Airworthiness Directives; BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax Reciprocating Engines

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22166-22168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08460]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0263; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-12-AD; 
Amendment 39-17416; AD 2013-07-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax 
Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax 912 F2; 912 F3; 912 F4; 912 S2; 912 
S3; 912 S4; 914 F2; 914 F3; and 914 F4 reciprocating engines. This AD 
requires a one-time visual inspection for excessive oil deposits or 
carbon deposits on the No. 2 and No. 3 spark plug center and grounding 
electrodes, and if found, replacement of the cylinder head before 
further flight. This AD was prompted by a report of certain No. 2 and 
No. 3 cylinder heads not manufactured to proper specification. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent excessive oil consumption, which could 
result in an in-flight engine shutdown, forced landing, and damage to 
the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 30, 2013.
    We must receive comments on this AD by May 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co KG, Welser Strasse 32, A-4623 Gunskirchen, 
Austria, or go to: http://www.FLYROTAX.com. You may view this service 
information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 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 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 the same as the 
Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7779; 
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, has issued EASA 
Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2013-0055-E, dated March 6, 2013 
(referred to hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    During a production test run, a non-compliance of the installed 
cylinder head assembly of cylinder No. 2 and 3 (\2/3\) was detected, 
which may result in a latent defect on a limited number of engines. 
The affected cylinder heads may not have been manufactured in 
accordance with the specification.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to an 
oil leak in the intake channel in the area of the valve guide. The 
affected non-conforming cylinder heads may have small machined 
through holes, which can increase the oil consumption and can lead 
to oil starvation, possibly resulting in engine stoppage or in-
flight engine

[[Page 22167]]

shutdown and forced landing, with consequent risk of damage to the 
aeroplane and injury to occupants.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG has issued Rotax Aircraft Engines ASB 
No. ASB-912-062, Revision 1 and ASB-914-044, Revision 1 (combined into 
one document), dated March 5, 2013. The actions described in this 
service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition 
identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of 
Austria, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the European Community, EASA has 
notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe 
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design. This proposed AD would require a one-time visual 
inspection for excessive oil deposits or carbon deposits on the No. 2 
and No. 3 spark plug center and grounding electrodes, and if found, 
replacement of the cylinder head before further flight. Any excess 
indicates the cylinder head is not manufactured to proper specification 
and is leaking oil into the combustion chamber.

FAA's 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 requirement. Therefore, we determined that 
notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are 
impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendment 
effective in fewer than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0263; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-NE-12-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 
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the 
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including, if provided, the name of the individual who sent the comment 
(or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor 
union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement 
in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

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

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:

2013-07-12 BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG (formerly BRP-Rotax GmbH & 
Co KG, Bombardier-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG, and Bombardier-Rotax GmbH): 
Amendment 39-17416; Docket No. FAA-2013-0263; Directorate Identifier 
2013-NE-12-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 30, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following BRP Powertrain GmbH & Co KG 
Rotax reciprocating engines:
    (1) Rotax 912 F2; 912 F3; and 912 F4, from serial number (S/N) 
4,413,013 up to S/N 4,413,017 inclusive.
    (2) Rotax 912 S2; 912 S3; and 912 S4, from S/N 4,924,468 up to 
S/N 4,924,491 inclusive.
    (3) Rotax 914 F2; 914 F3; and 914 F4, from S/N 4,421,156 up to 
S/N 4,421,169 inclusive.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of certain No. 2 and No. 3 
cylinder heads not manufactured to proper specification. The 
cylinder heads may have an oil leak in the intake channel in the 
area of the valve guide. There is the possibility that the heads 
have small machined through holes, which can

[[Page 22168]]

increase the oil consumption. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
excessive oil consumption, which could result in an in-flight engine 
shutdown, forced landing, and damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Within 5 flight hours or 20 days after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first, perform a one-time visual 
inspection of the center and grounding electrodes of both top and 
bottom spark plugs on cylinder 2, and cylinder 3, for unusual 
deposits (excessive carbon or oil). Any excess indicates the 
cylinder head is not manufactured to proper specification and is 
leaking oil into the combustion chamber.
    (2) Before further flight, replace cylinder heads found to be 
not manufactured to proper specification.
    (3) From the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
engine listed in the applicability of this AD on an airplane, unless 
the engine has been inspected and, depending on the findings, 
affected cylinder heads have been replaced as required by this AD.

(f) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD, unusual deposits (excessive carbon 
or oil) is when:
    (1) Carbon is a visual buildup of dark carbon deposits on the 
center and grounding electrodes as well as the immediate surrounding 
area, and
    (2) Excessive oil is a visual buildup indicated by the presence 
of oil on the center and grounding electrodes as well as the 
immediate surrounding area, giving a wet appearance.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

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

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Frederick Zink, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency Emergency 
Airworthiness Directive 2013-0055-E, dated March 6, 2013, and BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax Aircraft Engines Alert Service 
Bulletin No. ASB-912-062, Revision 1 and ASB-914-044, Revision 1 
(combined into one document), dated March 5, 2013, for related 
information.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co KG, Welser Strasse 32, A-4623 Gunskirchen, 
Austria, or go to: http://www.FLYROTAX.com. 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.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 4, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-08460 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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