[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 9, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67579-67581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24388]



[[Page 67579]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1414; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01303-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by WALTER Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and 
MOTORLET a.s.) Turboprop Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-
11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F model turboprop engines. This proposed AD 
was prompted by the exclusion of life limits for certain compressor 
cases and compressor drums from the airworthiness limitations section 
(ALS) of the engine maintenance manual (EMM). This proposed AD was also 
prompted by certain compressor cases that, following rework, were 
improperly re-identified and the engine logbook entries were not 
completed. This proposed AD would require recalculation of the consumed 
life for the affected compressor cases and compressor drums and, 
depending on the results of the recalculation, removal and replacement 
of the affected compressor case or compressor drum with a part eligible 
for installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by December 27, 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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1414; 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), any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For GEAC material identified in this NPRM, contact GE 
Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9, 
Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111.
     You may view this material 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 
phone: (781) 238-7146; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2022-1414; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2021-01303-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 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 proposal 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 NPRM.

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 NPRM 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 NPRM, 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Barbara Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 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 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued 
EASA AD 2021-0264, dated November 22, 2021 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition on GEAC M601E, M601E-11, 
M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, M601E-21, M601F and M601FS model 
turboprop engines. The MCAI states that the life limits for certain 
compressor cases and compressor drums were not published in the 
applicable ALS of the EMM for certain GEAC M601 model turboprop 
engines. The MCAI also states that following rework of certain 
compressor cases from part number (P/N) M601-154.6 to P/N M601-154.51, 
those compressor cases were improperly re-identified and the engine 
logbook entries were not completed, which could cause the compressor 
case to remain in service beyond its applicable life limit. This 
condition can lead to failure of an affected part, possibly resulting 
in engine mount failure and high energy debris release.
    As a result of this unsafe condition, the MCAI specifies 
replacement of the affected parts and engine logbook correction. The 
MCAI also specifies conditions and clarifications for parts 
installation using GEAC Alert Service Bulletin ASB-M601F-72-30-00-0061 
[01] and ASB-M601E-72-30-00-0110 [01], (single document; formatted as 
service bulletin identifier [revision number]), dated October 15, 2021.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1414.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed GEAC Alert Service Bulletin ASB-M601F-72-30-00-
0061 [01] and ASB-M601E-72-30-00-0110 [01], (single document; formatted 
as service bulletin identifier

[[Page 67580]]

[revision number]), dated October 15, 2021. This service information 
describes procedures for recalculation of the consumed life of certain 
compressor cases and compressor drums. The ASB also provides the part 
numbers of the affected compressor cases and compressor drums installed 
on GEAC M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F model 
turboprop engines.
    This ASB is reasonably available because the interested parties 
have access to it through their normal course of business or by the 
means identified in ADDRESSES.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority 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, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in 
the MCAI and service information described above. The FAA is issuing 
this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require recalculation of the consumed life 
for the affected compressor cases and compressor drums and, depending 
on the results of the recalculation, removal and replacement of the 
affected compressor case or compressor drum with a part eligible for 
installation.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    EASA AD 2022-0034 includes an Engine Logbook Correction paragraph 
which specifies correction of the compressor case P/N, while this 
proposed AD does not include the Engine Logbook Correction paragraph.
    EASA AD 2022-0034 applies to GEAC M601E, M601E-21, and M601FS model 
turboprop engines, and this AD does not because they do not have an FAA 
type certificate.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 7 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recalculate the consumed life of        .25 work-hours x $85 per              $0          $21.25         $148.75
 compressor case and compressor drum.    hour = $21.25.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the recalculated consumed 
life of the affected parts. The agency has no way of determining the 
number of aircraft that might need these replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove and replace compressor case............  10 work-hours x $85 per hour =            $5,000          $5,850
                                                 $850.
Remove and replace compressor drum............  40 work-hours x $85 per hour =             7,000          10,400
                                                 $3,400.
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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.
    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

    The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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:

GE Aviation Czech s.r.o (Type Certificate previously held by WALTER 
Engines a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.):

[[Page 67581]]

Docket No. FAA-2022-1414; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01303-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by December 27, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) M601E-11, 
M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E-11S, M601E-21, M601F, and M601FS model 
turboprop engines, with an installed compressor case part number (P/
N) M601-154.51, which includes compressor cases identified as, or 
recorded in the engine logbook as P/N M601-154.6; or with an 
installed compressor drum having P/N M601-130.7 or P/N M601-134.7.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7240, Turbine Engine 
Compressor Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's determination that 
the life limits for certain compressor cases and compressor drums 
were not published in the applicable airworthiness limitations 
section of the engine maintenance manual. Additionally, it was 
determined that following rework, certain compressor cases were 
improperly re-identified and the engine logbook entries were not 
completed. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the failure of the 
compressor case and compressor drum. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in engine mount failure and high energy 
debris release.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, 
recalculate the consumed life of the affected compressor case and 
affected compressor drum in accordance with the formula and lifing 
coefficients in paragraph 2.B., Table 1 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of GEAC Alert Service Bulletin ASB-M601F-72-30-00-0061 
[01] ASB-M601E-72-30-00-0110 [01] (single document; formatted as 
service bulletin identifier [revision number]), dated October 15, 
2021.
    (2) For GEAC M601E-11, M601E-11A, and M601F model turboprop 
engines, before the recalculated consumed life of an affected 
compressor case exceeds 11,000 equivalent flight cycles (FCs), 
replace the compressor case with a compressor case eligible for 
installation.
    (3) For GEAC M601E-11S and M601E-11AS model turboprop engines, 
before the recalculated consumed life of an affected compressor case 
exceeds 11,000 equivalent FCs, or within 12 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace the 
compressor case with a compressor case eligible for installation.
    (4) For all affected engines with an installed compressor drum 
having P/N M601-130.7 or M601-134.7, before the recalculated 
consumed life of the compressor drum exceeds 6,750 equivalent FCs, 
or within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever 
occurs first, replace the compressor drum with a compressor drum 
eligible for installation.

(h) Definition

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, a ``compressor case eligible for 
installation'' is:
    (i) For GEAC M601E-11, M601E-11A, and M601F model turboprop 
engines, an affected compressor case that is identified as P/N M601-
154.51 with no reference to other P/N's and that does not have a 
recalculated consumed life that has exceeded its life limit, or a 
compressor case that is not P/N M601-154.51.
    (ii) For GEAC M601E-11S and M601E-11AS model turboprop engines, 
a compressor case that is not P/N M601-154.51.
    Note 1 to paragraph (h)(1): A compressor case having P/N M601-
154.6 is not an approved configuration, and is not eligible for 
installation.
    (2) For the purpose of this AD, a ``compressor drum eligible for 
installation'' is a compressor drum that is not P/N M601-130.7 or 
M601-134.7.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in Sec.  39.19. 
In accordance with Sec.  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 (j)(2) of this AD and email to: [email protected].

(j) Additional Information

    (1) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2021-0264, dated November 22, 2021, for related information. This 
EASA AD may be found in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2022-1414.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara 
Caufield, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7146; email: 
[email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material 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) GE Aviation Czech Alert Service Bulletin ASB-M601F-72-30-00-
0061 [01] and ASB-M601E-72-30-00-0110 [01], (single document; 
formatted as service bulletin identifier [revision number]), dated 
October 15, 2021.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For GEAC service information identified in this AD, contact 
GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., Beranov[yacute]ch 65, 199 02 Praha 9, 
Let[ncaron]any, Czech Republic; phone: +420 222 538 111.
    (4) You may view this material 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.
    (5) You may view this material 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 November 3, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-24388 Filed 11-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


