[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35826-35828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15224]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2003-NE-09-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A and
PT6A-65B Turboprop Engines
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
[[Page 35827]]
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B turboprop
engines. This proposed AD would require replacing Woodward propeller
governor assemblies, part number (P/N) 8210-212H. This proposed AD is
prompted by six incidents during airplane acceptance flight testing
where directional control of the airplane was difficult to maintain
during landing. The actions specified in this proposed AD are intended
to prevent loss of directional control and damage to the airplane.
DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by August 18,
2003.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD:
[sbull] By mail: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New England
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No.
2003-NE-09-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-
5299.
[sbull] By fax: (781) 238-7055.
[sbull] By e-mail: [email protected].
You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD
from Pratt & Whitney Canada, 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec,
Canada J4G1A1.
You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region,
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Dargin, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-
7178; 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. 2003-NE-09-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 through a nonwritten communication, 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.
We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of
our communications that affect you. You may get more information about
plain language at http://www.plainlanguage.gov.
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
Transport Canada, which is the airworthiness authority for Canada,
recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on PWC
PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B turbofan engines. Transport Canada advises the
FAA that there have been six reports from the airplane manufacturer
that it was difficult to maintain directional control of the airplane
during landing. These events were reported to have occurred during
airplane acceptance flight testing. Certain governors that incorporate
propeller control units (PCUs) with thicker O-rings on the Beta valve
shafts of the PCUs may not set the appropriate ground idle blade angle
when the airplane lands. If this happens on one engine only, a
substantial and unexpected asymmetric thrust condition will occur.
The introduction of a thicker O-ring on the Beta valve shaft of the
PCU addressed a nuisance oil leakage issue. A side effect of fitting
this thicker O-ring is that a slightly higher input force is required
to move the Beta valve to the ground idle position. On the
installations using the PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B engines, the airframe
installations have a solenoid system that relies on the force of an
internal spring within the Beta valve to move the valve to the ground
idle command position. The force of this spring is insufficient to
overcome the increased friction of the thicker O-ring and ensure that
the valve consistently and promptly moves to the ground idle position.
As a result, the pilot may experience directional control problems
during landing. There have been no reports of in-service incidents to
date. The actions specified in this proposed AD are intended to prevent
loss of directional control and damage to the airplane.
This proposed AD is not applicable to engine models operating with
the Woodward propeller governor, P/N 8210-212J, since they operate with
a push-pull rod mechanism to move the Beta valve. That arrangement
provides ample force to overcome the O-ring's frictional resistance.
Relevant Service Information
PWC has issued Service Bulletin (SB) PT6A-72-13354, dated July 6,
2001. That SB provides information for the removal, replacement, or
modification of Woodward propeller governor assembly, P/N 8210-212H.
Transport Canada classified this SB as mandatory and issued
airworthiness directive CF-2002-02, dated January 15, 2002, in order to
ensure the airworthiness of these PWC engines in Canada.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Manufacturer's Service
Information
Although the SB recommends the removal, replacement or modification
of Woodward propeller governor assemblies, P/N 8210-212H, when the
engine is disassembled and access is available to the necessary
subassembly (i.e. module, accessories, components, or build groups),
this proposed AD would require compliance at the next access or within
six months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
These PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B engine models, manufactured in Canada,
are type-certificated for operation in the United States under the
provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR
21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant
to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, Transport Canada has kept us
informed of the situation described above. We have examined Transport
Canada'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. Therefore, we are
proposing this AD, which would require replacing Woodward propeller
governor assemblies, P/N 8210-212H.
[[Page 35828]]
Changes to 14 CFR Part 39--Effect on the Proposed AD
On July 10, 2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67
FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. This
regulation now includes material that relates to altered products,
special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This
material previously was included in each individual AD. Since this
material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in
future AD actions.
Costs of Compliance
There are approximately 73 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A and
PT6A-65B turboprop engines of the affected design in the worldwide
fleet. We estimate that 70 engines installed on airplanes of U.S.
registry would be affected by this proposed AD. We also estimate that
it would take approximately 2 work hours per engine to perform the
proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour.
Required parts would cost approximately $24,228 per engine. Based on
these figures, the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators is
estimated to be $1,704,360. PWC has informed the FAA that it may
provide the parts and labor to the operators at no cost, thereby
substantially reducing the cost impact of this proposed rule.
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. 2003-NE-09-AD'' in your request.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under 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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Pratt and Whitney Canada: Docket No. 2003-NE-09-AD.
Comments Due Date: (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by
August 18, 2003.
Affected ADs: (b) None.
Applicability: (c) This AD is applicable to Pratt & Whitney
Canada (PWC) PT6A-60A and PT6A-65B turboprop engines that have
Woodward propeller governor assemblies, part number, (P/N) 8210-
212H, installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to,
Raytheon Super Beech King Air 300/350 and Raytheon Beech 1900/1900C
airplanes.
Unsafe Condition: (d) This AD was prompted by six incidents
during airplane acceptance flight testing, whereby directional
control of the airplane was difficult to maintain during landing.
The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent loss of
directional control and damage to the airplane.
Compliance: (e) Compliance with this AD is required as
indicated, unless already done.
Removal of Woodward Propeller Governor Assemblies
(f) Replace Woodward propeller governor assemblies, P/N 8210-
212H, at the next access to the governor or within six months after
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs earlier. Information
on replacing the Woodward propeller governor assembly can be found
in Pratt & Whitney Canada Service Bulletin PT6A-72-13354, dated July
6, 2001.
(g) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any
Woodward propeller governor assembly, P/N 8210-212H, on any engine.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(h) Alternative methods of compliance must be requested in
accordance with 14 CFR part 39.19, and must be approved by the
Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(i) None
Related Information
(j) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada
airworthiness directive CF-2002-02, dated January 15, 2002.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 9, 2003.
Francis A. Favara,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15224 Filed 6-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P