AD 2012-19-01

This AD is effective October 24, 2012.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of October 24, 2012.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain other publication listed in the AD as of November 3, 2006 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006).

For service information identified in this AD, contact Lycoming, 652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701; phone: 570 323-6181; fax: 570-327-7101, or on the internet at www.Lycoming.Textron.com. You may view this 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.

Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7337; fax: 516-794-5531; email: norman.perenson@faa.gov.

We issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2006-20-09, amendment 39-14778 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006). That AD applies to the specified products. The SNPRM published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2012 (77 FR 20743). The original NPRM (76 FR 50152, August 12, 2011) proposed to retain the requirements of AD 2006-20-09 to replace certain crankshafts and to correct the start date of MSB No. 569A from March 1, 1997 to January 1, 1997, which is the start date in Supplement No. 1 to Lycoming MSB No. 569A, dated May 27, 2009. The SNPRM proposed to add IO-390, AEIO-390, and AEIO-580 series engine models that have the affected crankshafts to the applicability of the AD. The SNPRM also proposed to change Service Instruction No. 1009AS, dated May 25, 2006, to Service Instruction No. 1009AU, dated November 18, 2009, because Lycoming updated this service instruction. The changes to Service Instruction 1009AS do not affect the engine overhaul time.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal and the FAA's response to that comment.

A commenter asked if the AD applies to the Lycoming Engine IO-360-A3B6D. We reply that this engine is listed in Lycoming MSB No. 569A, so if the crankshaft serial number of that engine is also listed in Table 5 of MSB No. 569A, then the AD applies.

We reviewed our previous credit paragraph in the SNPRM (77 FR 20743, April 6, 2012) and found that not all the ADs and service bulletins (SBs) listed in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of the SNPRM resolved the unsafe conditions. Accordingly, we changed the Credit for Previous Actions paragraphs, paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, retaining only Lycoming MSB No. 569A and AD 2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006) in the AD to resolve the unsafe condition and deleting all other ADs and SBs referenced in the SNPRM. Paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) now read: “(1) If you previously complied with AD 2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006), no further action is required. (2) If you previously accomplished Lycoming MSB No. 569A, no further action is required.”

We reviewed the cost estimate made in AD 2006-20-09 (71 FR 57407, September 29, 2006) when we added the new affected engine models to the SNPRM (77 FR 20743, April 6, 2012). We found that the cost estimate in AD 2006-20-09 included the number of affected engines worldwide rather than those installed only on aircraft of U.S. registry. We also found that the cost estimate in AD 2006-20-09 already included the engine models that we have now added to the applicability of this AD. Accordingly, we changed the number of affected engine models from 3,774 to 2,831 and the overall cost estimate from $60,384,000 to $45,288,000.

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

We estimate that this AD affects 2,831 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. Because the AD compliance interval coincides with engine overhaul or other engine maintenance, we estimate no additional labor hours will be needed to comply with this AD. Required parts will cost about $16,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to be $45,288,000. Our estimate is independent of any possible warranty coverage.

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) 2006-20-09, Amendment 39-14778 (71 FR 57407), and adding the following new AD: