Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) Reciprocating Engines

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68636-68638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28672]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0683; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-25-AD; 
Amendment 39-16852; AD 2011-23-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) 
Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) Models TAE 125-01 and TAE 125-
02-99 reciprocating engines. That AD currently requires replacement of 
certain part numbers (P/Ns) and serial numbers (S/Ns) of clutch 
assemblies due to clutch failure. The failures identified above could 
lead to engine in-flight shutdown and loss of control of the airplane. 
This AD requires the same actions, but applies the corrective action to 
an additional 244 affected clutch assemblies. This AD was prompted by 
TAE identifying additional clutch assemblies with nonconforming disc 
springs. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 22, 2011.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Service Bulletin (SB) No. 
TM TAE 125-0021, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2011, and SB No. TM TAE 
125-1011 P1, Revision 2, dated August 31, 2011, listed in the AD as of 
November 22, 2011.
    We must receive comments on this AD by December 22, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.

[[Page 68637]]

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 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 street address for 
the Docket 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: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email: 
[email protected]; phone: (781) 238-7143; fax: (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On August 16, 2010, we issued AD 2010-18-02, Amendment 39-16415 (75 
FR 52240, August 25, 2010), for certain TAE models TAE 125-01 and TAE 
125-02-99 reciprocating engines. That AD resulted from reports of 
engine in-flight shutdowns. Preliminary investigations by TAE showed 
that nonconforming disc springs (improper heat treatment) used in a 
certain production batch of the clutch caused the shutdowns. That AD 
requires replacement of certain clutch assemblies. We issued that AD to 
prevent in-flight shutdown leading to loss of control of the airplane.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2010-18-02 (75 FR 52240, August 25, 2010), TAE 
identified an additional 244 affected clutch assemblies with 
nonconforming disc springs. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
has issued AD 2011-0152-E, dated August 18, 2011, which requires 
replacement of additional clutch assemblies.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed TAE SB No. TM TAE 125-0021, Revision 1, dated August 
17, 2011, and SB No. TM TAE 125-1011 P1 Revision 2, dated August 31, 
2011. The SBs describe procedures for removing the affected clutch 
assemblies from service, and contain the expanded list of serial 
numbers of affected clutch assemblies.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the 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, for engines with affected clutch assemblies that 
have accumulated 100 flight hours or more, replacement of affected 
clutch assemblies before further flight, and for engines with affected 
clutch assemblies that have accumulated less than 100 flight hours, 
replacement of affected clutch assemblies before accumulating 100 
flight hours.

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 of 
TAE identifying 244 additional clutch assemblies with nonconforming 
disc springs and the need for operators to comply with some of the AD 
actions before further flight. Therefore, we determined that notice and 
opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable 
and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer 
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 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-2010-0683; and directorate identifier 2010-NE-25-
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.

Cost of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 104 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 16 
work-hours per engine to perform the clutch assembly replacement. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about 
$1,796. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. 
operators to be $328,224.

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.
    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),
    (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:

[[Page 68638]]

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) 
2010-18-02, Amendment 39-16415 (75 FR 52240, August 25, 2010), and 
adding the following new AD:

2011-23-01 Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH: Amendment 39-16852; 
Docket No. FAA-2010-0683; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-25-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective November 22, 2011.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2010-18-02, Amendment 39-16415, (75 FR 
52240, August 25, 2010).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE):
    (1) TAE 125-01 reciprocating engines (commercial designation 
Centurion 1.7), all serial numbers (S/Ns), if a clutch assembly part 
number (P/N) 02-7210-11001R13 is installed, and
    (2) TAE 125-02-99 reciprocating engines (commercial designation 
Centurion 2.0), all S/Ns, if a clutch assembly P/N 05-7211-K006001 
or P/N 05-7211-K006002 is installed.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by TAE identifying additional clutch 
assemblies that could fail with nonconforming disc springs. These 
failures could lead to engine in-flight shutdown and loss of control 
of the airplane. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe 
condition on these products.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) After the effective date of this AD, for clutch assembly P/N 
02-7210-11001R13, P/N 05-7211-K006001 and P/N 05-7211-K006002, with 
an S/N listed in TAE Service Bulletin (SB) No. TM TAE 125-0021, 
Revision 1, dated August 17, 2011, or SB No. TM TAE 125-1011 P1, 
Revision 2, dated August 31, 2011, do the following:
    (i) For engines with affected clutch assemblies that have 
accumulated 100 flight hours or more on the effective date of this 
AD, replace the clutch assembly before further flight.
    (ii) For engines with affected clutch assemblies that have 
accumulated less than 100 flight hours on the effective date of this 
AD, replace the clutch assembly before accumulating 100 flight 
hours.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD:
    (i) Do not install an engine having a clutch assembly that is 
listed by S/N in TAE SB No. TM TAE 125-0021, Revision 1, dated 
August 17, 2011, or SB No. TM TAE 125-1011 P1, Revision 2, dated 
August 31, 2011, and
    (ii) Do not install any clutch assembly listed by S/N in TAE SB 
No. TM TAE 125-0021, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2011, or SB No. TM 
TAE 125-1011 P1, Revision 2, dated August 31, 2011, into any engine.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(g) Related Information

    (1) Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2011-0152-E, dated August 18, 2011, 
for related information.
    (2) Contact Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification 
Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email: [email protected]; 
phone: (781) 238-7143; fax: (781) 238-7199, for more information 
about this AD.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Service Bulletin 
No. TM TAE 125-0021, Revision 1, dated August 17, 2011, and Service 
Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-1011 P1, Revision 2, dated August 31, 2011, 
to identify the affected clutch assemblies requiring replacement by 
this AD.
    (2) 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.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350, 
Lichtenstein, Germany; phone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-696-
55; email: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com.
    (4) 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:[sol][sol]www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-
locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 19, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-28672 Filed 11-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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