Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop Engines

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 8 (Friday, January 11, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2331-2333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31361]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0416; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-13-AD; 
Amendment 39-17303; AD 2012-26-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW118, PW118A, PW118B, 
PW119B, PW119C, PW120, PW120A, PW121, PW121A, PW123, PW123B, PW123C, 
PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, PW126A, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, 
PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines. That AD currently requires 
initial and repetitive inspections of certain serial numbers (S/Ns) of 
propeller shafts for cracks and removal from service if found cracked. 
This new AD requires the same actions, but requires removal from 
service of affected propeller shafts as mandatory terminating action to 
the repetitive inspections. This AD was prompted by reports of two 
propeller shafts found cracked at time of inspection during 
maintenance. We are issuing this AD to detect propeller shaft cracks, 
which could cause failure of the shaft, propeller release, and loss of 
control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective February 15, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 15, 
2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of July 
20, 2012 (77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, 
J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Web site: www.pwc.ca. 
You may view this 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: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email: 
[email protected]; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2012-11-14, Amendment 39-17078 (77 FR 39624, 
July 5, 2012). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2012 (77 FR 56794). 
That NPRM proposed initial and repetitive inspections of certain S/Ns 
of propeller shafts for cracks and removal from service if found 
cracked. That NPRM also proposed to require the removal from service of 
affected propeller shafts

[[Page 2332]]

as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 56794, September 
14, 2012).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed (77 FR 56794, 
September 14, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 570 P&WC engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We estimate that it will take 6 hours per 
engine to remove the propeller shaft for inspection, 1 hour to perform 
the inspection, 65 hours to remove and reinstall the engine if needed, 
and 35 hours to replace the propeller shaft. We estimate that 
consumable materials will cost $2,200 per engine, and required engine 
testing will cost $5,000. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. We 
expect that about 30 engines will be found with propeller shafts 
requiring a replacement propeller shaft. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to be $1,028,850.

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

    We have determined that 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 the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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 removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
2012-11-14, Amendment 39-17078 (77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012), and adding 
the following new AD:

2012-26-08 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp: Amendment 39-17303 ; Docket 
No. FAA-2012-0416; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-13-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 15, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2012-11-14 (77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) 
PW118, PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, PW119C, PW120, PW120A, PW121, PW121A, 
PW123, PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, 
PW126A, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines, 
with the serial number (S/N) propeller shafts listed in P&WC Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) No. PW100-72-A21813, Revision 3, dated March 
21, 2012, ASB No. PW100-72-A21802, Revision 4, dated March 16, 2012, 
and ASB No. PW100-72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of two propeller shafts found 
cracked at time of inspection during maintenance. We are issuing 
this AD to detect propeller shaft cracks, which could cause failure 
of the shaft, propeller release, and loss of control of the 
airplane.

(e) Compliance

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

(f) Inspecting Propeller Shafts

    (1) For propeller shafts with an S/N listed in Table 1 and Table 
2 of P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-A21813, Revision 3, dated March 21, 2012:
    (i) For engines not yet initially inspected per AD 2012-11-14 
(77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012), before further flight, perform either 
an initial visual inspection or an initial ultrasonic inspection 
(UI) for cracks, in accordance with paragraphs 3.C.(1) through 
3.C.(1)(a), and 3.C.(2) of P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-A21813, Revision 3, 
dated March 21, 2012, and Section 9 of P&WC Special Instruction (SI) 
P&WC No. 22-2012, R2, dated April 4, 2012.
    (ii) If the visual inspection was performed, repeat the visual 
inspection within 50 engine flight hours (EFH) after the initial 
inspection, and thereafter within every 10 EFH, until the propeller 
shaft is removed from service.
    (iii) If the UI was performed, repeat the UI at intervals not to 
exceed 1,000 EFH, until the propeller shaft is removed from service.
    (2) If a crack is found during any of the inspections required 
by this AD, remove the propeller shaft from service before the next 
flight.

(g) Mandatory Terminating Action

    As mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections 
required by this AD:
    (1) For propeller shafts with an S/N listed in Table 1 of P&WC 
ASB No. PW100-72-A21802, Revision 4, dated March 16, 2012, remove 
the propeller shafts from service before further flight.
    (2) For affected S/N propeller shafts listed in Table 1 of P&WC 
ASB No. PW100-72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012, remove 
the propeller shafts from service within 6 months after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (3) For affected S/N propeller shafts listed in Table 2 of P&WC 
ASB No. PW100-72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012, remove 
the propeller shafts from service within 12 months after the 
effective date of this AD.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    (1) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
propeller shaft S/Ns listed in Table 1 of P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-
A21802, Revision 4, dated March 16, 2012, into any engine.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
propeller shaft S/Ns listed in Table 1 and Table 2 of P&WC ASB No. 
PW100-72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012, into any engine.

[[Page 2333]]

(i) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    (1) Initial inspections performed before the effective date of 
this AD using P&WC ASB No. PW100-72-A21813, Revision 3, dated March 
21, 2012 or earlier revisions satisfy the initial inspection 
requirements of paragraph (f) of this AD. However, you must perform 
the repetitive inspection intervals specified in paragraph (f).
    (2) Ultrasonic inspections performed before the effective date 
of this AD per Special Instruction P&WC 22-2012R2, dated April 4, 
2012, or earlier revisions satisfy the requirements of paragraph (f) 
of this AD.

(j) 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact James Lawrence, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; email: [email protected]; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-
238-7199.
    (2) Refer to Transport Canada AD CF-2012-12, dated March 26, 
2012, for related information.

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Pratt & Whitney Canada Alert Service Bulletin ASB No. PW100-
72-A21798, Revision 5, dated March 20, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
July 20, 2012, (77 FR 39624, July 5, 2012).
    (i) Pratt & Whitney Canada Alert Service Bulletin No. PW100-72-
A21813, Revision 3, dated March 21, 2012.
    (ii) Pratt & Whitney Canada Alert Service Bulletin No. PW100-72-
A21802, Revision 4, dated March 16, 2012.
    (iii) Pratt & Whitney Canada Special Instruction P&WC 22-2012R2, 
dated April 4, 2012.
    (4) For Pratt & Whitney Canada service information identified in 
this AD, contact Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, 
Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-
647-2888; Web site: www.pwc.ca.
    (5) You may view this 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.
    (6) You may view this service information 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://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 21, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-31361 Filed 1-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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