Airworthiness Directives; Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH Reciprocating Engines

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6983-6985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02154]



[[Page 6983]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1413; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00077-E; 
Amendment 39-22302; AD 2023-01-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH 
Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 
125-02-114 model reciprocating engines. This AD was prompted by 
manufacturer reports of fractured main bearing studs. This AD requires 
the removal and replacement of certain main bearing studs. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 9, 2023.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of March 9, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1413; 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14, 
09356 Sankt Egidien, Germany; phone: +49 37204 696 0; email: 
continentaldiesel.com">support@continentaldiesel.com; website: continentaldiesel.com.
    <bullet> 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 (817) 222-5110. It is 
also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-1413.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7146; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Continental 
Aerospace Technologies GmbH TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 model 
reciprocating engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
November 09, 2022 (87 FR 67572). The NPRM was prompted by AD 2021-0022, 
dated January 18, 2021, issued by the European Union Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''). The MCAI 
states that the manufacturer has received reports of fractured main 
bearing studs. A fractured main bearing stud provides improper support 
to the crankshaft and increases crankshaft clearance, resulting in 
crankshaft sensor failures and potential crankshaft fracture. The 
manufacturer is investigating the root cause of main bearing stud 
failures. To address this unsafe condition, Continental Aerospace 
Technologies GmbH published service information to identify the serial 
numbers (S/Ns) of the affected engines and specify procedures for 
replacement of certain main bearing studs. The MCAI specifies actions 
to replace main bearing studs and specifies certain main bearing studs 
that are not to be installed onto any engine. This condition, if not 
addressed, could result in engine in-flight shutdown and forced 
landing, damage to the airplane, and injury to the occupants.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require the removal of certain 
main bearing studs from service and replacement with parts eligible for 
installation. The NPRM also proposed to prohibit the installation of 
certain main bearing studs. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1413.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

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

Conclusion

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and 
determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. 
Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is 
adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH Service 
Bulletin (SB) CG 125-1027 P1, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2021. This 
service information identifies the S/Ns of the affected engines and 
specifies procedures for replacing the main bearing studs. The FAA also 
reviewed Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH Repair Instruction RI-
05-0017-04, Revision 4, dated April 1, 2021. This service information 
provides instructions for replacing the main bearing studs.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 92 engines installed on 
aircraft of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 6984]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace main bearing studs............  16 work-hours x $85 per           $5,500          $6,860        $631,120
                                         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 operators.

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 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2023-01-08 Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH (Type Certificate 
previously held by Technify Motors GmbH and Thielert Aircraft 
Engines GmbH): Amendment 39-22302; Docket No. FAA-2022-1413; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2021-00077-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 9, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH (Type 
Certificate previously held by Technify Motors GmbH and Thielert 
Aircraft Engines GmbH) TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 model 
reciprocating engines with an engine serial number (S/N) identified 
in Models Affected, Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH Service 
Bulletin (SB) CG 125-1027 P1, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2021.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7200, Engine 
(Turbine/Turboprop).

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by manufacturer reports of fractured main 
bearing studs. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 
main bearing stud. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in engine in-flight shutdown and forced landing, damage to 
the airplane, and injury to the occupants.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For Group 1 and Group 2 engines, before exceeding the 
applicable compliance time in Table 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this 
AD, remove all main bearing studs from service if one or more main 
bearing studs with part number (P/N) 05-7211-K009801 and batch 
number B180703/1, B184216/1, B184216/2, or B191277/1 are installed 
on the engine and replace with parts eligible for installation in 
accordance with Instructions, paragraphs 4.2 through 4.2.17 of 
Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH Repair Instruction RI-05-
0017-04, Revision 4, dated April 1, 2021 (Continental Aerospace 
Technologies GmbH RI-05-0017-04, Revision 4).

       Table 1 to Paragraph (g)(1)--Main Bearing Stud Replacement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Flight hours (FHs)
      Group             since new               Compliance time
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................  100 FHs or less...  Before exceeding 115 FHs since
                                        new, or during the next
                                        scheduled maintenance, whichever
                                        occurs first after the effective
                                        date of this AD.
1................  More than 100 FHs.  Before exceeding 15 FHs from the
                                        effective date of this AD, or
                                        during the next scheduled
                                        maintenance, whichever occurs
                                        first after the effective date
                                        of this AD.
2................  100 FHs or less...  Before exceeding 200 FHs since
                                        new, or during the next
                                        scheduled maintenance whichever
                                        occurs first after the effective
                                        date of this AD.
2................  More than 100 FHs.  Before exceeding 100 FHs from the
                                        effective date of this AD, or
                                        during the next scheduled
                                        maintenance, whichever occurs
                                        first after the effective date
                                        of this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1 to paragraph (g)(1): FHs since new indicated in Table 1 
to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD are FHs accumulated by the engine 
since first installation on an airplane, on the effective date of 
this AD.

[[Page 6985]]

    (2) For engines not installed on an airplane as of the effective 
date of this AD, before further flight, remove all main bearing 
studs if one or more main bearing studs with P/N 05-7211-K009801 and 
batch number B180703/1, B184216/1, B184216/2, or B191277/1 are 
installed on the engine and replace with parts eligible for 
installation in accordance with Instructions, paragraphs 4.2 through 
4.2.17 of Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH RI-05-0017-04, 
Revision 4.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install onto any 
engine a main bearing stud with P/N 05-7211-K009801 and batch number 
B180703/1, B184216/1, B184216/2, or B191277/1.

(i) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, Group 1 engines are affected 
engines installed on single-engine airplanes, with main bearing stud 
with P/N 05-7211-K009801 and batch number B180703/1, B184216/1, 
B184216/2, or B191277/1 installed on the engine, and affected 
engines installed on twin-engine airplanes, with main bearing stud 
with P/N 05-7211-K009801 and batch number B180703/1, B184216/1, 
B184216/2, or B191277/1 installed on both engines.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, Group 2 engines are affected 
engines installed on twin-engine airplanes, with main bearing stud 
with P/N 05-7211-K009801 and batch number B180703/1, B184216/1, 
B184216/2, or B191277/1 installed on only one engine.
    (3) For the purpose of this AD, parts eligible for installation 
are any main bearing studs that do not have P/N 05-7211-K009801 and 
batch number B180703/1, B184216/1, B184216/2, or B191277/1.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in Sec.  39.19. 
In accordance with Sec.  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 (k)(2) of this AD and email to: [email protected]. 
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.

(k) Additional Information

    (1) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2021-0022, dated January 18, 2021, for related information. This 
EASA AD may be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1413.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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) Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH Service Bulletin CG 
125-1027 P1, Revision 1, dated May 28, 2021.
    (ii) Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH Repair Instruction 
RI-05-0017-04, Revision 4, dated April 1, 2021.
    (3) For Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH service 
information identified in this AD, contact Continental Aerospace 
Technologies GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14, 09356 Sankt Egidien, Germany; 
phone: +49 37204 696 0; email: continentaldiesel.com">support@continentaldiesel.com; 
website: continentaldiesel.com.
    (4) 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 (817) 222-5110.
    (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: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on January 6, 2023.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-02154 Filed 2-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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