FAA AD Targets Thielert Engines

[Federal Register: April 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 64)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 17084-17085]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ap10-22]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0308; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-17-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

 
Airworthiness Directives; Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) 
Model TAE 125-01 Reciprocating Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation 
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as: Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by 
oil separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by gas 
pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess of the 
oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may adversely 
affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication system. This 
condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight cases of engine 
power loss or ultimately, shutdown. We are proposing this AD to prevent 
loss of engine power or uncommanded engine shutdown during flight due 
to excessive crankcase blow-by gas pressure.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 20, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Contact Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350, 
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-696-
55; e-mail: info@centurion-engines.com for the service information 
identified in this proposed AD.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations office (phone (800) 647-5527) is the 
same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
tara.chaidez@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0308; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-17-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search 
function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any 
of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who 
sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy 
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 
FR 19477-78).

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
2010-0020, dated February 8, 2010 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by 
separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by 
gas pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess 
of the oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may 
adversely affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication 
system. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight 
cases of engine power loss or ultimately, shutdown.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    TAE has issued Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-0019, Revision 1, 
dated March 5, 2009. The actions described in this service information 
are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of Germany 
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our 
bilateral agreement with Germany, EASA has notified us of the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe 
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design. This proposed AD would require removing from 
service certain part number blow-by oil separators, within the next 110 
flight hours after the effective date of the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 250 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would take about 1.5 work-hours per engine to 
comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-
hour. Required parts would cost about $1,500 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we

[[Page 17085]]

estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $406,875.

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.
    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.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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

    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]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2010-0308; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-17-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by May 20, 2010.

Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) 
model TAE 125-01 reciprocating engines with any of the following 
part number blow-by oil separators installed:

                            Table 1--Part Numbers of Affected Blow-By Oil Separators
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02-7250-18100R1                            02-7250-18100R2               02-7250-18100R3.
02-7250-18100R4                            02-7250-18300R1               02-7250-18300R2.
02-7250-18300R3                            02-7250-18300R4               02-7250-18300R5.
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    These engines are installed in, but not limited to, Diamond 
Aircraft Industries Model DA 40, Piper PA-28-161 (Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) No. SA03303AT), and Cessna 172 (STC No. SA01303WI) 
airplanes.

Reason

    (d) Service has shown that the small outlet of the blow-by oil 
separators, part number 02-7250-18100R1; 02-7250-18100R2; 02-7250-
18100R3; 02-7250-18100R4; 02-7250-18300R1; 02-7250-18300R2; 02-7250-
18300R3; 02-7250-18300R4; or 02-7250-18300R5, may cause a blow-by 
gas pressure increase inside the crankcase of the engine in excess 
of the oil seal design pressure limits. Leaking engine oil may 
adversely affect the gearbox clutch or the engine lubrication 
system. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to in-flight 
cases of engine power loss or ultimately, shutdown. This AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by 
an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an 
unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent loss of engine power or uncommanded engine shutdown during 
flight due to excessive crankcase blow-by gas pressure.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Remove the blow-by oil separators listed by part number in 
Table 1 of this AD within the next 110 flight hours after the 
effective date of this AD.
    (2) Use the Measures section of TAE Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 
125-0019, Revision 1, dated March 5, 2009, to do the removal from 
service.

FAA AD Differences

    (f) None.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2010-0020, dated 
February 8, 2010, and TAE Service Bulletin No. TM TAE 125-0019, 
Revision 1, dated March 5, 2009, for related information. Contact 
Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, Platanenstrasse 14 D-09350, 
Lichtenstein, Germany, telephone: +49-37204-696-0; fax: +49-37204-
696-55; e-mail: info@centurion-engines.com, for a copy of this 
service information.
    (i) Contact Tara Chaidez, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
tara.chaidez@faa.gov; telephone (781) 238-7773; fax (781) 238-7199, 
for more information about this AD.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 30, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7590 Filed 4-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P