Airworthiness Directives; Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) 240, 346, 360, 470, 520, and 550 Series and Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd. (R-RM) IO-240-A Reciprocating Engines

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 1, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30290-30292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12177]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-1156; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-38-AD; 
Amendment 39-16309; AD 2010-11-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) 240, 
346, 360, 470, 520, and 550 Series and Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd. (R-RM) 
IO-240-A Reciprocating Engines

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing emergency airworthiness 
directive (AD) 2009-24-52 that was sent previously to all known U.S. 
owners and operators of TCM 240, 360, 470, 520, and 550 series 
reciprocating engines. That AD requires before further flight, 
replacing certain part number (P/N) hydraulic lifters. This AD results 
from TCM reporting another occurrence of rapid wear on the face of 
hydraulic lifters, P/Ns 657913, 657915, and 657916, and from the need 
to expand the applicability of this AD to include the TCM 346 series 
reciprocating engines and the R-RM IO-240-A reciprocating engines. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent excessive hydraulic lifter wear, which 
can result in loss of engine power and loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 16, 2010. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of June 16, 2010.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by August 2, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD.
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: 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, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

[[Page 30291]]

    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Contact Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc., P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL 
36601; telephone (251) 438-3411, or go to: http://tcmlink.com/servicebulletins.cfm, for the service information identified in this 
AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Holton, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (404) 474-5567; fax (404) 474-5606.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 18, 2009, we issued emergency AD 
2009-24-52, that applies to TCM 240, 360, 470, 520, and 550 series 
reciprocating engines. That AD requires determining if hydraulic 
lifters, P/Ns 657913, 657915, and 657916, are installed, and replacing 
those lifters before further flight. That AD resulted from TCM 
reporting three occurrences of rapid wear on the face of hydraulic 
lifters, P/Ns 657913, 657915, and 657916, at five, six, and 38-hours 
time-in-service (TIS), and from the need to add the TCM 550 series 
reciprocating engines to the applicability.

Actions Since AD 2009-24-52 was Issued

    Since that AD was issued, we have received a report of excessive 
wear at one-hour TIS. We also determined that we need to expand the 
applicability of the AD to include the TCM 346 series engines and the 
R-RM IO-240-A reciprocating engines.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of TCM 
Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB09-8A, dated December 4, 2009, 
that describes procedures for inspecting and removing certain TCM 
engine hydraulic lifters.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    The unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or 
develop on other TCM 240, 346, 360, 470, 520, and 550 series and R-RM 
IO-240-A reciprocating engines of the same type design. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent excessive hydraulic lifter wear, which can result in 
loss of engine power and loss of control of the airplane. This AD 
requires replacing before further flight, hydraulic lifters, P/Ns 
657913, 657915, and 657916. You must use the service information 
described previously to perform the actions required by this AD.

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 in less than 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-2009-1156; 
Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-38-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://www.regulations.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 
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including, if provided, 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).

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is the same as 
the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 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 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
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:

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


[[Page 30292]]




Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

2010-11-04 Teledyne Continental Motors (Formerly Continental and 
Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd.): Amendment 39-16309. Docket No. FAA-2009-
1156; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-38-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 16, 
2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2009-24-52.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) 
240, 346, 360, 470, 520, and 550 series and Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd. 
(R-RM) IO-240-A reciprocating engines with hydraulic lifters, part 
numbers (P/Ns) 657913, 657915, or 657916, installed. These engines 
are installed on, but not limited to, general aviation airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from TCM reporting another occurrence of 
rapid wear on the face of hydraulic lifters, P/Ns 657913, 657915, 
and 657916, and from the need to expand the applicability of this AD 
to include the TCM 346 series engines and the R-RM IO-240-A 
reciprocating engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent excessive 
hydraulic lifter wear, which can result in loss of engine power and 
loss of control of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed before further flight after the effective date of this 
AD, unless the actions have already been done.

Excluded Engines

    (f) If your engine was manufactured or rebuilt before June 19, 
2009, and you have not had any hydraulic lifters replaced after June 
19, 2009, no action is required.

Determining P/N of Lifters

    (g) If your engine was manufactured or rebuilt on or after June 
19, 2009, or if any of your hydraulic lifters were replaced on or 
after June 19, 2009, and you can't determine the P/N of your 
hydraulic lifters from the engine records:
    (1) Use the list of engine serial numbers in Section A of TCM 
Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB09-8A, dated December 4, 
2009.
    (2) Inspect the hydraulic lifters in each cylinder for P/Ns 
657913, 657915, and 657916. Use TCM MSB No. MSB09-8A, dated December 
4, 2009, Section I. Action Required, paragraphs 1. through 3. to 
determine the P/N of the lifters.

Replacing the Lifters

    (h) If your engine has any affected hydraulic lifters, replace 
the hydraulic lifters using TCM MSB No. MSB09-8A, dated December 4, 
2009, Step 2, paragraphs 2.a.1) through 2.b.4).

Installation Prohibition

    (i) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
hydraulic lifters, P/Ns 657913, 657915, or 657916, into any TCM 240, 
346, 360, 470, 520, or 550 series or R-RM IO-240-A reciprocating 
engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) The Manager, Atlanta 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.

Special Flight Permits

    (k) We will not approve any special flight permits.

Related Information

    (l) Contact Anthony Holton, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta 
Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; e-mail: [email protected]; 
telephone (404) 474-5567; fax (404) 474-5606, for more information 
about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (m) You must use Teledyne Continental Motors Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. MSB09-8A, dated December 4, 2009, 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. You can get a 
copy from Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc., P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL 
36601; telephone (251) 438-3411, or go to: http://tcmlink.com/servicebulletins.cfm. You may review copies at the FAA, New England 
Region, 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 12, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-12177 Filed 5-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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