Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Model E4 Diesel Piston Engines

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54373-54374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22347]



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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 170 / Thursday, September 1, 2011 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 54373]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1055; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-35-AD; 
Amendment 39-16801; AD 2011-18-19]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Model E4 Diesel 
Piston Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for the products listed above. That AD currently requires frequent 
inspections of the fuel pressure supply for excessive oscillations to 
determine if high-pressure (HP) fuel pumps have been exposed to 
damaging pressure oscillations. Pumps that have been exposed require 
replacement before further flight. This new AD requires the initial and 
repetitive inspections of AD 2010-23-09, but also requires installing 
HP fuel pump part number (P/N) E4A-30-200-000, as mandatory terminating 
action to the repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
engine power loss or in-flight shutdown, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective October 6, 2011.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 22, 
2010 (75 FR 68179, November 5, 2010).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Austro Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A-2700 Weiner Neustadt, 
Austria, phone: +43 2622 23000; fax: +43 2622 23000-2711, or go to: 
http://www.austroengine.at. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
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 address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7176; 
fax: 781-238-7199; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498 (75 FR 68179, 
November 5, 2010). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2011 (76 FR 33660). That 
NPRM proposed to continue to require frequent inspections of the fuel 
pressure supply for excessive oscillations to determine if high-
pressure fuel pumps have been exposed to damaging pressure 
oscillations. That NPRM also proposed to require installing HP fuel 
pump P/N E4A-30-200-000, as mandatory terminating action to the 
repetitive inspections.

Comments

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

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant 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 32 model E4 diesel piston engines, installed on airplanes 
of US registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour 
per engine to perform one inspection, and about 2 work-hours per engine 
to replace the HP fuel pump. The average labor rate is $85 per work-
hour. Required parts will cost about $2,325 per product. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to be 
$82,560.

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),

[[Page 54374]]

    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498 (75 FR 68179, November 5, 2010), and 
adding the following new AD:

2011-18-19 Austro Engine GmbH: Amendment 39-16801; Docket No. FAA-
2010-1055; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-35-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 6, 
2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498 (75 FR 
68179, November 5, 2010).

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Austro Engine GmbH model E4 diesel piston 
engines, with high-pressure (HP) fuel pump, part number (P/N) E4A-
30-100-000, installed.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by Austro Engine GmbH introducing a new 
P/N fuel pump as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections required by AD 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498 (75 FR 
68179, November 5, 2010). We are issuing this AD to prevent engine 
power loss or in-flight shutdown, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Inspect the fuel pressure supply for excessive oscillations 
using the inspection schedule in Table 1 of this AD.

                                          Table 1--Inspection Schedule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Accumulated Time-Since-New (TSN)
  or Time Since Last Inspection                                   Compliance time:
             (TSLI):
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45 flight hours or more..........  Within 10 flight hours after the effective date of this AD.
Fewer than 45 flight hours.......  Before 55 flight hours TSN or TSLI.
Repetitive inspections...........  Before 55 flight hours TSLI.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (2) Use Austro Engine GmbH Work Instruction No. WI-MSB-E4-009, 
dated October 7, 2010, to do the inspections.
    (3) Replace the HP fuel pump before further flight with a new HP 
fuel pump, P/N E4A-30-200-000, if the oscillations exceed 300mV 
(750hPa).

Mandatory Terminating Action

    (4) As mandatory terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections, within 120 flight hours after the effective date of 
this AD, replace the HP fuel pump, P/N E4A-30-100-000, with a HP 
fuel pump, P/N E4A-30-200-000. Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB-E4-009/2 contains guidance on replacing the 
HP fuel pump.

Installation Prohibitions

    (f) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any HP 
fuel pump P/N E4A-30-100-000, onto any engine.
    (g) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
engine equipped with HP fuel pump P/N E4A-30-100-000, onto any 
airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) 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

    (i) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 
Directive 2011-0039, dated March 8, 2011, and Austro Engine GmbH MSB 
No. MSB-E4-009/2, dated March 4, 2011, for related information.
    (j) For more information about this AD, contact James Lawrence, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-238-7199; e-mail: 
[email protected].

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Austro Engine GmbH Work Instruction No. WI-MSB-
E4-009, dated October 7, 2010, to do the inspections required by 
this AD. The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51, 
as of November 22, 2010.
    (l) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Austro Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A-2700 Weiner 
Neustadt, Austria, phone: +43 2622 23000; fax: +43 2622 23000-2711, 
or go to: http://www.austroengine.at. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.
    (m) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 24, 2011.
Thomas A. Boudreau,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-22347 Filed 8-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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