can get a copy from Rolls-Royce Corporation, P.O. 
Box 420, Indianapolis, IN 46206-0420; telephone (317) 230-6400; fax 
(317) 230-4243. You can review copies at the FAA, New England 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive 
Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Table 1 follows:

                                      Table 1.--Incorporation by Reference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Page number(s) shown   Revision level shown
         Service bulletin                on the page           on the page            Date shown on the page
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CEB A-73-3103, Total Pages: 20....  All.................  4....................  December 2, 2003.
CEB A-73-6030, Total Pages: 20....  All.................  4....................  December 2, 2003.
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[[Page 68771]]

Related Information

    (m) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on November 15, 2004.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-25791 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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