Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. ARRIUS 1A Turboshaft Engines

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53153-53154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24853]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0348; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-39-AD; 
Amendment 39-16050; AD 2009-21-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. ARRIUS 1A Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    Cycle life limit value for ARRIUS 1A balancing piston Part 
Number (P/N) 0 319 20 152 0, initially set at 40 000 cycles, has 
been reduced to 16 000 cycles, following the discovery of a 
calculation error during a recent review of the ARRIUS 1 engine 
family files.

We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the balancing piston, 
which could result in an engine in-flight-shutdown and the release of 
high-energy debris and damage to the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7176; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2009 (74 
FR 17797). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Cycle life limit value for ARRIUS 1A balancing piston Part 
Number (P/N) 0 319 20 152 0, initially set at 40 000 cycles, has 
been reduced to 16 000 cycles, following the discovery of a 
calculation error during a recent review of the ARRIUS 1 engine 
family files.
    As of the publication date of this Airworthiness Directive, no 
ARRIUS 1A engines in service are fitted with a balancing piston that 
has logged more than 16 000 cycles, and the outlook for the 
consumption of cycles on the ARRIUS 1A fleet indicates that no 
balancing pistons will exceed this new limit for a few years' time.
    Moreover, this new cycle life limit value for the balancing 
piston has been incorporated since the end of 2007 in ARRIUS 1A 
Maintenance documentation.
    Failure to comply with the new life limits provided in the 
Airworthiness Limitations Section of ARRIUS 1A Maintenance 
documentation could potentially result in an engine in-flight-
shutdown and the release of high energy debris.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

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

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    The MCAI requires modifying the cyclic life limit value of the 
balancing piston in the engine log book as specified in Turbomeca 
Mandatory Service Bulletin 319 72 0811, dated April 30, 2008, and 
updating the approved operator's maintenance program.
    We are requiring removing from service ARRIUS 1A engines containing 
a balancing piston, P/N 0 319 20 152 0, before the balancing piston 
meets or exceeds the new, reduced cyclic life limit value of 16,000 
cycles-since-new.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD would 
affect about 33 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it 
would take about 0.5 work-hour per product to comply with this AD. The 
average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $5,280 per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost 
of the AD on U.S. operators to be $175,560.

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 determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct 
effect on

[[Page 53154]]

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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

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 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 AD:

2009-21-11 Turbomeca S.A.: Amendment 39-16050. Docket No. FAA-2009-
0348; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-39-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective November 
20, 2009.

Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Turbomeca S.A. ARRIUS 1A turboshaft 
engines with balancing pistons, part number (P/N) 0 319 20 152 0, 
installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, 
Eurocopter AS355N helicopters.

Reason

    (d) Cycle life limit value for ARRIUS 1A balancing piston Part 
Number (P/N) 0 319 20 152 0, initially set at 40 000 cycles, has 
been reduced to 16 000 cycles, following the discovery of a 
calculation error during a recent review of the ARRIUS 1 engine 
family files.
    We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the balancing 
piston, which could result in an engine in-flight-shutdown and the 
release of high-energy debris and damage to the helicopter.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, for ARRIUS 1A engines with a balancing 
piston, P/N 0 319 20 152 0, installed, remove the engine from 
service before the balancing piston accumulates 16,000 cycles-since-
new (CSN).

Installation Prohibition

    (f) After the effective date of this AD, don't return to service 
any engine that has a balancing piston that has accumulated 16,000 
or more CSN.

FAA AD Differences

    (g) This AD differs from the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 
Information (MCAI) or service information as follows:
    (1) This AD requires removing from service, any ARRIUS 1A engine 
that has a balancing piston, P/N 0 319 20 152 0, with 16,000 CSN 
installed.
    (2) We prohibit returning to service any ARRIUS 1A engine that 
has a balancing piston, P/N 0 319 20 152 0, with 16,000 or more CSN.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Related Information

    (i) Refer to MCAI Airworthiness Directive 2008-0133, dated July 
17, 2008 for related information.
    (j) Contact James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7176; fax (781) 238-
7199, for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 8, 2009.
Diane S. Romanosky,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-24853 Filed 10-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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