Airworthiness Directives; Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) Reciprocating Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 101 (Thursday, May 24, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30881-30883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12612]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1341; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-41-AD; 
Amendment 39-17062; AD 2012-10-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) 
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 certain Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) models TSIO-520, TSIO-550-K, 
TSIOF-550K, and IO-550-N series reciprocating engines with new or 
rebuilt CMI starter adapters installed between January 1, 2011 and 
November 20, 2011. That AD currently requires replacing affected CMI 
starter adapters with starter adapters eligible for installation. This 
AD requires the same actions, but to an expanded population of 
reciprocating engines. This AD was prompted by two additional reports 
received of fractures in starter adapter gear shafts in certain 
additional part number (P/N) CMI starter adapters since we issued the 
existing AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent starter adapter gear 
shaft failure which could cause oil scavenge pump failure and engine 
in-flight shutdown.

DATES: This AD is effective June 8, 2012.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by July 9, 2012.

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. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Continental 
Motors, Inc., PO Box 90, Mobile, AL 36601; phone: 251-438-3411, or go 
to: http://tcmlink.com/servicebulletins.cfm.

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: Anthony Holton, Aerospace Engineer, 
Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5567; fax: 404-474-
5606; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On December 5, 2011, we issued AD 2011-25-51, Amendment 39-16891 
(76 FR 77382, December 13, 2011). That AD applied to certain CMI models 
TSIO-520, TSIO-550-K, TSIOF-550K, and IO-550-N series reciprocating 
engines manufactured between January 1, 2011 and November 20, 2011 with 
certain starter adapters installed. That AD also applied to those same 
engine models where a replacement new or rebuilt starter adapter from 
CMI was installed between January 1, 2011 and November 20, 2011. That 
AD requires replacing affected CMI starter adapters with starter 
adapters eligible for installation. That AD resulted from five reports 
of fractures in starter adapter gear shafts in certain P/N CMI starter 
adapters. We issued that AD to prevent starter adapter gear shaft 
failure which could cause oil scavenge pump failure and engine in-
flight shutdown.

Actions Since AD 2011-25-51 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2011-25-51 (76 FR 77382, December 13, 2011), we 
received 2 additional reports of fractures in starter adapter shaft 
gears in CMI starter adapters not listed in that AD. This AD 
supersedure expands the population of affected starter adapters by 
adding five P/Ns, P/Ns 642085A18; 642085A22; R-642085A18; R-642085A19; 
and R-642085A22, to the applicability. This AD supersedure also expands 
the applicability from new or rebuilt CMI starter adapters installed 
between January 1, 2011 and November 20, 2011, to, new or rebuilt CMI 
starter adapters installed before November 20, 2011.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information

[[Page 30882]]

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 replacing affected CMI starter adapters on 
affected engines with starter adapters eligible for installation.

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 
the short compliance time required to remove the affected parts from 
service. 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-2011-1341 and directorate identifier FAA-2011-NE-
41-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 affect 225 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4 
work-hours per engine to perform the actions required by this AD, and 
that the average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will 
cost about $500 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $189,000.

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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (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) 
2011-25-51, Amendment 39-16891, (76 FR 77382, December 13, 2011) and 
adding the following new AD:

2012-10-13 Continental Motors, Inc. (formerly Teledyne Continental 
Motors, formerly Continental): Amendment 39-17062; Docket No. FAA-
2011-1341; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-41-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective June 8, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2011-25-51, Amendment 39-16891 (76 FR 
77382, December 13, 2011).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) TSIO-520-B, 
BB, D, DB, E, EB, J, JB, K, KB, N, NB, UB, VB; TSIO-550-K; TSIOF-
550-K; IO-550-N (Turbo-normalized only; STC SE10589SC); with a 
starter adapter part number (P/N) 642085A17; 642085A18; 642085A19; 
642085A20; 642085A22; 642085-1A1, R-642085A17; R-642085A18; R-
642085A19; or R-642085A22 installed, where the engine was 
manufactured before November 20, 2011, or, where a new or rebuilt 
starter adapter was installed before November 20, 2011.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by two additional reports received of 
fractures in starter adapter gear shafts in certain additional P/N 
CMI starter adapters since we issued AD 2011-25-51 (76 FR 77382, 
December 13, 2011). We are issuing this AD to prevent starter 
adapter gear shaft failure which could cause oil scavenge pump 
failure and engine in-flight shutdown.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) For starter adapters with less than 75 hours of total time-
in-service (TIS) on the effective date of this AD, before further 
flight, replace the starter adapter with a starter adapter eligible 
for installation.
    (2) For starter adapters with between 75 and 100 hours of total 
TIS, inclusive on the effective date of this AD, within the next 10 
hours of engine operation, or before exceeding 100 hours TIS, 
whichever occurs first, replace the starter adapter with a starter 
adapter eligible for installation.
    (3) For starter adapters with more than 100 hours of total TIS 
on the effective date of this AD, no further action is required.

(f) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a starter adapter eligible for 
installation is:
    (1) A starter adapter with one of the P/Ns listed in this AD 
that has a vibro-peened manufacturer code below the ink stamped P/N 
on the starter adapter, or
    (2) A starter adapter with one of the P/Ns listed in this AD 
that has more than 100 hours total TIS.

[[Page 30883]]

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(h) Related Information

    (1) For further information about this AD, contact: Anthony 
Holton, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30337; 
phone: 404-474-5567; fax: 404-474-5606; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) CMI Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB11-4B, dated April 4, 
2012, pertains to this AD.
    (3) For copies of the service information referenced in this AD, 
contact: Continental Motors, Inc., PO Box 90, Mobile, AL 36601; 
phone: 251-438-3411, or go to: http://tcmlink.com/servicebulletins.cfm. 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 16, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12612 Filed 5-23-12; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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