SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2026-7238; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00764-E” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this final rule because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

The FAA issued AD 2026-13-09, Amendment 39-23391 (91 FR 38991, June 29, 2026) (AD 2026-13-09), for all P&WC Model PW210A, PW210A1, and PW210S engines. AD 2026-13-09 was prompted by an Emergency AD originated by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada. Transport Canada issued Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-23, dated May 29, 2026 (Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-23) to correct an unsafe condition identified as circumferential cracks found at the turbine exhaust frame external surface caused by thermal stress from engine starts. AD 2026-13-09 required repetitive visual inspections of the turbine exhaust frame for cracks and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacement of the turbine exhaust frame. The FAA issued AD 2026-13-09 to prevent failure of the turbine exhaust frame, which could lead to loss of axial containment, release of parts, and damage to the helicopter. ( printed page 52488)

Actions Since AD 2026-13-09 Was Issued

Since the FAA issued AD 2026-13-09, Transport Canada superseded Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-23 and issued Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-35, dated July 15, 2026 (Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-35) (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that a manufacturer's analysis revealed that turbine exhaust frames manufactured from a certain material introduced by P&WC Service Bulletin PW210-72-57123 are more susceptible to developing thermal stress cracks at an earlier stage compared to turbine exhaust frames made of Waspaloy, the material used prior to the issuance of P&WC Service Bulletin PW210-72-57123. To address this unsafe condition, the manufacturer published updated service material that specifies procedures for repetitive visual inspections of the turbine exhaust frame at different initial inspection thresholds depending on the material used to manufacture the turbine exhaust frame. This condition, if not addressed, could result in turbine exhaust frame failure, which could lead to loss of axial containment, release of parts, and damage to the helicopter.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-7238.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-35, which specifies procedures for repetitive visual inspections of the turbine exhaust frame for cracks and replacement of the turbine exhaust frame. This material 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.

FAA's Determination

These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority (CAA) of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-35, described previously, as incorporated by reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some CAA ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-35 is incorporated by reference in this AD. This AD requires compliance with Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-35 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD. Material required by Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-2026-35 for compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-7238 after this AD is published.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective Date

Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency, for “good cause,” finds that those procedures are “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.” Under this section, an agency, upon finding good cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, upon a finding of good cause.

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because multiple circumferential cracks at the turbine exhaust frame external surface have been reported, and investigation revealed that the cracking was associated with thermal stress linked to engine starts. Crack propagation of the turbine exhaust frame could result in turbine exhaust frame failure, which could lead to loss of axial containment, release of parts, and damage to the helicopter. At this time, the growth rate of the turbine exhaust frame cracking has not been determined, but a manufacturer's analysis has revealed that turbine exhaust frames manufactured from certain materials are more susceptible to thermal stress cracking at earlier stages. For these reasons, on certain engines, the initial actions required by this AD must be accomplished within 5 hours time-in-service or 20 engine starts after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first. The compliance time in this AD is shorter than the time necessary for the public to comment and for publication of the final rule. Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).

In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days, for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and comment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 48 engines of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of engines that might need these replacements:

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.

The FAA is 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

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 that this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866, and

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

The Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: