Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Engines

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64810-64813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25259]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0781; Project Identifier AD-2021-00775-E; 
Amendment 39-21831; AD 2021-24-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-09-04 
for all Austro Engine GmbH E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines. AD 
2021-09-04 required replacing a certain oil pump as well as the oil 
filter and engine oil. This AD was prompted by reports of an oil pump 
blockage on E4 model diesel piston engines. This AD requires replacing 
a certain oil pump as well as the oil filter and engine oil. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 27, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of May 
10, 2021 (86 FR 21637, April 23, 2021).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Austro Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, 2700 Weiner 
Neustadt, Austria; phone: +43 2622 23000; website: www.austroengine.at. 
You may view this service information at the Airworthiness Products 
Section, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0781.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0781; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,

[[Page 64811]]

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this final rule, 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: Wego Wang, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7134; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-09-04, Amendment 39-21517 (86 FR 
21637, April 23, 2021), (AD 2021-09-04). AD 2021-09-04 applied to all 
Austro Engine GmbH E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2021 (86 FR 51026). 
The NPRM was prompted by reports of an oil pump blockage on E4 model 
diesel piston engines caused by oil contamination with casting sand 
from the production process of oil pump part number (P/N) E4A-50-000-
BHY. The root cause was found to be an improperly performed sand casted 
oil pump housing cleaning process. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 
continue to require replacement of an affected oil pump, identified by 
P/N and serial number (S/N) in Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. MSB-E4-030/4, Revision No. 4, dated March 30, 2021. In the 
NPRM, the FAA also proposed to require replacement of the oil filter 
and engine oil.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
requires adoption of the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This 
AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 
MSB-E4-030/4, Revision No. 4, dated March 30, 2021 (the MSB). This 
service information specifies procedures for replacing the affected oil 
pumps installed on E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines. This service 
information also specifies procedures for replacing the oil filter and 
engine oil installed on these engines. In addition, this service 
information identifies the applicable S/Ns of affected E4 and E4P model 
diesel piston engines, the affected oil pumps requiring replacement, 
and an additional oil pump replacement option. The Director of the 
Federal Register previously approved the MSB for incorporation by 
reference on May 10, 2021 (86 FR 21637, April 23, 2021). 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 55 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove and replace the oil pump, oil  16 work-hours x $85 per          $1,488           $2,848         $156,640
 filter, and engine oil.               hour = $1,360.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals.

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

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

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:

[[Page 64812]]

0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2021-09-04, Amendment 39-21517 (86 
FR 21637, April 23, 2021); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

2021-24-10 Austro Engine GmbH: Amendment 39-21831; Docket No. FAA-
2021-0781; Project Identifier AD-2021-00775-E.

 (a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 27, 
2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2021-09-04, Amendment 39-21517 (86 FR 21637, 
April 23, 2021).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Austro Engine GmbH E4 and E4P model 
diesel piston engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 8550, Reciprocating 
Engine Oil System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of an oil pump blockage on the 
E4 model diesel piston engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the engine lubrication system. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the engine, 
in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    For Austro Engine GmbH E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines 
having an oil pump, part number (P/N) E4A-50-000-BHY, with a serial 
number (S/N) listed in paragraph 1.2., Engines Affected, of Austro 
Engine GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB-E4-030/4, Revision 
No. 4, dated March 30, 2021 (the MSB), within the compliance time 
specified in Table 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD or before further 
flight, whichever occurs later:
    (1) Remove the oil pump, P/N E4A-50-000-BHY, from service and 
replace with a part eligible for installation using the 
Accomplishment/Instructions, paragraph 2.2.1 or paragraph 2.2.2, of 
the MSB, as applicable.
    (2) Replace the oil filter and engine oil using the 
Accomplishment/Instructions, paragraph 2.2.1 or paragraph 2.2.2, of 
the MSB, as applicable.
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(h) No Reporting Requirements

    The reporting requirements in the Accomplishment/Instructions, 
paragraph 2.2., of the MSB, are not required by this AD.

(i) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install onto any 
engine an oil pump, P/N

[[Page 64813]]

E4A-50-000-BHY, with an S/N listed in paragraph 1.2., Engines 
Affected, of the MSB.

(j) Definitions

    For the purpose of this AD:
    (1) Group 1 engines are E4 model diesel piston engines in 
configuration ``-A'' that are installed on single-engine airplanes.
    (2) Group 2 engines are E4 model diesel piston engines in 
configuration ``-B'' or ``-C'' and E4P model diesel piston engines 
that are installed on twin-engine airplanes.
    (3) A ``part eligible for installation'' is an oil pump with a 
P/N and S/N that is not listed in paragraph 1.2., Engines Affected, 
of the MSB.

(k) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for replacing the oil pump, oil filter, and 
engine oil required by paragraph (g) of this AD if you performed 
these replacements before the effective date of this AD using the 
Accomplishment/Instructions, paragraph 2.2., of Austro Engine GmbH 
MSB No. MSB-E4-030, Original Issue, dated February 18, 2021; 
Revision No. 1, dated February 23, 2021; Revision No. 2, dated March 
3, 2021; or Revision No. 3, dated March 18, 2021.

(l) 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 
certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (m) of this AD. Information may be emailed 
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.

(m) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Wego Wang, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, 
MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7134; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

(n) 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.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
May 10, 2021 (86 FR 21637, April 23, 2021).
    (i) Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB-E4-
030/4, Revision No. 4, dated March 30, 2021.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Austro Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, 2700 Weiner Neustadt, 
Austria; phone: +43 2622 23000; website: www.austroengine.at.
    (5) 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 (817) 222-5110.
    (6) 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: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on November 15, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25259 Filed 11-18-21; 8:45 am]
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