80 FR 19244 - Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Turboprop Engines

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 69 (April 10, 2015)

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain serial number GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11, M601E-11A, and M601F turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the determination that wear or cracking, and subsequent misalignment of the quill shaft of the engine and the power turbine (PT) shaft, may lead to rupture of the quill shaft, overspeed of the PT, and uncontained engine failure. This proposed AD would require inspection of the reduction gearbox and supporting cone. We are proposing this AD to prevent misalignment and rupture of the quill shaft, which could lead to overspeed of the PT, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19244-19245]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07865]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 69 / Friday, April 10, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 19244]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0482; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-06-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain serial number GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11, M601E-11A, and 
M601F turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the 
determination that wear or cracking, and subsequent misalignment of the 
quill shaft of the engine and the power turbine (PT) shaft, may lead to 
rupture of the quill shaft, overspeed of the PT, and uncontained engine 
failure. This proposed AD would require inspection of the reduction 
gearbox and supporting cone. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
misalignment and rupture of the quill shaft, which could lead to 
overspeed of the PT, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 9, 2015.

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: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 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 proposed AD, contact GE 
Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9--
Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: +420 222 
538 222. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. 
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-2015-
0482.

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-2015-
0482; 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 proposed AD, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), the 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: Philip Haberlen, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7770; 
fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-0482; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-06-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM based on 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 NPRM.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2015-0014, dated January 30, 2015 (referred to hereinafter as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    It has been identified that misalignment between the quill shaft 
of the engine and the Power Turbine (PT) shaft may lead to a rupture 
of the quill shaft.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
overspeed of the PT and consequent uncontained engine failure, 
possibly resulting in damage to the aeroplane and injury to 
occupants and/or persons on the ground.

    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-2015-0482.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
No. M601E-11/28, M601E-11A/15, M601F/26, Revision 2, dated January 23, 
2015. This service information describes procedures for inspecting the 
M601 reduction gearbox and supporting cone. This service information is 
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it 
through their normal course of business or see ADDRESSES for other ways 
to access this service information.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed 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 proposing 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 proposed AD would require inspection

[[Page 19245]]

of the reduction gearbox and supporting cone.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 16 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 
112 hours per engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor 
rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about $21,376 per engine. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $494,336. Our cost estimate is exclusive of 
possible warranty coverage.

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 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 this 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),
    (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.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type Certificate previously held by WALTER 
Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.): Docket No. FAA-2015-
0482; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-06-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 9, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to certain serial number (S/N) GE Aviation Czech 
s.r.o. M601E-11, M601E-11A, and M601F turboprop engines, as follows:
    (1) Model M601E-11: S/N 833244, 841289, 852239, 861007, 881217, 
884021, 892046, 892219, 894018, 903028, 913038, and 912023.
    (2) Model M601E-11A: S/N 902004 and 883046.
    (3) Model M601F: S/N 912001 and 924002.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the determination that wear or cracking, 
and subsequent misalignment of the quill shaft of the engine and the 
power turbine (PT) shaft, may lead to rupture of the quill shaft, 
overspeed of the PT, and uncontained engine failure. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent misalignment and rupture of the quill shaft, 
which could lead to overspeed of the PT, uncontained engine failure, 
and damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) Within 300 flight hours, or six months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect the reduction 
gearbox and supporting cone. Use Appendix 2, paragraph 4., 
Inspection, of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
No. M601E-11/28, M601E-11A/15, M601F/26, Revision 2, dated January 
23, 2015, to do your inspection.
    (2) If any crack is detected on the quill shaft, PT shaft, or 
the supporting cone, or if the quill shaft or PT shaft involute 
spline wear exceeds 0.12 mm, then before further flight, replace 
each cracked or worn part with a part eligible for installation.

(f) Credit for Previous Actions

    If you performed the actions of paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(2) of 
this AD before the effective date of this AD using GE Aviation Czech 
s.r.o. ASB No. M601E-11/28, M601E-11A/15, M601F/26, Revision 1, 
dated December 23, 2014, or Initial Issue, dated June 27, 2014, you 
have met the requirements of this AD.

(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: [email protected].

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Philip Haberlen, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7770; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2015-0014, 
dated January 30, 2015, 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-2015-0482.
    (3) GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. ASB No. M601E-11/28, M601E-11A/15, 
M601F/26, Revision 2, dated January 23, 2015, is co-published as one 
document with M601D/44, M601D-1/29, M601D-11NZ/18, M601E/59, and 
M601E-21/26, which are not incorporated by reference in this AD, can 
be obtained from GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., using the contact 
information in paragraph (h)(4) of this proposed AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 
9--Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111; fax: 
+420 222 538 222.
    (5) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 27, 2015.
Thomas A. Boudreau,
Acting Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-07865 Filed 4-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P