Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH Reciprocating Engines

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1728-1730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31589]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD; 
Amendment 39-17307; AD 2012-26-12]
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) TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 
reciprocating engines. This AD requires inspection of the oil filler 
plug vent hole at the next scheduled maintenance or within 110 flight 
hours after the effective date of this AD. If chips are found to be 
blocking the vent hole, additional corrective action is required before 
next flight. This AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown of an 
airplane equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent engine in-flight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting 
in reduced control of the airplane.

[[Page 1729]]


DATES: This AD becomes effective February 13, 2013. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in this AD as of February 13, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; email: 
[email protected]; telephone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    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 was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2012 (77 
FR 53154). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

An engine in-flight shutdown has been reported on an aeroplane 
equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine. The results of the 
investigation showed that this was due to blockage of the gearbox 
oil filling plug vent hole, which caused pressurisation in the 
gearbox, resulting in oil leakage and a slipping clutch. This 
condition, if not corrected, could result in further cases of engine 
in-flight shutdown and consequent loss of control of the aeroplane.

Further investigation revealed that the blockage to the oil cap vent 
was the result of a residual chip from machining the oil cap vent hole. 
The chip is from the manufacturing process and did not fall off the oil 
plug. This is not the result of material in the oil system causing the 
blockage. You may obtain further information including the affected 
gearbox serial number list by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 45 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
2.5 hours per product to comply with this proposed AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts will cost about $30 per 
engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD to U.S. 
operators to be $10,913.

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 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 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); and
    3. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
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 Operations office (phone: (800) 647-5527) is provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

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 AD:

2012-26-12 Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH: Amendment 39-17307; 
Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February 13, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Thielert Aircraft Engines (TAE) TAE 125-
02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by an in-flight shutdown of an airplane 
equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent engine in-flight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting 
in reduced control of the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, within 110 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, or at the next scheduled maintenance, whichever 
occurs first, do the following.
    (1) Remove the oil filler plug and check for chips blocking the 
vent hole in accordance with TAE Service Bulletin (SB) TM TAE 125-
1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated April 27, 2012.
    (2) If chips are found during the inspection in paragraph (e)(1) 
of this AD, disassemble the gearbox and check the radial shaft 
sealing rings (at the clutch and the propeller shaft) for leakage. 
If leakage is noted, replace the gearbox before the next flight.

[[Page 1730]]

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install a gearbox 
with a S/N listed in TAE SB TM TAE 125-1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated 
April 27, 2012, into any engine unless the oil filler plug has 
passed the inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Frederick Zink, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; email: [email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7779; fax 
(781) 238-7199.
    (2) Refer to MCAI Airworthiness Directive No. 2012-0112, dated 
June 22, 2012, and TAE SB TM TAE 125-1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated 
April 27, 2012 for related information.

(i) 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) Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) Service Bulletin TM TAE 
125-1015 P1, Initial Issue, dated April 27, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For TAE 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-
696-2912; email: engines.com">info@centurion-engines.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (5) 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 27, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-31589 Filed 1-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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