AD 2011-18-19

This AD is effective October 6, 2011.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 22, 2010 (75 FR 68179, November 5, 2010).

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, or go to: http://www.austroengine.at. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7176; fax: 781-238-7199; e-mail: james.lawrence@faa.gov.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498 (75 FR 68179, November 5, 2010). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2011 (76 FR 33660). That NPRM proposed to continue to require frequent inspections of the fuel pressure supply for excessive oscillations to determine if high-pressure fuel pumps have been exposed to damaging pressure oscillations. That NPRM also proposed to require installing HP fuel pump P/N E4A-30-200-000, as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM.

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will affect about 32 model E4 diesel piston engines, installed on airplanes of US registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per engine to perform one inspection, and about 2 work-hours per engine to replace the HP fuel pump. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $2,325 per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to be $82,560.

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.

We have determined that 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,

(2) Is not a “significant rule” under 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.

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

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing airworthiness directive (AD) 2010-23-09, Amendment 39-16498 (75 FR 68179, November 5, 2010), and adding the following new AD: