[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45633-45638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16371]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0983; Project Identifier AD-2022-00614-E; 
Amendment 39-22132; AD 2022-16-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Continental Aerospace Technologies, 
Inc., Lycoming Engines, and Textron Lycoming/Subsidiary of Textron, 
Inc. Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. GTSIO-520, IO-346, IO-
470, IO-520, IO-550, LTSIO-520, O-470, TSIO-520, and TSIOL-550 series 
model reciprocating engines, Lycoming Engines AEIO-320, AEIO-360, AEIO-
540, AIO-320, AIO-360, GO-480, GSO-480, HIO-360, HIO-540, IGO-480, IGO-
540, IGSO-480, IGSO-540, IO-320, IO-360, IO-540, LIO-360, LTIO-540, O-
235, O-320, O-360, O-540, TIGO-541, TIO-360, TIO-540, TIO-541, TVO-435, 
VO-435, and VO-540 series model reciprocating engines, and Textron 
Lycoming/Subsidiary of Textron, Inc. IO-720 series model reciprocating 
engines. This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing quality 
escape of improperly lubricated roller bearings installed in certain 
magnetos, which may result in overheating and magneto seizure. This AD 
requires the replacement of affected magneto or inspection of affected 
magneto and, if no white grease is detected, replacement of magneto 
components, as applicable, and reassembly of the magneto. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 15, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 15, 
2022.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by September 12, 2022.

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 www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.

[[Page 45634]]

     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 final rule, contact 
Continental Aerospace Technologies, P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL 36615; 
phone: (251) 436-8299; website: www.continental.aero. You may view this 
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0983; 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 final rule, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Boyce Jones, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 
(404) 474-5535; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA received a report from Continental Aerospace Technologies, 
Inc., of a manufacturing quality escape that identified a certain 
population of magnetos that did not meet the design specification due 
to improperly lubricated roller bearings. The supplier notified the 
manufacturer that roller bearings installed in certain magnetos were 
delivered with a light corrosion preventive lubricant instead of the 
specified translucent white grease. Analysis by the manufacturer 
determined that affected magnetos assembled without the properly 
lubricated roller bearing have the potential to overheat, causing 
accelerated wear in the contact and cam follower. As a result of its 
analysis, the manufacturer published service information that specifies 
procedures for the removal and replacement of the affected magneto or 
inspection of the affected magneto and, if no white grease is detected, 
replacement of magneto components, as applicable, and reassembly of the 
magneto. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of 
one or more engines, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the 
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in 
other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Continental Aerospace Technologies Critical 
Service Bulletin CSB673, Revision C, dated May 24, 2022 (the CSB). The 
CSB specifies procedures for removing and replacing affected magneto or 
inspecting affected magneto and, if no white grease is detected, 
replacing magneto components, as applicable, and reassembling the 
magneto. This CSB also specifies procedures for returning certain parts 
to the manufacturer for warranty replacement. 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 ADDRESSES.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires the replacement of the affected magneto or 
inspection of the affected magneto and, if no white grease is detected, 
replacement of magneto components, as applicable, and reassembly of the 
magneto.

Clarification of Requirements

    The CSB specifies procedures to return certain parts to the 
manufacturer for warranty replacement. However, this AD does not 
require returning parts to the manufacturer. The CSB also specifies to 
discard the roller bearing after the roller bearing has been pressed 
out of the magneto housing. This AD does not require discarding the 
roller bearing.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b)(3)(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 foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule 
because affected magnetos assembled without properly lubricated roller 
bearings have the potential to overheat, causing accelerated wear in 
the contact and cam follower that could lead to seizure and failure of 
the magnetos. Since an engine may contain two affected magnetos, there 
is a possibility of failure of one or more engines and loss of the 
airplane due to loss of ignition. The FAA considers replacement or 
inspection of the affected magneto to be an urgent safety issue. 
Replacement or inspection of the affected magneto must be accomplished 
within 25 operating hours time-in-service (TIS) or, if any affected 
magneto has accumulated more than 25 operating hours TIS, before 
further flight after the effective date of this AD. Accordingly, notice 
and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary 
to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(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 forego notice and 
comment.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under 
ADDRESSES. Include ``FAA-2022-0983 and Project Identifier AD-2022-
00614-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 
www.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.

[[Page 45635]]

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 Boyce 
Jones, Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. Any commentary that the FAA receives 
which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the 
public docket for this rulemaking.

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 could affect up to 740 magnetos 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA has no way of 
determining the number of operators that will remove the affected 
magneto and replace it with a part eligible for installation or, in 
lieu of replacing, disassemble, inspect and replace magneto components. 
The FAA's estimated cost on U.S. operators reflects the maximum 
possible cost based on the 740 affected magnetos installed on products 
of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                       Cost per
             Action                  Labor cost       Parts cost        product        Cost on U.S. operators
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Remove and replace the affected  1.5 work-hours x           $1,600       $1,727.50  Up to $1,278,350.
 magneto.                         $85 per hour =
                                  $127.50.
Remove, disassemble, and         1 work-hour x $85               0              85  Up to $62,900.
 inspect affected magneto.        per hour = $85.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to replace magneto 
components. The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft 
that might need this replacement:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace magneto components.................  .25 work-hours x $85 per hour =                 $20          $41.25
                                              $21.25.
Reassemble and install magneto.............  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85...               0             170
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD 
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected operators.

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

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:

2022-16-03 Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc., Lycoming 
Engines, and Textron Lycoming/Subsidiary of Textron, Inc. 
Reciprocating Engines:

[[Page 45636]]

Amendment 39-22132; Docket No. FAA-2022-0983; Project Identifier AD-
2022-00614-E.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective August 15, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to:
    (1) Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. reciprocating 
engine models identified in Table 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD that 
are equipped with an S-1200 series magneto having a serial number 
(S/N) between F21EA057 and F21KA009R, inclusive, manufactured and 
sold between May and November 2021; and
    (2) Lycoming Engines and Textron Lycoming/Subsidiary of Textron, 
Inc. reciprocating engine models identified in Table 2 to paragraph 
(c) of this AD that are equipped with an S-1200 series magneto 
authorized by Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. Parts 
Manufacturer Approval (PMA) Supplements 1-54, having an S/N between 
F21EA057 and F21KA009R, inclusive, manufactured and sold between May 
and November 2021.
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(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 8500, Engine 
(RECIPROCATING).

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing quality 
escape of improperly lubricated roller bearings installed in certain 
magnetos, which may result in overheating and magneto seizure. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the magneto. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of one or more 
engines, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    For any affected magneto, within 25 operating hours time-in-
service (TIS) or, if any affected magneto has accumulated more than 
25 operating hours TIS, before further flight after the effective 
date of this AD:
    (1) Remove the affected magneto from the engine and replace with 
a part eligible for installation in accordance with the Corrective 
Action, paragraph III.A., of Continental Aerospace Technologies 
Critical Service Bulletin CSB673, Revision C, dated May 24, 2022 
(the CSB); or
    (2) Remove the affected magneto from the engine and disassemble 
and inspect the affected magneto in accordance with the Corrective 
Action, paragraphs III.B.1. through III.B.8.a., of the CSB.
    (i) If, during the inspection required by paragraph (g)(2) of 
this AD, no white grease is detected, before further flight, inspect 
and replace the magneto components, as applicable, in accordance 
with the Corrective Action, paragraphs III.B.8.b.1 and III.B.8.b.2, 
of the CSB. Where the CSB specifies discarding the roller bearing, 
this AD instead requires removing the roller bearing from service.
    (ii) Reassemble and install the magneto in accordance with the 
Corrective Action, paragraph III.C., of the CSB.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install onto any 
engine an S-1200 series magneto having a S/N between F21EA057 and 
F21KA009R, inclusive, manufactured and sold between May and November 
2021; or any S-1200 series magneto authorized by Continental 
Aerospace Technologies, Inc. PMA Supplements 1-54, having an S/N 
between F21EA057 and F21KA009R, inclusive, manufactured and sold 
between May and November 2021, unless the magneto has first 
undergone corrective action and the data plate has been marked in 
accordance with the Corrective Action, paragraph III.C.3., of the 
CSB.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for actions required by paragraph (g) of 
this AD if the actions were performed before the effective date of 
this AD using Continental Aerospace Technologies Critical Service 
Bulletin CSB673, Revision B, dated April 20, 2022; Continental 
Ignition Systems Service Bulletin (SB) SB673, Revision A, dated 
March 8, 2022; or Continental Ignition Systems SB SB673, Original 
Issue, dated January 31, 2022.

(j) Special Flight Permit

    A special flight permit may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199 to permit a one-time non-revenue ferry flight to a 
location where this AD can be accomplished. This ferry flight must 
be performed with only essential flight crew.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO, 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 
certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (l) of this AD.
    (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.

(l) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Boyce Jones, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5535; email: 
[email protected].

(m) 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) Continental Aerospace Technologies Critical Service Bulletin 
CSB673, Revision C, dated May 24, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Continental Aerospace Technologies, P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL 36615; 
phone: (251) 436-8299; website: www.continental.aero.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on July 25, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-16371 Filed 7-27-22; 11:15 am]
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