81 FR 14700 - Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop Engines

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 53 (March 18, 2016)

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6A-60AG, -65AG, -67AF, and -67AG turboprop engines. This AD requires removing Woodward fuel control units (FCUs) and installing an FCU that is eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by incidents of corrosion and perforation of the two-ply Cu-Be bellows in Woodward FCUs. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the Woodward FCU and engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of control of the airplane.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14700-14702]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06124]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3732; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-25-AD; 
Amendment 39-18431; AD 2016-05-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6A-60AG, -65AG, -67AF, and -67AG 
turboprop engines. This AD requires removing Woodward fuel control 
units (FCUs) and installing an FCU that is eligible for installation. 
This AD was prompted by incidents of corrosion and perforation of the 
two-ply Cu-Be bellows in Woodward FCUs. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the Woodward FCU and engine, in-flight shutdown, and 
loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 22, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 22, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Pratt 
& Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, 
J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Internet: www.pwc.ca. 
You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, 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-2015-3732.

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-
3732; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is 
Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Besian Luga, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7750; fax: 781-
238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The 
NPRM was published in the Federal Register on November 10, 2015 (80 FR 
69623). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    There have been in-service incidents involving corrosion and 
perforation of the two-ply Cu-Be bellows in Woodward Fuel Control 
Units (FCU) fitted to PT6A-60, -65 and -67 series engines. In 
certain instances, associated bellows leakage has resulted in loss 
of engine power, in-flight shutdowns (IFSD) and even accidents. 
Engines installed

[[Page 14701]]

on the aeroplanes that are used for crop dusting, due to the 
operational environment, are more susceptible to corrosion damage to 
the subject bellows.
    Loss of engine power or shut down in flight by itself usually is 
not considered a catastrophic event. However, on an aeroplane with 
single engine installation, an engine power loss or IFSD at a 
critical phase of flight could adversely affect the safe operation 
of the aeroplane.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 69623, November 10, 
2015).
    We updated the revision number and date of P&WC Service Bulletin 
No. PT6A-72-14389.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting this AD with the changes described 
previously. We determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    P&WC has issued Service Bulletin (S.B.) No. PT6A-72-14389, Revision 
No. 4, dated February 3, 2016 (P&WC S.B. No. 14389R4) and S.B. No. 
PT6A-72-13473, Revision No. 1, dated May 26, 2015 (P&WC S.B. No. 
13473R1). The service information describes procedures for replacing 
Woodward FCUs. 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 
final rule.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 341 engines installed on airplanes 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1.5 hours 
per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per 
hour. Required parts cost about $1,000 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$384,478.

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

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):

2016-05-13 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (Type Certificate previously 
held by Pratt & Whitney Canada, Inc., Pratt & Whitney Aircraft of 
Canada, Ltd., and United Aircraft of Canada, Ltd.): Amendment 39-
18431; Docket No. FAA-2015-3732; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-25-
AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 22, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PT6A-
60AG, BS919 and BS1048 with pre-Service Bulletin (S.B.) No. PT6A-72-
13402, dated August 12, 2005 configuration; PT6A-65AG, BS708, BS903, 
BS1101, and BS1102 with pre-S.B. No. PT6A-72-13408, dated July 3, 
2006 configuration; PT6A-67AF; and PT6A-67AG turboprop engines with 
Woodward fuel control units (FCUs), installed.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by incidents of corrosion and perforation 
of the two-ply Cu-Be bellows in Woodward FCUs. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent failure of the Woodward FCU and engine, in-flight 
shutdown, and loss of control of the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) For P&WC PT6A-67AF and PT6A-67AG engines, within 500 flight 
hours (FHs) or one year after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first, replace the Woodward FCU. Use paragraphs 
3.A. and 3.C. of P&WC S.B. No. PT6A-72-14389, Revision No. 4, dated 
February 3, 2016 to replace the FCU.
    (2) For P&WC PT6A-60AG BS919 and BS1048 engines with pre-S.B. 
No. PT6A-72-13402 configurations, within 36 months after the 
effective date of this AD, replace the Woodward FCU. Use paragraph 
3.C.(1) and 3.C.(3) of P&WC S.B. No. PT6A-72-13473, Revision No. 1, 
dated May 26, 2015 to replace the FCU.
    (3) For P&WC PT6A-65AG BS708, BS903, BS1101, and BS1102 engines 
with pre-S.B. No. PT6A-72-13408 configurations, within 36 months 
after the effective date of this AD, replace the Woodward FCU. Use 
paragraphs 3.A.(1) and 3.A.(3) of P&WC S.B. No. PT6A-72-13473, 
Revision No. 1, dated May 26, 2015 to replace the FCU.

(f) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for the actions required by paragraph (e) of 
this AD if you performed the actions before the effective date of 
this AD in accordance with P&WC S.B. No. PT6A-72-14389, Revision No. 
3, dated January 27, 2011; or S.B. No. PT6A-72-13473, dated March 
12, 2015; or S.B. No. PT6A-72-13408, Revision No. 1, dated March 12, 
2015; or earlier versions.

(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].

[[Page 14702]]

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Besian Luga, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: 781-238-7750; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada AD CF-2015-23, dated July 23, 
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-2015-3732. You may examine the 
MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-3732-0002.

(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) Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) Service Bulletin (S.B.) No. 
PT6A-72-14389, Revision No. 4, dated February 3, 2016 (P&WC S.B. No. 
14389R4).
    (ii) P&WC S.B. No. PT6A-72-13473, Revision No. 1, dated May 26, 
2015 (P&WC S.B. No. 13473R1).
    (3) For P&WC service information identified in this AD, contact 
Pratt & Whitney Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, 
Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; Internet: 
www.pwc.ca.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 2, 2016.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06124 Filed 3-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P