Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14636-14638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2760]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22364; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-26-AD; 
Amendment 39-14526; AD 2006-06-17]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 
Turboshaft Engines

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 turboshaft engines. This AD requires 
inspecting the 2nd stage nozzle guide vanes (NGV2) for wall thickness. 
This AD results from one instance of a fractured 2nd stage turbine 
blade followed by an uncommanded engine shutdown. We are issuing this 
AD to detect and prevent perforation of the NGV2 that could cause 
fracture of a turbine blade that could result in an uncommanded engine 
in-flight shutdown on a single-engine helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 27, 2006. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of April 27, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone 33 05 59 74 40 00, fax 
33 05 59 74 45 15.
    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.

[[Page 14637]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Spinney, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 
telephone (781) 238-7175; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed airworthiness directive (AD). The proposed AD applies 
to Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 turboshaft engines. We published 
the proposed AD in the Federal Register on November 4, 2005 (70 FR 
67099). That action proposed to require inspecting the NGV2 for wall 
thickness.

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.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.

Request To Include an End Date

    One commenter requests that we include an end date in the AD, of 
December 31, 2006. This end date would help manage the risk of failure, 
while causing the least amount of disruption in the form of helicopter 
grounding.
    We agree. We changed compliance paragraph (e) to read ``You are 
responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed at the 
next shop visit or the next accessibility of the NGV2 after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, but no later than 
December 31, 2006, unless the actions have already been done.''

Clarification of Unsafe Condition

    For clarification that the AD is applicable to only single-engine 
installations, we changed the unsafe condition in the AD to read ``We 
are issuing this AD to detect and prevent perforation of the 2nd stage 
nozzle guide vanes (NGV2) that could cause fracture of a turbine blade 
that could result in an uncommanded engine in-flight shutdown on a 
single-engine helicopter.''

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously. 
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the 
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 571 engines installed on 
helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
0.5 work hours per engine to perform the actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $65 per work hour. No parts are required. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be 
$18,558.

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 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 at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2006-06-17 Turbomeca: Amendment 39-14526. Docket No. FAA-2005-22364; 
Directorate Identifier. 2005-NE-26-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 
27, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 certain 
turboshaft engines, modified to the TU 202 standard. These engines 
are installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter France AS350BA, 
AS350B, AS350B1, and AS350B2 helicopters.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from one instance of a fractured 2nd stage 
turbine blade followed by an uncommanded engine shutdown. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and prevent perforation of the 2nd stage 
nozzle guide vanes (NGV2) that could cause fracture of a turbine 
blade that could result in an uncommanded engine in-flight shutdown 
on a single-engine helicopter.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed at the next shop visit or the next accessibility of the 
NGV2 after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, 
but no later than December 31, 2006, unless the actions have already 
been done.

[[Page 14638]]

Inspect NGV2

    (f) Inspect the thickness of the material on each NGV2 using the 
Instructions to be Incorporated of Turbomeca Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) No. A292 72 0231, Update No. 5, dated July 22, 2004. 
Replace the NGV2 if the vane thickness is below the defined 
criteria.
    (g) Inspections carried out before the effective date of this 
AD, using an earlier update of MSB No. A292 72 0231, are acceptable 
alternatives to the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Information regarding NGV2s that have already had the 
actions required by this AD done and are exempt from the inspections 
using paragraph (e) of this AD can be found in MSB No. A292 72 0231, 
Update No. 5, dated July 22, 2004.

Definitions

    (i) For the purposes of this AD the following definitions apply:
    (1) A shop visit is defined as introduction of the engine into a 
shop for the purposes of deep maintenance and the separation of a 
major mating flange.
    (2) Accessibility of the NGV2 is defined as removal of the NGV2 
from the engine regardless of the location or reason for removal.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) 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

    (k) DGAC airworthiness directive No. F-2004-088 R1 also 
addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No. A292 
72 0231, Update No. 5, dated July 22, 2004, to perform the actions 
required by this AD. The Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact 
Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone 33 05 59 74 40 00, fax 33 
05 59 74 45 15 for a copy of this service information. You may 
review copies at the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, Washington, DC 20590-0001, on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 16, 2006.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 06-2760 Filed 3-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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