Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop Engines

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61719-61720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25718]


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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 39-18281; AD 2015-20-03]
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 airworthiness directive (AD) 2014-14-02 for 
certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, PW121, PW121A, 
PW124B, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines. AD 
2014-14-02 required removal of the O-ring seal from the fuel manifold 
fitting. This new AD requires replacement of the fuel nozzle and the 
fuel manifold flow adapter. 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 correct the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 18, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 18, 
2015.

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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-
1059.

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, 
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: Barbara Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2014-14-02, Amendment 39-17896 (79 FR 39958, 
July 11, 2014), (``AD 2014-14-02''). AD 2014-14-02 applied to certain 
P&WC PW120, PW121, PW121A, PW124B, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and 
PW127M turboprop engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
June 2, 2015 (80 FR 31325). The NPRM proposed to require replacement of 
the fuel nozzle and the fuel manifold flow adapter.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21861, dated November 21, 2014, 
which identifies the final fuel nozzle configuration. This service 
information is reasonably available because the interested parties have 
access to it through their normal course of business or by the means 
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this AD.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 31325, June 2, 
2015) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 150 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 2.5 hours 
per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
hour. Required parts cost about $146,594 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$22,020,975.

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

    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 DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),

[[Page 61720]]

    (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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (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) 
2014-14-02], Amendment 39-17896 (79 FR 39958, July 11, 2014), and 
adding the following new AD:

2015-20-03 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Amendment 39-18281; Docket 
No. FAA-2013-1059; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-36-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective November 18, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2014-14-02, Amendment 39-17896 (79 FR 39958, 
July 11, 2014).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW120, 
PW121, and PW121A turboprop engines with post SB 21610 
configuration; PW124B, PW127, PW127E, and PW127F turboprop engines 
with post SB 21607 configuration; PW127E and PW127F turboprop 
engines with serial numbers (S/Ns) PCE-EB0366 and earlier; PW127G 
turboprop engines with S/Ns PCE-AX0275 and earlier; and PW127M 
turboprop engines with S/Ns PCE-ED0810 and earlier.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of fuel seepage past the metal-
to-metal sealing surfaces of the fuel nozzle and fuel manifold flow 
adapter. We are issuing this AD to prevent in-flight fuel leakage, 
engine fire, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done. Within 1,500 flight hours after the effective 
date of this AD, or at the next engine shop visit, whichever occurs 
first:
    (1) Remove the O-ring seal from the fuel manifold fitting,
    (2) Remove fuel manifold flow adapter, part numbers (P/Ns) 
3059754-01, 3059757-01, and 3059760-01; and
    (3) Install a fuel nozzle gasket and fuel manifold flow adapter 
that are eligible for installation, in accordance with paragraphs 
3.A, 3.B, and 3.C of P&WC SB No. PW100-72-21861, dated November 21, 
2014.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, fuel manifold adapter, P/Ns 
3059754-01, 3059757-01, and 3059760-01, and fuel manifold gasket, P/
N 3079354-01, are not eligible for installation in any engine.

(g) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, an engine shop visit is the 
induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the 
separation of pairs of major mating engine flanges. The separation 
of engine flanges solely for the purpose of transportation without 
subsequent engine maintenance does not constitute an engine shop 
visit.

(h) 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. You may email your request to: [email protected].

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD CF-2014-41, dated November 
26, 2014, 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.

(j) 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. Service Bulletin (SB) No. 
PW100-72-21861, dated November 21, 2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. 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.
    (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 September 22, 2015.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25718 Filed 10-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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