Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop Engines

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20222-20224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07843]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-3692; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-05-AD; 
Amendment 39-18458; AD 2016-07-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop 
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 
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11 turboprop engines. This AD requires 
inspection of the engine power turbine (PT) disk and, if found damaged, 
its replacement with a part eligible for installation. This AD was 
prompted by discovery of damage to certain engine PT disks during 
engine shop visits. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
engine PT disk, which could result in release of high-energy debris, 
damage to the engine, and reduced control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 22, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 22, 
2016.
    We must receive comments on this AD by May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., 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 GE Aviation 
Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9--Let[ncaron]any, 
Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 538 222. You may 
view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 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-2016-
3692.

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-2016-
3692; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Steeves, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7765; fax: 781-
238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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-2016-3692; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-NE-05-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.

[[Page 20223]]

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2016-0025-E, dated January 26, 2016 (corrected January 27, 2016) 
(referred to hereinafter as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    During engine shop visits or overhauls, certain power turbine 
(PT) disks may have been damaged in the area of the balance weights. 
Additional PT disks with non-conforming geometry of the slot radius 
may have also been released to service as a result of incorrect 
machining of the PT disk slot.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a PT disk 
failure, with subsequent release of high-energy debris, possibly 
resulting in damage to, and/or reduced control of, the aeroplane.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-3692.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016. The ASB describe 
procedures for inspection of the PT disk. 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the 
Czech Republic, 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 issuing 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 AD requires inspection of the engine PT disk 
and, if found damaged, its replacement with a part eligible for 
installation.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, we find that 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and 
that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 
30 days.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 0 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 60 hours per 
engine to do the inspection required by this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of 
the AD to U.S. operators to be $0.

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):

2016-07-13 GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type Certificate previously 
held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.): 
Amendment 39-18458; Docket No. FAA-2016-3692; Directorate Identifier 
2016-NE-05-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 22, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GE Aviation Czech s.r.o M601E-11 turboprop 
engine models with engine power turbine (PT) disk, part number 
3220.6 and serial number EE8, EF8, or KR5, installed.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by discovery of damage to certain engine PT 
disks during engine shop visits. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the engine PT disk, which could result in release of 
high-energy debris, damage to the engine, and reduced control of the 
airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, perform 
visual, dimensional, and fluorescent penetrant inspections of the 
engine PT disk. Use Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech 
s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated 
January 21, 2016, to do the inspections.
    (2) If the engine PT disk fails to meet the acceptance criteria 
in Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. ASB No. SB-
2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016, replace the PT disk with 
a part eligible for installation.

(f) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD:
    (1) Do not operate any engine with a PT disk serial number 
listed in paragraph (c) of this AD, unless the disk was inspected 
per the requirements of paragraph (e) of this AD; and
    (2) Do not install a PT disk that does not meet the acceptance 
criteria in Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. ASB

[[Page 20224]]

No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016, onto any engine.

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

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Kenneth Steeves, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7765; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2016-0025-
E, dated January 26, 2016 (corrected January 27, 2016), for more 
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-2016-3692.

(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) GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin No. SB-2016-
72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For GE Aviation Czech s.r.o service information identified 
in this AD, contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 
199 02 Praha 9--Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 
111; fax: +420 222 538 222.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 
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 March 24, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-07843 Filed 4-6-16; 8:45 am]
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