Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop Engines

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39958-39959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16187]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD; 
Amendment 39-17896; AD 2014-14-02]
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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, PW121, PW121A, PW124B, 
PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines. This AD 
requires removal of the O-ring seal from the fuel manifold fitting. 
This AD was prompted by reports of fuel leaks at the interface between 
the fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle that resulted in engine fire. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight fuel leakage, which could lead 
to engine fire, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 15, 2014.

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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
1059; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), 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: Kevin Dickert, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7117; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 21, 2014 (79 FR 
15707). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    There have been reported incidences of fuel leaks at the 
interface between the flexible fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle. On 
occasion, these events resulted in an engine fire on PW100 series 
engine installations. The data indicates that nearly all of the 
subject manifold fuel leaks were caused by inadequate B-nut torque 
application during installation, after maintenance work was 
performed on the fuel nozzle/manifold.
    Sealing of the fitting connections between the fuel manifolds 
and the fuel nozzle adapters is achieved through conical metal-to-
metal surface seating. An additional O-ring seal on the fitting was 
installed to arrest any fuel leak past the conical sealing surfaces. 
In-service experience has indicated that leakage past the sealing 
surfaces, as a result of improper torquing during installation of 
the manifold, may not be immediately evident until the failure of 
the O-ring seal allows the fuel to leak into the nacelle area.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We considered the comment received.

Request To Mandate Incorporation of Service Bulletins

    UTair Aviation JSC requested that we mandate incorporation of P&WC 
Service Bulletins (SBs) PW100-72-21841, Revision No. 1, dated November 
29, 2013; and PW100-72-21848, Revision No. 1, dated November 15, 2013, 
in the AD. The commenter suggested that incorporation by reference of 
these SBs would improve safety compared to the compliance proposed in 
the NPRM (79 FR 15707, March 21, 2014).
    We disagree. We note that prior to implementation of these SBs, an 
operator would need to remove the affected O-ring seals, which would 
fulfill the requirements of this AD. We do not find that requiring 
accomplishing these service bulletins through incorporation by 
reference in this AD is necessary. We did not change this AD.

[[Page 39959]]

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects about 150 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 
2.5 hours per engine to perform the inspection or replacement required 
by this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$31,875.

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),
    (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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2014-14-02 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Amendment 39-17896; Docket 
No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 15, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, 
PW121, and PW121A turboprop engines with Post SB21610 configuration; 
PW124B, PW127, PW127E, and PW127F turboprop engines with either Post 
SB21607 or Post SB21705 configuration, or both; and PW127G and 
PW127M turboprop engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of fuel leaks at the interface 
between the fuel manifold and the fuel nozzle that resulted in 
engine fire. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight fuel 
leakage, which could lead to engine fire, damage to the engine, and 
damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, during the next opportunity when the 
affected subassembly is accessible, but no later than 18 months 
after the effective date of this AD, remove the O-ring seal from the 
fuel manifold fitting.

(f) 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.

(g) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Kevin Dickert, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: (781) 238-7117; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD CF-2013-29, dated October 
4, 2013, for related information. You may examine the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-1059.
    (3) P&WC Service Bulletin PW100-72-21803, Revision No. 4, dated 
February 8, 2012, which is not incorporated by reference in this AD, 
can be obtained from Pratt & Whitney Canada, using the contact 
information in paragraph (g)(4) of this AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin Blvd., 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.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 30, 2014.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16187 Filed 7-10-14; 8:45 am]
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