Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca Arrius 2F Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28589-28591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9721]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22430; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-34-AD; 
Amendment 39-15063; AD 2007-11-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca Arrius 2F Turboshaft Engines

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for Turbomeca Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. That AD currently 
requires removing from service certain serial number (SN) fuel control 
units (FCUs) or replacing the constant delta pressure (delta P) 
diaphragm in those FCUs. This AD requires replacing all FCUs not 
incorporating modification Tf 55 with FCUs that incorporate 
modification Tf 55. This AD results from the European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) and Turbomeca expanding the applicability to the full 
population of FCUs installed on Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. FCUs not 
incorporating modification Tf 55 are susceptible to having an 
improperly assembled constant delta P diaphragm. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent an uncommanded engine in-flight shutdown on a single-engine 
helicopter, resulting in a forced autorotation landing or an accident.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 26, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from

[[Page 28590]]

Turbomeca, 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; e-
mail: [email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7175; fax (781) 
238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to Turbomeca Arrius 2F 
turboshaft engines. We published the proposed AD in the Federal 
Register on January 17, 2007 (72 FR 1947). That action proposed to 
require replacing all FCUs not incorporating modification Tf 55, with 
FCUs that incorporate modification Tf 55.

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 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 46 Arrius 2F turboshaft 
engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate 
that it will take about 3 work-hours per engine to perform the FCU 
replacement and that the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. 
Required parts will cost about $25,480 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be 
$1,183,120.

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, 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 39-14275 (70 FR 
54622, September 16, 2005) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-15063, to read as follows:

2007-11-06 Turbomeca: Amendment 39-15063. Docket No. FAA-2005-22430; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-34-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 26, 
2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2005-19-10, Amendment 39-14275.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Turbomeca Arrius 2F turboshaft engines 
with fuel control units (FCUs) not incorporating modification Tf 55. 
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter 
EC120B helicopters.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the European Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA) and Turbomeca expanding the applicability to the full 
population of FCUs installed on Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. FCUs 
not incorporating modification Tf 55 are susceptible to having an 
improperly assembled constant delta pressure (delta P) diaphragm. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded engine in-flight 
shutdown on a single-engine helicopter, resulting in a forced 
autorotation landing or an accident.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed as soon as practicable after the effective date of this 
AD but no later than July 31, 2007, unless the actions have already 
been done.
    (f) Replace all FCUs not incorporating modification Tf 55 with 
FCUs that incorporate modification Tf 55.

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; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7175, fax (781) 
238-7199; for more information about this AD.
    (i) EASA AD No. 2006-0237, dated August 9, 2006, addresses the 
subject of this AD.
    (j) Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 319 73 4055, Update 
No. 1, dated March 17, 2006, pertains to the subject of this AD.


[[Page 28591]]


    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 15, 2007.
Peter A. White,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-9721 Filed 5-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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