[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25410-25412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11378]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1138; Product Identifier 2017-NE-41-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Austro Engine GmbH model E4 engines and for all model E4P 
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of considerable wear 
on the timing chain on these engines. This proposed AD would require 
replacement of the timing chain and amending certain airplane flight 
manuals to limit use of windmill restarts. We are proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Austro 
Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A-2700 Weiner Neustadt, Austria; 
phone: +43 2622 23000; fax: +43 2622 23000-2711; internet: 
www.austroengine.at. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, 
MA, 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 781-238-7759.

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-2017-
1138; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), 
the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
781-238-7146; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2017-1138; 
Product Identifier 2017-NE-41-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 because 
of 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 we 
receive about 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 2017-0103, dated June 14, 2017 (referred to after this as the MCAI), 
to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI 
states:

    Considerable wear of the timing chain has been detected on some 
engines. This may have been caused by windmilling restarts, which 
are known to cause high stress to the timing chain.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
failure of the timing chain and consequent engine power loss, 
possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Austro Engine 
included instructions in the engine maintenance manual to 
periodically inspect the condition of the timing chain and, 
depending on findings, to replace the timing chain and the chain 
wheel. The operation manual was updated to allow windmilling restart 
only as an emergency procedure.
    More recently, Austro Engines published Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) MSB-E4-017/2, providing instructions to replace the 
timing chain for engines with known windmilling restarts. For the 
reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires replacement of the 
timing chain for engines with known windmilling restarts, and 
requires amendment of the applicable Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM).

    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-2017-1138.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 
MSB-E4-017/2, dated December 2, 2016. The MSB describes procedures for 
replacement of the timing chain. 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.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by EASA, 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 the relevant 
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require replacement of the timing chain and 
amending certain airplane flight manuals to limit use of windmill 
restarts.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 211 engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

[[Page 25411]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amend AFM.............................  1 work hour x $85 per                 $0             $85         $17,935
                                         hour = $85.
Remove and replace timing chain.......  8 work-hours x $85 per               775           1,455         307,005
                                         hour = $680.
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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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

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, 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):

Austro Engine GmbH Engines: Docket No. FAA-2017-1138; Product 
Identifier 2017-NE-41-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 16, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Austro Engine GmbH model E4 engines with 
serial numbers that have a ``-B'' or ``-C'' configuration and to 
model E4P engines, all serial numbers.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 8520, Reciprocating 
Engine Power Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of considerable wear on the 
timing chain on these engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the engine timing chain. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in failure of the engine timing chain, loss 
of engine thrust control, and reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Determine whether the engine is a Group 1 or Group 2 engine 
as follows.
    (i) A Group 1 engine is an engine equipped with a timing chain 
that was installed on an engine that experienced a windmill restart, 
or an engine in which it cannot be determined if the engine 
experienced any windmilling restarts.
    (ii) A Group 2 engine is an engine that is equipped with a 
timing chain that has not experienced any windmilling restarts.
    (2) For Group 1 engines: Before the affected timing chain 
exceeds 945 engine flight hours (EFHs) since installation on an 
engine, or within 110 EFHs after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later, replace the timing chain in accordance with 
the instructions in Technical Details, Paragraph 2, in Austro Engine 
Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB-E4-017/2, dated December 2, 
2016.
    (3) For Group 1 and Group 2 engines: After the effective date of 
this AD, following each windmill restart of an engine, before the 
timing chain of that engine exceeds 945 EFHs since first 
installation on an engine, or within 110 EFHs after that windmilling 
restart, whichever occurs later, replace the timing chain in 
accordance with the instructions in Technical Details, Paragraph 2, 
in Austro Engine MSB No. MSB-E4-017/2, dated December 2, 2016.
    (4) For Group 1 and Group 2 engines: Within 30 days after the 
effective date of this AD, amend the applicable Airplane Flight 
Manual under Emergency Procedures by adding the information in 
figure 1 to paragraph (g)(4) of this AD to limit the use of a 
windmilling restart to only an emergency procedure.

[[Page 25412]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01JN18.000

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. You may email your request to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2017-0103, dated 
June 14, 2017, for more information. You may examine the EASA AD in 
the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2017-1138.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Austro Engine GmbH, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 11, A-2700 Weiner 
Neustadt, Austria; phone: +43 2622 23000; fax: +43 2622 23000-2711; 
internet: www.austroengine.at. You may view this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability 
of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 23, 2018.
Robert J. Ganley,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11378 Filed 5-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


