Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop Engines

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11 turboprop engines. This AD requires inspection of the engine power turbine (PT) disk and, if found damaged, its replacement with a part eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by discovery of damage to certain engine PT disks during engine shop visits. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the engine PT disk, which could result in release of high-energy debris, damage to the engine, and reduced control of the airplane.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective April 22, 2016.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 22, 2016.

We must receive comments on this AD by May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: 202-493-2251.

For service information identified in this AD, contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranových 65, 199 02 Praha 9—Letňany, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 538 222. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-3692.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-3692; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kenneth Steeves, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7765; fax: 781-238-7199; email: kenneth.steeves@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2016-3692; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-05-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this AD.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA AD 2016-0025-E, dated January 26, 2016 (corrected January 27, 2016) (referred to hereinafter as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

During engine shop visits or overhauls, certain power turbine (PT) disks may have been damaged in the area of the balance weights. Additional PT disks with non-conforming geometry of the slot radius may have also been released to service as a result of incorrect machining of the PT disk slot.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a PT disk failure, with subsequent release of high-energy debris, possibly resulting in damage to, and/or reduced control of, the aeroplane.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-3692.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016. The ASB describe procedures for inspection of the PT disk. 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 of this AD.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the Czech Republic, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the European Community, EASA has notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. This AD requires inspection of the engine PT disk and, if found damaged, its replacement with a part eligible for installation.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

No domestic operators use this product. Therefore, we find that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 0 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 60 hours per engine to do the inspection required by this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $0.

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 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),

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and

(4) 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

Adoption of 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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2016-07-13 GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type Certificate previously held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.): Amendment 39-18458; Docket No. FAA-2016-3692; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-05-AD.

(a) Effective Date

This AD is effective April 22, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to GE Aviation Czech s.r.o M601E-11 turboprop engine models with engine power turbine (PT) disk, part number 3220.6 and serial number EE8, EF8, or KR5, installed.

(d) Reason

This AD was prompted by discovery of damage to certain engine PT disks during engine shop visits. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the engine PT disk, which could result in release of high-energy debris, damage to the engine, and reduced control of the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

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

(1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, perform visual, dimensional, and fluorescent penetrant inspections of the engine PT disk. Use Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016, to do the inspections.

(2) If the engine PT disk fails to meet the acceptance criteria in Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. ASB No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016, replace the PT disk with a part eligible for installation.

(f) Installation Prohibition

After the effective date of this AD:

(1) Do not operate any engine with a PT disk serial number listed in paragraph (c) of this AD, unless the disk was inspected per the requirements of paragraph (e) of this AD; and

(2) Do not install a PT disk that does not meet the acceptance criteria in Appendix B, paragraph 5 of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. ASB No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016, onto any engine.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your request. You may email your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov.

(h) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Kenneth Steeves, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7765; fax: 781-238-7199; email: kenneth.steeves@faa.gov.

(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2016-0025-E, dated January 26, 2016 (corrected January 27, 2016), for more information. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2016-3692.

(i) 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.

(i) GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin No. SB-2016-72-50-00-1/00, dated January 21, 2016.

(ii) Reserved.

(3) For GE Aviation Czech s.r.o service information identified in this AD, contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranových 65, 199 02 Praha 9—Letňany, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 538 222.

(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

(5) You may view this service information 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.