Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11563-11565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03266]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1005; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-27-AD; 
Amendment 39-17349; AD 2013-03-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain

[[Page 11564]]

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6C-67C turboshaft engines. This 
AD requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections to verify the 
presence of a retaining ring securing the power turbine (PT) baffle 
located near the second stage PT disk. If the engine fails the 
inspection, this AD also requires removing the engine from service 
before further flight. This AD was prompted by five reported incidents 
of second stage PT disk damage. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
damage to the PT disk which, if undetected, could cause uncontained PT 
disk failure and loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 26, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of March 26, 
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: 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 include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on October 25, 2012 (77 
FR 65142). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information 
states:

    There have been 5 reported incidents of second stage Power 
Turbine (PT) disk damage caused by the PT baffle moving and 
contacting the downstream side of the second stage PT disk. In two 
of these incidents, the PT section of the engine failed to rotate 
(on ground) as a result of baffle interference.
    An investigation has determined that the root cause for the PT 
baffle displacement and the resultant PT disk damage was due to the 
failure of the retaining ring that holds the PT baffle in its 
intended position.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 65142, October 25, 
2012).

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed (77 FR 65142, 
October 25, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will 
affect about 220 engines of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
will take about six hours per engine to comply with this AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. We anticipate that two engines 
will fail the initial inspection. Required parts will cost about 
$224,636 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of 
the AD on U.S. operators to be $561,472. 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

    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:

2013-03-14 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp: Amendment 39-17349; Docket 
No. FAA-2012-1005; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-27-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 26, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6C-67C 
turboshaft engines that have not had P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) No. 
PT6C-72-41056 incorporated.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by five reported incidents of second stage 
power turbine (PT) disk damage. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
damage to the PT disk which, if undetected, could cause uncontained 
PT disk failure and loss of control of the helicopter.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.

[[Page 11565]]

(f) Borescope Inspections

    (1) Borescope-inspect to verify the presence of a retaining ring 
securing the PT baffle located near the second stage PT disk, as 
follows:
    (i) For engines with 2,200 PT cycles or more on the effective 
date of this AD, inspect within 100 operating hours or 150 PT 
cycles, whichever occurs first.
    (ii) For engines with more than 1,400 PT cycles but fewer than 
2,200 PT cycles on the effective date of this AD, inspect within 250 
operating hours, 350 PT cycles, or before exceeding 2,350 PT cycles, 
whichever occurs first.
    (iii) For engines with 1,400 PT cycles or fewer on the effective 
date of this AD, inspect within 500 operating hours, 750 PT cycles, 
or before exceeding 1,750 PT cycles, whichever occurs first.
    (2) Thereafter, repetitively borescope-inspect to verify the 
presence of the retaining ring securing the PT baffle located near 
the second stage PT disk, on or before an additional 600 flight 
hours or 900 PT cycles, whichever occurs first.
    (3) Use P&WC Alert SB No. PT6C-72-A41060, Revision 3, dated 
October 11, 2012, paragraphs 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(6) to do the 
borescope inspections required by this AD.
    (4) If the retaining ring is missing or the PT baffle is out of 
position, then remove the engine from service before further flight.

(g) Optional Terminating Action

    Performing the engine improvement modifications in P&WC SB No. 
PT6C-72-41056, Revision 5, dated January 17, 2013, paragraphs 3.A. 
through 3.C.(12) and 3.E.(1) through 3.E.(15), is an optional 
terminating action to the repetitive inspections required by this 
AD.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) If you performed the initial borescope inspection before the 
effective date of this AD using P&WC Special Instruction No. 45-
2011R2, dated July 27, 2011, or P&WC Alert SB No. PT6C-72-A41060, 
dated August 12, 2011, or Revision 1, dated September 29, 2011, or 
Revision 2, dated February 10, 2012, you met the requirements of 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.
    (2) If you performed the engine modification before the 
effective date of this AD using P&WC SB No. PT6C-72-41056, dated 
April 1, 2011, or Revision 1, dated June 17, 2011, or Revision 2, 
dated October 6, 2011, or Revision 3, dated February 3, 2012, or 
Revision 4, dated February 13, 2012, you met the requirements of 
this AD and no further action is required.

(i) 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.

(j) 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-2012-24, dated August 2, 
2012, for related information.

(k) 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 Corp (P&WC) Alert Service Bulletin 
(SB) No. PT6C-72-A41060, Revision 3, dated October 11, 2012.
    (ii) P&WC SB No. PT6C-72-41056, Revision 5, dated January 17, 
2013.
    (3) 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: 
http://www.pwc.ca.
    (4) 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.
    (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 February 1, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03266 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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