Airworthiness Directives; Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. Airplanes Equipped With Pratt & Whitney Canada, Corp. PW610F-A Engines

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 243 (Monday, December 19, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78526-78528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31795]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0199; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-005-AD; 
Amendment 39-16890; AD 2011-06-06 R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. Airplanes 
Equipped With Pratt & Whitney Canada, Corp. PW610F-A Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to all Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. Model EA500 airplanes equipped 
with Pratt & Whitney Canada, Corp. (P&WC) Model PW610F-A engines. The 
existing AD currently requires incorporating an operating limitation of 
a maximum operating altitude of 30,000 feet into Section 2, 
Limitations, of the airplane flight manual (AFM). Since we issued that 
AD, P&WC has developed a design change for the combustion chamber liner 
assembly. This new AD retains the requirements of the current AD, 
clarifies the engine applicability, and allows the option of 
incorporating the design change to terminate the current operating 
limitation and restore the original certificated maximum operating 
altitude of 41,000 feet. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 23, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 23, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada, 1000 Marie-Victorin Blvd., Longueuil, Quebec, J4G 1A1 
Canada; telephone: (800) 268-8000; Internet: www.P&WC.ca. You may 
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 
329-4148.

[[Page 78527]]

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: Eric Kinney, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 
Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222-5459; fax: (817) 222-5960; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to revise AD 2011-06-06, Amendment 39-16631 (76 FR 13078, March 
10, 2011). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on October 13, 2011 (76 FR 63571). 
That NPRM proposed to retain all requirements of AD 2011-06-06, clarify 
the engine applicability, and allow the option of incorporating Pratt & 
Whitney Canada Service Bulletin P&WC S.B. No. 60077, dated June 1, 
2011, to terminate the operating limitations set in AD 2011-06-06 and 
restore the original certificated altitude of 41,000 feet.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (76 FR 63571, October 13, 
2011) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (76 FR 63571, October 13, 2011) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 259 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
                 [Retained from AD 2011-06-06, Amendment 39-16631 (76 FR 13078, March 10, 2011)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                         Labor cost            Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incorporate operating limitations of  1 work-hour x $85 per hour  Not Applicable             $85         $22,015
 maximum operating altitude of         = $85.
 30,000 feet into Section 2,
 Limitations, of the AFM.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The cost presented above is a cost estimate only. A person holding 
at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) may insert the AFM 
change.

                                                 Estimated Costs
                                                [Optional action]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                         Labor cost            Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incorporation of Pratt & Whitney      20 work-hours x $85 per       $236,610 for    $238,310 for     $61,722,290
 Canada Service Bulletin P&WC S.B.     hour = $1,700 for both       both engines    both engines        for both
 No. 60077, dated June 1, 2011, on     engines.                                                          engines
 both engines.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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.

[[Page 78528]]

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) 
2011-06-06, Amendment 39-16631 (76 FR 13078, March 10, 2011), and 
adding the following new AD:

2011-06-06 R1 Eclipse Aerospace, Inc.: Amendment 39-16890; Docket 
No. FAA-2011-0199; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-005-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective January 23, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD revises AD 2011-06-06, Amendment 39-16631 (76 FR 13078, 
March 10, 2011).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. Model EA500 
airplanes, all serial numbers, that are:
    (1) Equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada, Corp. Model PW610F-A 
engines, all serial numbers up to and including serial number PCE-
LA0583; and
    (2) Certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 72, Engine.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by several incidents of engine surge. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent hard carbon buildup on the static 
vane, which could result in engine surges. Engine surges may result 
in a necessary reduction in thrust and decreased power for the 
affected engine. In some cases, this could result in flight and 
landing under single-engine conditions. It is also possible this 
could affect both engines at the same time, requiring dual-engine 
shutdown.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Action Retained from AD 2011-06-06, Amendment 39-16631 (76 FR 
13078, March 10, 2011)

    (1) Before further flight after March 21, 2011 (the effective 
date retained from AD 2011-06-06), incorporate the following 
language into Section 2, Limitations, of your airplane flight manual 
(AFM): ``Per AD 2011-06-06, LIMIT THE MAXIMUM OPERATING ALTITUDE TO 
30,000 FEET (9144M) PRESSURE ALTITUDE.''
    (2) A person holding at least a private pilot certificate as 
authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 43.7) may insert the operating limitations into Section 2, 
Limitations, of the AFM. Make an entry into the aircraft logbook 
showing compliance with this portion of the AD in accordance with 
section 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
    (3) You may incorporate paragraph (g) of this AD into Section 2, 
Limitations, of your AFM to comply with this AD.

(h) Optional Action To Restore Original Certificated Maximum Operating 
Altitude

    (1) You may, at any time after compliance with paragraph (g) of 
this AD, on both engines replace the turbofan engine combustion 
chamber liner assembly with one that has inner and outer liner 
assemblies that include heat shields. Do the replacements in 
accordance with Pratt & Whitney Canada Service Bulletin P&WC S.B. 
No. 60077, dated June 1, 2011. This includes the change to the 
weight and balance in paragraph 1.H. in the service bulletin.
    (2) Before further flight after doing the replacement specified 
in paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, remove the limitation required in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this AD.
    (3) Within 30 days after doing the replacement specified in 
paragraph (h)(1) of this AD or within 30 days after January 23, 2012 
(the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, send a memo 
or email to Eric Kinney at the address specified in paragraph (k) of 
this AD notifying him of the completion of the replacement. In this 
notification, include the airplane serial number, engine serial 
numbers, and time-in-service (TIS) hours at the time of replacement.

(i) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 
collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in the Related Information 
section of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.
    (3) AMOCs approved for AD 2011-06-06, Amendment 39-16631 (76 FR 
13078, March 10, 2011) are approved as AMOCs for this AD.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Eric Kinney, 
Aerospace Engineer, Fort Worth ACO, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 
Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222-5459; fax: (817) 222-5960; 
email: [email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) You must use Pratt & Whitney Canada Service Bulletin P&WC 
S.B. No. 60077, dated June 1, 2011, to do the actions required by 
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) under 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 on January 23, 2012.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada, 1000 Marie-Victorin Blvd., Longueuil, Quebec, J4G 
1A1 Canada; telephone: (800) 268-8000; Internet: http://www.P&WC.ca.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call (816) 329-4148.
    (4) 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 Kansas City, Missouri, on December 6, 2011.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-31795 Filed 12-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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