Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 14, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6925-6927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2425]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22039; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-33-AD; 
Amendment 39-14940; AD 2005-17-17R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. That AD currently 
requires replacing certain O-rings on the check valve piston in the 
lubrication unit, at repetitive intervals. This AD requires the same 
actions except it reduces the applicability from all Turbomeca S.A. 
Arrius 2F turboshaft engines, to Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft 
engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75. This AD results 
from Turbomeca S.A. introducing a check valve piston design requiring 
no O-ring. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded in-flight 
shutdown of the engine, which could result in a forced autorotation 
landing and damage to the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 21, 2007. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of March 21, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone 33 05 59 74 40 00, 
fax 33 05 59 74 45 15.
    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov 
or in Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Spinney, Aerospace 
Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803, 
telephone (781) 238-7175; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with

[[Page 6926]]

a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F 
turboshaft engines. We published the proposed AD in the Federal 
Register on November 8, 2006 (71 FR 65430). That action proposed to 
require replacing certain O-rings on the check valve piston in the 
lubrication unit, at repetitive intervals. This AD requires the same 
actions except it reduces the applicability from all Turbomeca S.A. 
Arrius 2F turboshaft engines, to Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft 
engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person at the Docket Management 
Facility Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) 
is located on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation 
Nassif Building at the street address stated in ADDRESSES. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on 
the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 124 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 
work-hour per engine to perform the actions, and that the average labor 
rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $100 per 
engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. 
operators, for one O-ring replacement to be $22,320 for the fleet, or 
$180 per engine.

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 have 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration 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 removing Amendment 14238 (70 FR 50164, 
August 26, 2005), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-14940, to read as follows:
2005-17-17R1 Turbomeca S.A.: Amendment 39-14940; Docket No. FAA-
2005-22039; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-33-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective March 
21, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD revises AD 2005-17-17, Amendment 39-14238.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2F turboshaft 
engines that have not incorporated modification Tf75. These engines 
are installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter EC120B helicopters.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from Turbomeca S.A. introducing a check 
valve piston design requiring no O-ring. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine, which could 
result in a forced autorotation landing and damage to the 
helicopter.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

O-ring Replacement

    (f) Replace the O-ring on the check valve piston in the 
lubrication unit at the intervals specified in Table 1 of this AD. 
Use the ``Instructions to be Incorporated,'' 2.A. through 2.C. (2) 
of Turbomeca Alert Service Bulletin No. A319 79 4802, Update No. 1, 
dated April 3, 2006, to replace the O-ring.

            Table 1.--Compliance Times for O-ring Replacement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Then replace the O-     Thereafter,
     If the class of oil is:       ring by the later  replace the O-ring
                                          of:               within:
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(1) HTS or unknown..............  300 hours time-     300 hours time-
                                   since-new (TSN)     since-last
                                   or 50 hours after   replacement
                                   the effective       (TSR).
                                   date of this AD.
(2) STD.........................  450 hours TSN or    500 hours TSR.
                                   50 hours after
                                   the effective
                                   date of this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 6927]]

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority 
to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) Contact Christopher Spinney, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-
7175, fax (781) 238-7199; e-mail: [email protected] for 
more information about this AD. European Aviation Safety Agency AD 
No. 2006-0141, dated May 29, 2006, also addresses the subject of 
this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Turbomeca Alert Service Bulletin No. A319 79 
4802, Update No. 1, dated April 3, 2006, to perform the replacements 
required by this AD. The Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Turbomeca 
S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone 33 05 59 74 40 00, fax 33 05 
59 74 45 15, for a copy of this service information. You may review 
copies 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 February 7, 2007.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-2425 Filed 2-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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