Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Reciprocating Engines

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4217-4219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1607]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0956; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-23-AD; 
Amendment 39-16928; AD 2012-02-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH 
Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE)

[[Page 4218]]

TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines. This AD was 
prompted by in-flight engine shutdown incidents reported on airplanes 
equipped with TAE 125 engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-
flight engine shutdown, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective March 2, 2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350, 
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-696-
55; email: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com. 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: Alan Strom, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
MA; phone: (781) 238-7143; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, issued EASA AD 
2011-0087-E, dated May 12, 2011 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    In-flight engine shutdown incidents have been reported on 
aeroplanes equipped with TAE 125 engines.
    Preliminary investigations showed that it was mainly the result 
of the sensitivity of friction disk Part Number (P/N) 05-7211-
K010201 against possible misalignment of gearbox and core engine 
during assembly.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in further cases 
of engine in-flight shutdown and consequent loss of control of the 
aeroplane.
    To address this unsafe condition, Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH 
has developed a new friction disk.

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 18, 2011 (76 FR 
64289). That NPRM was proposed to require on all TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 
125-02-114 reciprocating engines, replacing the friction disk, P/N 05-
7211-K010201.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (76 FR 64289, October 18, 
2011).

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 206 TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will 
take about 3 work-hours per engine to comply with this AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $1,500 
per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on 
U.S. operators to be $361,530. Our cost estimate is exclusive of 
possible warranty coverage.

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 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):

2012-02-05 Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH: Amendment 39-16928; 
Docket No. FAA-2011-0956; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-23-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective March 2, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH TAE 125-
02-99 and TAE-125-02-114 reciprocating engines with friction disk, 
part number (P/N) 05-7211-K010201, installed.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by in-flight engine shutdown incidents 
reported on airplanes equipped with TAE 125 engines. Preliminary 
investigations showed that it was mainly the result of the 
sensitivity of friction disk P/N

[[Page 4219]]

05-7211-K010201 against possible misalignment of gearbox and core 
engine during assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight 
engine shutdown, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.

(1) TAE 125-02-99 Engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000201; 05-7200-K000701; 05-
7200-K000101; 05-7200-K000901; 05-7200-K001101; and 05-7200-K001301; 
and TAE 125-02-114 Engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000501; 05-7200-K000801; and 
05-7200-K001401

    For TAE 125-02-99 engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000201; 05-7200-
K000701; 05-7200-K000101; 05-7200-K000901; 05-7200-K001101; and 05-
7200-K001301; and TAE 125-02-114 engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000501; 05-
7200-K000801; and 05-7200-K001401, remove friction disk, P/N 05-
7211-K010201, within 100 flight hours (FH) time-since-new (TSN) on 
the clutch or within 10 FH time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever is later.

(2) TAE 125-02-99 Engines, P/Ns 05-7200-K000301

    For TAE 125-02-99 engines, P/N 05-7200-K000301, installed on 
multiengine aircraft, remove friction disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201, on 
one engine within 100 FH TSN on the clutch or within 10 FH TIS after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever is later. Remove friction 
disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201, from the other engine within 300 FH TSN 
on the clutch or within 10 FH TIS after the effective date of this 
AD, whichever is later.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD:
    (1) Do not install any friction disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201, into 
any engine.
    (2) Do not install any TAE 125-02-99 engine, P/N 05-7200-
K000201, 05-7200-K000301, or 05-7200-K000701, or TAE 125-02-114 
engine, P/N 05-7200-K00801 or 05-7200-K00501, that has a friction 
disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201 installed, onto any airplane.

(g) Operating Prohibition

    Do not operate any multi-engine aircraft after 300 FH TSN on the 
clutch or 10 FH TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
is later, which has installed a friction disk, P/N 05-7211-K010201.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Alan Strom, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA; phone: (781) 238-7143; fax: (781) 
238-7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to EASA Airworthiness Directive 2011-0087-E, dated May 
12, 2011, and Thielert Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-1013 P1, for 
related information.
    (3) Contact Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 
D-09350, Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: 
+49-37204-696-55; email: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com, for a copy of 
this service information.
    (4) You may review copies of the 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.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 19, 2012.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-1607 Filed 1-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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