Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Turbomeca S.A. Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires replacing the right injector half manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege injector pipe. This proposed AD would require the same actions, but relaxes the compliance time for the repetitive replacements on Arrius 2F engines. This proposed AD results from Turbomeca relaxing the repetitive replacement interval for Arrius 2F engine fuel nozzles based on review of returned fuel nozzles to Turbomeca. We are proposing this AD to prevent engine flameout during rapid deceleration, or the inability to maintain the 2.5 minutes one engine inoperative (OEI) rating, and to prevent air path cracks due to blockage of the fuel injection manifolds.

DATES:

We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by July 26, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Use one of the following addresses to comment on this proposed AD:

• By mail: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NE-12-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299.
• By fax: (781) 238-7055.
• By e-mail: 9-ane-adcomment@faa.gov.

You can get the service information identified in this proposed AD from Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone: (33) 05 59 64 40 00; fax: (33) 05 59 64 60 80.

You may examine the AD docket, by appointment, at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christopher Spinney, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone: (781) 238-7175; fax: (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “AD Docket No. 2000-NE-12-AD” in the subject line of your comments. If you want us to acknowledge receipt of your mailed comments, send us a self-addressed, stamped postcard with the docket number written on it; we will date-stamp your postcard and mail it back to you. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. If a person contacts us verbally, and that contact relates to a substantive part of this proposed AD, we will summarize the contact and place the summary in the docket. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the location.

Discussion

On April 16, 2001, we issued AD 2001-08-14, Amendment 39-12218 (66 FR 20910, April 26, 2001). That AD requires replacing the right injector half manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege injector pipe. That AD results from reports from the Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, of partially or totally blocked fuel injection manifolds, which were found during inspections at a repair workshop.

Actions Since AD 2001-08-14 Was Issued

Since we issued AD 2001-08-14, we became aware that Turbomeca S.A. has relaxed the repetitive replacement interval for the right injector half manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege injector pipe, on Arrius 2F engines, from within 200 hours time-in-service (TIS) since last replacement, to within 400 hours TIS since last replacement.

Relevant Service Information

Turbomeca has issued six revisions to alert service bulletin (ASB) No. A319 73 2012, for Arrius 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines and has issued seven revisions to ASB No. A319 73 4001 for Arrius 2F turboshaft engines. These ASBs require the replacement of the right injector half manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege injector pipes, based on operating hours and power check performance. When replacing the manifolds for the first time, the ASBs also require a borescope inspection of the flame tube and the high pressure turbine (HPT) area. The DGAC classified the original ASBs as mandatory and issued AD 1999-217(A) and AD 1999-233(A) in order to assure the airworthiness of these Turbomeca turboshaft engines in France.

Bilateral Agreement Information

These Turbomeca Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F turboshaft engines are manufactured in France and are type-certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of § 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept us informed of the situation described above. We have examined the DGAC's findings, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We are proposing this AD, which would:

• Relax the repetitive replacement compliance time for Arrius 2F engines in AD 2001-08-14, from 200 hours TIS to 400 hours TIS; and
• As in AD 2001-08-14, replace the right injector half manifolds, left injector half manifolds, and privilege injector pipes with 200 or more hours TIS on the effective date of the proposed AD within 30 days after the effective date of the proposed AD; and
• As in AD 2001-08-14, thereafter, for Arrius Models 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines, replace injector manifolds within 200 hours TIS since last replacement.

The proposed AD would require you to use the service information described previously to perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

There are about 266 Turbomeca S.A. Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F turboshaft engines of the affected design in the worldwide fleet. We estimate that 124 of these engines are installed on helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about two work hours per engine to perform the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost about $14,320 per engine. The manufacturer has advised the DGAC that it may provide the parts at no cost to the operator, thereby substantially reducing the cost of this proposed rule. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators, to replace all of the affected parts one time, to be $1,791,800.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the proposed regulation:

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. Would 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 proposal and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “AD Docket No. 2000-NE-12-AD” in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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.