Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca Artouste III B, Artouste III B1, and Artouste III D Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9692-9694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1728]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23594; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-54-AD; 
Amendment 39-14497; AD 2006-04-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca Artouste III B, Artouste III 
B1, and Artouste III D Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Turbomeca Artouste III B, Artouste III B1, and Artouste III D 
turboshaft engines. This AD requires removing certain fuel pumps from 
service and installing serviceable fuel pumps. This AD results from a 
report that an acceptance test facility used test equipment that was 
out of calibration, on certain fuel pumps, and those fuel pumps might 
have been accepted with a limitation in the maximum available fuel 
flow. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced helicopter performance, 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, or accident.

DATES: Effective March 14, 2006.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by April 28, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD:
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone +33 05 59 74 40 
00, fax +33 05 59 74 45 15, for the service information identified in 
this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Spinney, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office,

[[Page 9693]]

FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-7175; fax (781) 238-
7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile 
(DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified the 
FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on Turbomeca Artouste III B, 
Artouste III B1, and Artouste III D turboshaft engines. The DGAC 
advises that an acceptance test facility used test equipment that was 
out of calibration, on 102 fuel pumps, and those fuel pumps might have 
been accepted with a limitation in the maximum available fuel flow. 
This condition causes fuel flow limitation and therefore reduces the 
maximum available engine power over a portion of the helicopter flight 
envelope. These pumps may be installed on Eurocopter France Alouette 
III SE.3160, SA.316B, SA.315B, and SA.316C helicopters registered in 
the U.S. Turbomeca issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 218 73 0802, 
dated November 17, 2005, to address the 102 suspect fuel pumps. We 
cannot confirm that these fuel pumps have been removed from service and 
retested or replaced. The DGAC issued AD No. F-2005-201, dated December 
7, 2005, in order to ensure the airworthiness of these engines in 
France.

Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement

    These Turbomeca Artouste III series turboshaft engines are 
manufactured in France and are type certificated for operation in the 
United States under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral 
airworthiness agreement. Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, 
the DGAC kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. We 
have examined the findings of the DGAC, reviewed all available 
information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of 
this type design that are certificated for operation in the United 
States.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    The unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or 
develop on other Turbomeca Artouste III B, Artouste III B1, and 
Artouste III D turboshaft engines of the same type design. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent reduced helicopter performance, subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter, or accident. This AD requires 
removing affected fuel pumps from service and installing serviceable 
fuel pumps, within 30 days or 80 operating hours after receipt of a 
serviceable fuel pump, whichever occurs first, but no later than March 
15, 2006.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we have found that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable, and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective within 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public 
comment; however, we invite you to send us any written relevant data, 
views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``AD Docket No. FAA-2006-23594; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-54-AD'' in the subject line of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify it.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the DMS Web 
site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person at the Docket Management 
Facility Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 
647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation Nassif Building at the street address stated in 
ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
the DMS receives them.

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.
    We are 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

    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 the regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal 
Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:


[[Page 9694]]


    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2006-04-15 Turbomeca: Amendment 39-14497. Docket No. FAA-2006-23594; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-54-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 
14, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Turbomeca Artouste III B, Artouste III 
B1, and Artouste III D turboshaft engines. These engines are 
installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter France Alouette III 
SE.3160, SA.316B, SA.315B, and SA.316C helicopters.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a report that an acceptance test 
facility used test equipment that was out of calibration, on certain 
fuel pumps, and those fuel pumps might have been accepted with a 
limitation in the maximum available fuel flow. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent reduced helicopter performance, subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, or accident.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within 30 days or 80 operating hours after the receipt 
of a serviceable fuel pump, whichever occurs first, but no later 
than March 15, 2006, unless the actions have already been done.
    (f) Remove from service the fuel pumps listed by serial number 
(SN) in the following Table 1, and install a serviceable fuel pump.

                    Table 1.--Affected Fuel Pump SNs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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A59B                     F504B                    2827
A82B                     F506B                    2828
A91B                     F537B                    2830
B14B                     F561B                    2838
B29B                     F589B                    2854
B42B                     F596B                    2867
C27B                     F607B                    2868
C6B                      F630B                    2884
C92B                     F643B                    2944
D16B                     F706B                    3078
D18B                     F724B                    3175
D20B                     F743B                    3230
D80B                     F745B                    3259
D99B                     F748B                    3282
E49B                     F759B                    3343
E77B                     F760B                    3376
E90B                     F762B                    3383
F112B                    F957B                    3385
F131B                    808                      3397
F176B                    1725                     3458
F220B                    1766                     3515
F243B                    1770                     3548
F253B                    1897                     3660
F262B                    1941                     3746
F293B                    2154                     3756
F317B                    2155                     3757
F320B                    2233                     3783
F357B                    2512                     3792
F368B                    2620                     3826
F420B                    2729                     3858
F464B                    2759                     3888
F466B                    2763                     3894
F477B                    2786                     3979
F47B                     2787                     4066
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Definition

    (g) For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable fuel pump is:
    (1) A fuel pump that is not listed in Table 1 of this AD; or
    (2) A fuel pump that is listed in Table 1 of this AD that has 
passed a repeat of the original production acceptance test.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (h) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (i) Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile AD No. F-2005-201, 
dated December 7, 2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.
    (j) Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 218 73 0802, dated 
November 17, 2005, pertains to the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 17, 2006.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 06-1728 Filed 2-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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