AD 2016-12-07

This AD is effective July 26, 2016.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of July 26, 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-2010-0219.

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 to supersede AD 2010-11-10, Amendment 39-16315 (75 FR 30270, June 1, 2010), (“AD 2010-11-10”). AD 2010-11-10 applied to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2016 (81 FR 12843) (“the NPRM”). The NPRM proposed to continue to require inspection of certain third stage turbine wheels and removal of any damaged wheel. The NPRM also proposed to expand the population and frequency of repetitive inspections.

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

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

Turbomeca S.A. has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 283 72 0804, Version D, dated July 24, 2015. The MSB describes procedures for inspecting the third stage turbine wheels.

Turbomeca S.A. has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 283 72 0805, Version B, dated December 15, 2010. That SB describes optional terminating action for the inspections.

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 the ADDRESSES section.

We estimate that this AD affects seven engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 5 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 $2,975.

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.

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 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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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) 2010-11-10, Amendment 39-16315 (75 FR 30270, June 1, 2010), (“AD 2010-11-10”), and adding the following new AD: