Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Artouste III B, Artouste III B1, and Artouste III D Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Turbomeca Artouste III B, Artouste III B1, and Artouste III D turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires removing certain fuel pumps from service and installing serviceable fuel pumps. This AD requires the same actions and adds to the applicability, additional fuel pumps by serial number (SN). This AD results from Turbomeca identifying a number of fuel pump SNs that they omitted from the original population. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced engine fuel flow and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, or an accident.

DATES:

Effective October 9, 2007.

We must receive any comments on this AD by November 20, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD.

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
• 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 Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, France; telephone 33 05 59 74 40 00, fax 33 05 59 74 45 15, for the service information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christopher Spinney, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7175; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On February 17, 2006, the FAA issued AD 2005-04-15, Amendment 39-14497 (71 FR 9692, February 27, 2006). That AD requires removing affected fuel pumps from service and installing serviceable fuel pumps, within 30 days or 80 operating hours after receipt of a serviceable fuel pump, whichever occurs first, but no later than March 15, 2006. That AD was the result of fuel pumps entering service after passing a faulty acceptance test. Accordingly, those fuel pumps may limit the maximum fuel flow available to the engine. That condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced engine fuel flow and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, or an accident.

Actions Since AD 2006-04-15 Was Issued

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the airworthiness authority for the European Union, notified the FAA that Turbomeca has identified an additional 58 fuel pumps, by SN, that were omitted from the original SN listing. These pumps may be installed on U.S.-registered Eurocopter France Alouette III SE.3160, SA.316B, SA.315B, and SA.316C helicopters.

Turbomeca issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 218 73 0802, Update 1, dated January 8, 2007, to address the 160 suspect fuel pumps. We cannot confirm that these fuel pumps have been removed from service and retested or replaced. The EASA issued AD 2007-0030, dated February 6, 2007, in order to ensure the airworthiness of these engines in the European Union. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced helicopter performance, subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, or accident.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

Turbomeca SB 218 73 0802, Update 1, dated January 8, 2007, requires compliance by March 1, 2007, at the latest. This AD requires compliance no later than 30 days after the effective date of this AD.

Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement

This engine model is manufactured in France and is type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the EASA has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. We have examined the findings of the EASA, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

The unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other Turbomeca Artouste III B, Artouste III B1, and Artouste III D turboshaft engines of the same type design. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced engine fuel flow and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, or an accident. This AD requires:

• For pumps with a SN listed in Table 1 of this AD, removing affected fuel pumps from service and installing serviceable fuel pumps no later than March 15, 2006, the compliance end date of AD 2005-04-15.
• For pumps with a SN listed in Table 2 of this AD, removing affected fuel pumps from service and installing serviceable fuel pumps before accumulating 50 cycles-in-service after the effective date of this AD, but no later than 30 days after the effective date of this AD.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD, we have found that notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable, and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public comment; however, we invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “AD Docket No. FAA-2006-23594; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-54-AD” in the subject line of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might suggest a need to modify it.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov , including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the DMS Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, including 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) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 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 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the address listed under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-14497 ( 71 FR 9692, February 27, 2006), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, Amendment 39-15202, to read as follows:

2007-19-11 Turbomeca S.A.: Amendment 39-15202. Docket No. FAA-2005-23594; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-54-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective October 9, 2007.

Affected ADs

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2005-04-15, Amendment 39-14497.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Turbomeca Artouste III B, Artouste III B1, and Artouste III D turboshaft engines. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Eurocopter France Alouette III SE.3160, SA.316B, SA.315B, and SA.316C helicopters.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from Turbomeca S.A. identifying a number of fuel pump serial numbers (SNs) that they omitted from the original population. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced engine fuel flow and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, or an accident.

Compliance

(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the actions have already been done.

Original Requirement

(f) Remove from service the fuel pumps listed by SN in Table 1 of this AD, and install a serviceable fuel pump no later than March 15, 2006.

New Requirement

(g) Remove from service the fuel pumps listed by SN in Table 2 of this AD, and install a serviceable fuel pump, before accumulating 50 hours in service after the effective date of this AD, but no later than 30 days from the effective date of this AD.

Definition

(h) For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable fuel pump is:

(1) A fuel pump that is not listed in Table 1 or Table 2 of this AD; or

(2) A fuel pump that is listed in Table 1 or Table 2 of this AD that has been retested to verify that it meets maximum fuel flow requirements.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(i) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

(j) European Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 2007-0030, dated February 6, 2007, also addresses the subject of this AD.

(k) Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 218 73 0802, Update No. 1, dated January 8, 2007, pertains to the subject of this AD.