Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 Model Turboprop Engines With Certain Dixie Aerospace, LLC Main Shaft Bearings

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61255-61257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25481]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0935; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-28-AD; 
Amendment 39-16813; AD 2011-18-51R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 
Model Turboprop Engines With Certain Dixie Aerospace, LLC Main Shaft 
Bearings

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are revising an existing emergency airworthiness directive 
(AD) for all Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 model turboprop 
engines with a part manufacturer approval (PMA) replacement Dixie 
Aerospace, LLC main shaft bearing part number (P/N) 3108098-1WD, 
installed. That emergency AD was not published in the Federal Register, 
but was sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of these engines. 
That AD currently requires an inspection of the airplane records to 
determine if a Dixie Aerospace, LLC main shaft bearing, P/N 3108098-
1WD, is installed in the engine, and if installed, removal of that 
bearing from service, before further flight. This AD requires the same 
actions. This AD revision was prompted by the need to list the affected 
bearings by serial number (S/N) in the AD for clarification. We are 
issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 19, 2011.
    We must receive comments on this AD by November 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

[[Page 61256]]

    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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 in the ADDRESSES 
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after 
receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juanita Craft, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5584; fax: 404-474-5606; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On August 17, 2011, we issued Emergency AD 2011-18-51, for all 
Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 model turboprop engines with a PMA 
replacement Dixie Aerospace, LLC main shaft bearing, P/N 3108098-1WD, 
installed. That AD requires inspection of the airplane records to 
determine if a Dixie Aerospace, LLC main shaft bearing, part number (P/
N) 3108098-1WD, is installed in the engine, and if installed, removal 
of that bearing from service, before further flight. That emergency AD 
resulted from an excessive failure rate of PMA main shaft bearings, P/N 
3108098-1WD, manufactured by Dixie Aerospace, LLC. That emergency AD 
was not published in the Federal Register, but was sent to all known 
U.S. owners and operators of these engines. This AD requires the same 
actions. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine main rotor seizure 
resulting in engine damage, shutdown, and damage to the airplane.
    Under 14 CFR 39.1, the Engine & Propeller Directorate is only 
authorized to issue airworthiness directives that apply to aircraft 
engines, propellers, or appliances (hereinafter referred to in this AD 
as ``products'') when an unsafe condition exists in a product; and that 
unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the 
same type design. Therefore, although the unsafe condition is caused by 
the failure of certain PMA parts manufactured by Dixie Aerospace, LLC, 
for the product affected, we must include the type certificate (TC) 
holder's legal name in the subject line of the AD. For this AD, the TC 
holder is Honeywell International Inc.

Actions Since AD 2011-18-51 Was Issued

    We are revising Emergency AD 2011-18-51 with this final rule 
because we determined the need to list the affected bearings by serial 
number (S/N) in the AD for clarification.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires an inspection of records to determine if certain 
S/N Dixie Aerospace, LLC main shaft bearings, P/N 3108098-1WD, are 
installed in Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 model turboprop 
engines. Within 10 operating hours, affected bearings must be removed 
from service.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the 
bearing failure mechanism is severe and sudden. Therefore, we find that 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment 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 we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send 
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
the docket number FAA-2011-0935 and Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-28-
AD at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments 
on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects 
of this AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this AD because of those comments.
    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 we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will require 1,000 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry to have their records inspected, and the 
inspection will take about 0.5 hour per engine. We also estimate that 
one engine will require the affected main shaft bearing to be removed 
from service. We also estimate that it will take about 24 work-hours 
per engine to remove the bearing from service and that the average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. A replacement bearing will cost about 
$5,750. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to 
U.S. operators to be $50,290.

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

    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.

[[Page 61257]]

    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),
    (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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2011-18-51R1 Honeywell International Inc.: Amendment 39-16813; 
Docket No. FAA-2011-0935; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-28-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD is effective October 19, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD revises emergency AD 2011-18-51.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 
model turboprop engines with the serial numbers (S/Ns) of part 
manufacturer approval (PMA) replacement Dixie Aerospace, LLC main 
shaft bearings, part number (P/N) 3108098-1WD, listed by S/N in 
Table 1 of this AD, installed. Bearings having the P/N 3108098-1, 
but not the WD at the end of the P/N, are not affected by this AD.

               Table 1--Affected S/Ns of Dixie Aerospace, LLC Main Shaft Bearings, P/N 3108098-1WD
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           A10-1727               A10-1762               A10-1764               A10-1770               A10-1771
           A10-1775               A10-1776               A10-1780               A10-1786               A10-1789
           A10-1796               A10-1798               A10-1799               A10-1800               A10-1801
           A10-1803               A10-1804               A10-1805               A10-1809               A10-1810
           A10-1811               A10-1814               A10-1818               A10-1822               A10-1825
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Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD revision was prompted by the need to list the 
affected bearings by S/N in the AD for clarification. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent engine main rotor seizure resulting in engine 
damage, shutdown, and damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (f) For all airplanes with a Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 
model turboprop engine installed, where the engine was overhauled or 
replaced since February 1, 2010:
    (1) Within 10 operating hours, inspect the airplane records to 
determine if any of the S/Ns of Dixie Aerospace, LLC main shaft 
bearing, P/N 3108098-1WD, listed in Table 1 of this AD, are 
installed in the engine.
    (2) Remove all S/Ns of Dixie Aerospace, LLC main shaft bearings 
listed in Table 1 of this AD, from service, before further flight.

Installation Prohibition

    (g) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any of 
the bearings listed in Table 1 of this AD into any engine.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft 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) For further information about this AD, contact: Juanita 
Craft, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5584; fax: 404-474-5606; e-
mail: [email protected].


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 16, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-25481 Filed 10-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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