Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54481-54483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19299]



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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 2, 2020 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 54481]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0471; Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00126-E; 
Amendment 39-21226; AD 2020-18-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6B-37A model turboshaft engines 
with engine serial number PCE-PU0289 and earlier. This AD was prompted 
by a report of contamination from galvanic corrosion between the fuel 
control unit (FCU) aluminum body and the steel union fitting causing 
the loss of engine control, resulting in an engine over-speed condition 
and subsequent in-flight shutdown (IFSD). This AD requires replacing 
the FCU with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is issuing this 
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 7, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 7, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, 
Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; 
website: https://www.pwc.ca/en/. You may view this service information 
at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also 
available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0471.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0471; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for 
Docket Operations is 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: Mehdi Lamnyi, Aerospace Engineer, ECO 
Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-
238-7743; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all P&WC PT6B-37A model 
turboshaft engines with engine serial number PCE-PU0289 and earlier. 
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2020 (85 FR 
28888). The NPRM was prompted by a report of contamination from 
galvanic corrosion between the FCU aluminum body and the steel union 
fitting causing the loss of engine control, resulting in an engine 
over-speed condition and subsequent IFSD. The NPRM proposed to require 
replacing the FCU with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (Transport Canada), which is the 
aviation authority for Canada, has issued Transport Canada AD CF-2019-
05, dated February 19, 2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), 
to address the unsafe condition on these products. The MCAI states:

    There has been one reported incident on a PT6B-37A engine, where 
the contamination from galvanic corrosion between the FCU aluminum 
body and the steel union fitting has caused the loss of engine 
control, resulting in an engine over-speed condition and 
subsequently leading to an engine inflight shutdown (IFSD). This 
condition, if not corrected, could lead to additional cases of 
IFSDs, which on a single engine helicopter may result in an 
emergency autorotation landing. To address the subject galvanic 
corrosion problem in the FCU, P&WC has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 
39107 to replace the affected FCUs with a modified FCU that is not 
susceptible to the subject galvanic corrosion problem. This 
[Transport Canada] AD mandates compliance with P&WC SB 39107, 
requiring the replacement of the affected FCUs to mitigate the 
potential unsafe condition.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0471.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. The FAA has considered the comment 
received. An individual commenter supported the NPRM.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments 
received, and determined that air safety and the public interest 
require adopting this final rule as proposed except for minor editorial 
changes. The FAA has determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Service Information Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) No. PT6B-72-39107, 
Revision No. 1, dated December 13, 2017. The SB describes procedures 
for replacing the FCU. 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.

[[Page 54482]]

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 75 engines installed on 
helicopters of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per  product       operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the FCU.................  1 work-hour x $85   $37,000...........  $37,085...........  $2,781,375
                                   per hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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.

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):

2020-18-05 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp: Amendment 39-21226; Docket 
No. FAA-2020-0471; Project Identifier MCAI-2019-00126-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective October 7, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6B-37A 
model turboshaft engines with engine serial number PCE-PU0289 and 
earlier, which do not have an installed fuel control unit (FCU) that 
incorporates a stainless steel air adapter using P&WC Service 
Bulletin (SB) No. PT6B-72-39107, Revision No. 1, dated December 13, 
2017.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7321, Fuel Control/
Turbine Engines.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of contamination from galvanic 
corrosion between the FCU aluminum body and the steel union fitting 
causing the loss of engine control, resulting in an engine over-
speed condition and subsequent in-flight shutdown (IFSD). The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the FCU due to contamination 
from galvanic corrosion. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in loss of engine control, failure of the engine, IFSD, 
and loss of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Within the compliance time identified in Table 1 to paragraph 
(g) of this AD, replace the FCU with an FCU that incorporates the 
stainless steel air adapter using the Accomplishment Instruments, 
paragraphs 3.A. and 3.C., of P&WC SB No. PT6B-72-39107, Revision No. 
1, dated December 13, 2017.

[[Page 54483]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR02SE20.001

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the replacement of the FCU that is 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD if you replaced the FCU with an 
FCU that incorporates a stainless steel air adapter before the 
effective date of this AD using P&WC SB No. PT6B-72-39107, Original 
Issue, dated December 15, 2016.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. You may email your request to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Mehdi Lamnyi, 
Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7743; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (Transport Canada) 
AD CF-2019-05, dated February 19, 2019, for more information. You 
may examine the Transport Canada AD in the AD docket on the internet 
at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket 
No. FAA-2020-0471.

(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) Service Bulletin No. 
PT6B-72-39107, Revision No. 1, dated December 13, 2017.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For P&WC 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; 
website: https://www.pwc.ca/en/.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on August 20, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-19299 Filed 9-1-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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