AD 2016-12-06

This AD becomes effective July 22, 2016.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 22, 2016.

For service information identified in this final rule, contact Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: (33) 05 59 74 40 00; fax: (33) 05 59 74 45 15. You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-8257.

Brian Kierstead, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7772; fax: 781-238-7199; email: brian.kierstead@faa.gov.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to the specified products. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2016 (81 FR 12834) (“the NPRM”). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

Two occurrences of crack initiation were reported on a ferrule of diffuser part number (P/N) 0298210100, which propagated and led to the ferrule rupture. The investigation shows in both cases that the ruptured ferrule contacted and punctured the main fuel supply line, resulting in a fuel leak. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to an engine fire, consequently triggering an uncommanded engine in flight shut down, possibly resulting in an emergency landing. Prompted by these occurrences, Turbomeca published Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 298 72 2832 to provide repetitive inspection instructions.

This AD requires repetitive inspections of the affected diffuser and removal of those diffusers that fail the required inspection. 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-2015-8257.

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

We increased the compliance time for repetitive inspection from 50 hours since last inspection to 300 hours since last inspection. We updated the revision number and date of Turbomeca S.A. Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. A298 72 2832 throughout this AD and changed the Credit for Previous Actions paragraph as a result of the MSB change.

We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this AD with the changes described previously. We determined that these changes will not increase the economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Turbomeca S.A. has issued Alert MSB No. A298 72 2832, Version C, dated April 15, 2016. The Alert MSB describes procedures for repetitive inspections of the affected diffuser and depending on findings, accomplishment of the corrective action(s).

We estimate that this AD affects 10 engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 2 hours per engine to comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $1,700.

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 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 this AD:

(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 to the extent that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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 adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):