Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Model TAE 125-01 Reciprocating Engines

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39803-39804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16618]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0308; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-17-AD; 
Amendment 39-16366; AD 2010-14-21]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Model 
TAE 125-01 Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by oil 
separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by 
gas pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess 
of the oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may 
adversely affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication 
system. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight 
cases of engine power loss or ultimately, shutdown.

We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine power or uncommanded 
engine shutdown during flight due to excessive crankcase blow-by gas 
pressure.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 17, 2010. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in this AD as of August 17, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2010 (75 FR 
17084). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states that:

    Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by 
separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by 
gas pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess 
of the oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may 
adversely affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication 
system. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight 
cases of engine power loss or ultimately, shutdown.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will 
affect about 250 Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH model TAE 125-01 
engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 
it will take about 1.5 work-hours per engine to comply with this AD. 
The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost 
about $1,500 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost 
of the AD on U.S. operators to be $406,875.

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 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 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 (phone (800) 647-5527) is provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be

[[Page 39804]]

available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 FAA 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 AD:

2010-14-21 Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH: Amendment 39-16366. 
Docket No. FAA-2010-0308; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-17-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective August 
17, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH model TAE 
125-01 reciprocating engines with any of the following part number 
blow-by oil separators installed:

                            Table 1--Part Numbers of Affected Blow-By Oil Separators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              02-7250-18100R1                       02-7250-18100R2                       02-7250-18100R3
              02-7250-18100R4                       02-7250-18300R1                       02-7250-18300R2
              02-7250-18300R3                       02-7250-18300R4                       02-7250-18300R5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These engines are installed in, but not limited to, Diamond 
Aircraft Industries Model DA 40, Piper PA-28-161 (Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) No. SA03303AT), and Cessna 172 (STC No. SA01303WI) 
airplanes.

Reason

    (d) Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by oil 
separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by 
gas pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess 
of the oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may 
adversely affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication 
system. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight 
cases of engine power loss or ultimately, shutdown.
    This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine power or 
uncommanded engine shutdown during flight due to excessive crankcase 
blow-by gas pressure.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Remove the blow-by oil separators listed by part number in 
Table 1 of this AD within the next 110 flight hours after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (2) Use the Measures section of Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH 
Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-0019, Revision 1, dated March 5, 
2009, to do the removal from service.

FAA AD Differences

    (f) None.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2010-0020, dated 
February 8, 2010, for related information.
    (i) Contact Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199, 
for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Service Bulletin 
No. TM TAE 125-0019, Revision 1, dated March 5, 2009, to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350, 
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-
696- 55; e-mail: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com.
    (3) 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 July 1, 2010.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-16618 Filed 7-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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