Airworthiness Directives; Various Aircraft Equipped With Rotax Aircraft Engines 912 A Series Engine, 1626-1628 [2012-202]
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1626
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;
telephone: (816) 329–4165; fax: (816) 329–
4090; email: jim.rutherford@faa.gov. Before
using any approved AMOC on any airplane
to which the AMOC applies, notify your
appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the
FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO),
or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement
in this AD to obtain corrective actions from
a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective
actions are considered FAA-approved if they
are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required
to assure the product is airworthy before it
is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any
reporting requirement in this AD, a federal
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, nor
shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of
information subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that
collection of information displays a current
valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information
collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for
this collection of information is estimated to
be approximately 5 minutes per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions,
completing and reviewing the collection of
information. All responses to this collection
of information are mandatory. Comments
concerning the accuracy of this burden and
suggestions for reducing the burden should
be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn:
Information Collection Clearance Officer,
AES–200.
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
(i) Related Information
Refer to MCAI EASA AD No.: 2011–0146,
dated August 3, 2011; Schempp-Hirth
Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical Note No. 863–
14, dated July 18, 2006; and Schempp-Hirth
Flugzeugbau GmbH Technical Note No. 863–
20 Revision 1, dated July 27, 2011, for related
information.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) You must use the following service
information to do the actions required by this
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The
Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the
following service information:
(i) Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH
Technical Note No. 863–14, dated July 18,
2006; and
(ii) Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH
Technical Note No. 863–20 Revision 1, dated
July 27, 2011.
(2) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau
GmbH, Krebenstrasse 25, D–73230
Kirchheim/Teck, Germany; phone: +49 7021
7298–0; fax +49 7021 7298–199; Internet:
https://www.schempp-hirth.com; email: info@
schempp-hirth.com.
(3) You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information
VerDate Mar<15>2010
12:38 Jan 10, 2012
Jkt 226001
on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call (816) 329–4148.
(4) You may also review copies of the
service information that is incorporated by
reference at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this
material at an NARA facility, call (202) 741–
6030, or go to https://www.archives.gov/
federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/
ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January
3, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–208 Filed 1–10–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2012–0001; Directorate
Identifier 2011–CE–041–AD; Amendment
39–16912; AD 2012–01–01]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Various
Aircraft Equipped With Rotax Aircraft
Engines 912 A Series Engine
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
We are adopting a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for various
aircraft equipped with Rotax Aircraft
Engines 912 A series engine. This AD
results from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI)
issued by the aviation authority of
another country to identify and correct
an unsafe condition on an aviation
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as a deviation in the
manufacturing process of certain part
number 888164 crankshafts that may
cause cracks on the surface of the
crankshaft on the power take off side,
which could lead to failure of the
crankshaft support bearing and possibly
result in an in-flight engine shutdown
and forced landing. We are issuing this
AD to require actions to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective January 26,
2012.
The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference
of a certain publication listed in the AD
as of January 26, 2012.
We must receive comments on this
AD by February 27, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by
any of the following methods:
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
• 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: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations,
M–30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in
this AD, contact BRP–Powertrain GmbH
& Co. KG, Welser Strasse 32, A–4623
Gunskirchen, Austria; phone: +43 7246
601 0; fax: +43 7246 601 9130; Internet:
https://www.rotax-aircraft-engines.com.
You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329–
4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on
the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the
Docket Management Facility 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 Office (telephone (800) 647–
5527) is in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD
docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329–
4145; fax: (816) 329–4090; email:
sarjapur.nagarajan@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA), which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European
Community, has issued EASA AD 2011–
0224–E, dated November 24, 2011
(referred to after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to
correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products. The MCAI states:
During a production process review, a
deviation (double side straightening) in the
manufacturing process of certain Part
Number (P/N) 888164 crankshafts has been
detected, which may have resulted in cracks
on the surface of the crankshaft. Only a few
E:\FR\FM\11JAR1.SGM
11JAR1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
crankshafts are suspected to have received
this double side straightening treatment, but
it has been impossible to identify these by
individual serial number (s/n). To address
this safety concern, BRP–Powertrain issued
Alert Service Bulletin ASB–912–059 and
ASB–914–042 (single document) with
instructions to identify and inspect the entire
batch of crankshafts that could be affected.
These crankshafts have been installed on a
limited number of engines, but some
crankshaft sets have also been shipped as
spare parts.
This condition, if not detected and
corrected, could lead to crack propagation on
the power take off side of the crankshaft
journal, possibly resulting in failure of the
crankshaft support bearing, in-flight engine
shutdown and forced landing, damage to the
aeroplane and injury to occupants.
To correct this potential unsafe condition,
EASA issued Emergency AD 2011–022–E to
require the identification and inspection for
cracks of all affected crankshafts, and
depending on findings, corrective action.
Since that AD was issued, it has been
determined that there are additional affected
crankshafts, currently known to be installed
in the ‘UL’ (i.e. non-certified) versions of the
affected engines.
For the reason described above, this AD
retains the requirements of EASA AD 2011–
0222–E, which is superseded, and expands
the group of s/n of affected crankshafts, listed
in Table 1 of this AD. A records check can
be acceptable to determine the s/n of the
crankshaft installed on the engine. This AD
also prohibits installation of any affected
crankshaft on an engine, or installation of an
aeroplane of an engine with an affected
crankshaft installed, unless the crankshaft
has passed the inspection as required by this
AD.
You may obtain further information by
examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Rotax Aircraft Engines BRP has issued
Alert Service Bulletin ASB–912–059
and ASB–914–042 (single document),
dated November 15, 2011. The actions
described in this service information are
intended to correct the unsafe condition
identified in the MCAI.
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
FAA’s Determination and Requirements
of the AD
This product has been approved by
the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation
in the United States. Pursuant to our
bilateral agreement with this State of
Design Authority, they have notified us
of the unsafe condition described in the
MCAI and service information
referenced above. We are issuing this
AD because we evaluated all
information provided by the State of
Design Authority and determined the
unsafe condition exists and is likely to
exist or develop on other products of the
same type design.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
12:38 Jan 10, 2012
Jkt 226001
FAA’s Determination of the Effective
Date
An unsafe condition exists that
requires the immediate adoption of this
AD. The FAA has found that the risk to
the flying public justifies waiving notice
and comment prior to adoption of this
rule because of the short compliance
time of 4 hours time-in-service, and the
risk to single-engine airplanes affected.
Therefore, we determined that notice
and opportunity for public comment
before issuing this AD are impracticable
and that good cause exists for making
this amendment effective in fewer than
30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves
requirements affecting flight safety, and
we did not precede it by notice and
opportunity for public comment. We
invite you to send any written relevant
data, views, or arguments about this AD.
Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section.
Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2012–0001;
Directorate Identifier 2011–CE–041–
AD’’ at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
this AD. We will consider all comments
received by the closing date and may
amend this AD because of those
comments.
We will post all comments we
receive, without change, to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact we receive
about this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect
112 products of U.S. registry. We also
estimate that it will take about 31 workhours per product to comply with the
basic requirements of this AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Required parts will cost about $5,400
per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate
the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to
be $899,920, or $8,035 per product.
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:
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
1627
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 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),
(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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation
safety, Incorporation by reference,
Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority
delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA amends 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.
§ 39.13
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding
the following new AD:
■
2012–01–01 Various Aircraft: Amendment
39–16912; Docket No. FAA–2012–0001;
Directorate Identifier 2011–CE–041–AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes
effective January 26, 2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
E:\FR\FM\11JAR1.SGM
11JAR1
1628
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all serial numbers of the
airplanes listed in table 1 of this AD, that are:
(1) Equipped with a Rotax Aircraft Engines
912 A series engine, with a part number (P/
N) 888164 crankshaft installed, serial
numbers 40232 through 40267, 40293
through 40374, 40408 through 40433, and
40435 through 40507; and
(2) Certificated in any category.
TABLE 1—AFFECTED AIRPLANES
Type certificate holder
Aircraft model
ˆ
´
´
Aeromot-Industria Mecanico-Metalurgica Ltda ................................
Diamond Aircraft Industries ..............................................................
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES GmbH ...................................
Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc ........................................................
HOAC-Austria ...................................................................................
Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A ....................................................
SCHEIBE-Flugzeugbau GmbH ........................................................
AMT–200 ........................................................................................
HK 36 R ‘‘SUPER DIMONA’’ .........................................................
HK 36 TS and HK 36 TC ...............................................................
DA20–A1 ........................................................................................
DV 20 KATANA ..............................................................................
Sky Arrow 650 TC ..........................................................................
SF 25C ...........................................................................................
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America
(ATA) Code 72: Engine.
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
issued by the aviation authority of another
country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI
describes the unsafe condition as a deviation
(double side straightening) in the
manufacturing process of certain P/N 888164
crankshafts that may cause cracks on the
surface of the crankshaft on the power take
off side, which could lead to failure of the
crankshaft support bearing. We are issuing
this AD to prevent failure of the crankshaft
support bearing, which could result in engine
failure and forced landing.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following
actions.
(1) Within 4 hours time-in-service after
January 26, 2012 (the effective date of this
AD), inspect the crankshaft for cracks. Do the
inspection following the Accomplishment
Instructions in Rotax Aircraft Engines BRP
Alert Service Bulletin ASB–912–059 and
ASB–914–042 (single document), dated
November 15, 2011.
(2) If any crack is found during the
inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this
AD, before further flight, remove the
crankshaft from service.
(3) As of January 26, 2012 (the effective
date of this AD), do not install on any
airplane an engine equipped with an affected
P/N 888164 crankshaft listed in paragraph
(c)(1) of this AD, unless the crankshaft is
inspected as specified in paragraph (f)(1) of
this AD and is found to be crack free.
(4) As of January 26, 2012 (the effective
date of this AD), do not install in any engine
an affected P/N 888164 crankshaft listed in
paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, unless the
crankshaft is inspected as specified in
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD and is found to
be crack free.
(g) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this
AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office,
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs
VerDate Mar<15>2010
12:38 Jan 10, 2012
Jkt 226001
for this AD, if requested using the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
ATTN: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate,
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329–4145; fax: (816)
329–4090; email:
sarjapur.nagarajan@faa.gov. Before using any
approved AMOC on any airplane to which
the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight
Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking
a PI, your local FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement
in this AD to obtain corrective actions from
a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective
actions are considered FAA-approved if they
are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required
to assure the product is airworthy before it
is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any
reporting requirement in this AD, a federal
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, nor
shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of
information subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that
collection of information displays a current
valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information
collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for
this collection of information is estimated to
be approximately 5 minutes per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions,
completing and reviewing the collection of
information. All responses to this collection
of information are mandatory. Comments
concerning the accuracy of this burden and
suggestions for reducing the burden should
be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn:
Information Collection Clearance Officer,
AES–200.
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
A2
A
A3
A3
A3
A2
A2
(1) You must use Rotax Aircraft Engines
BRP Alert Service Bulletin ASB–912–059 and
ASB–914–042 (single document), dated
November 15, 2011, to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies
otherwise. The Director of the Federal
Register approved the incorporation by
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and
1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in
this AD, contact BRP–Powertrain GmbH &
Co. KG, Welser Strasse 32, A–4623
Gunskirchen, Austria; phone: +43 7246 601
0; fax: +43 7246 601 9130; Internet: https://
www.rotax-aircraft-engines.com.
(3) You may review copies of the service
information at the FAA, Small Airplane
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call
(816) 329–4148.
(4) You may also review copies of the
service information that is incorporated by
reference at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this
material at an NARA facility, call (202) 741–
6030, or go to https://www.archives.gov/
federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/
ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January
3, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–202 Filed 1–10–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) AD 2011–0224–E, dated
November 24, 2011, and Rotax Aircraft
Engines BRP Alert Service Bulletin ASB–
912–059 and ASB–914–042 (single
document), dated November 15, 2011, for
related information.
Frm 00038
912
912
912
912
912
912
912
(i) Material Incorporated by Reference
(h) Related Information
PO 00000
Engine
model
E:\FR\FM\11JAR1.SGM
11JAR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1626-1628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-202]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0001; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-041-AD;
Amendment 39-16912; AD 2012-01-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Various Aircraft Equipped With Rotax
Aircraft Engines 912 A Series Engine
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various
aircraft equipped with Rotax Aircraft Engines 912 A series engine. This
AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and
correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes
the unsafe condition as a deviation in the manufacturing process of
certain part number 888164 crankshafts that may cause cracks on the
surface of the crankshaft on the power take off side, which could lead
to failure of the crankshaft support bearing and possibly result in an
in-flight engine shutdown and forced landing. We are issuing this AD to
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective January 26, 2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 26,
2012.
We must receive comments on this AD by February 27, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG, Welser Strasse 32, A-4623 Gunskirchen,
Austria; phone: +43 7246 601 0; fax: +43 7246 601 9130; Internet:
https://www.rotax-aircraft-engines.com. You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate,
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
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 Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 329-4090;
email: sarjapur.nagarajan@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD 2011-0224-E, dated November 24, 2011 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
During a production process review, a deviation (double side
straightening) in the manufacturing process of certain Part Number
(P/N) 888164 crankshafts has been detected, which may have resulted
in cracks on the surface of the crankshaft. Only a few
[[Page 1627]]
crankshafts are suspected to have received this double side
straightening treatment, but it has been impossible to identify
these by individual serial number (s/n). To address this safety
concern, BRP-Powertrain issued Alert Service Bulletin ASB-912-059
and ASB-914-042 (single document) with instructions to identify and
inspect the entire batch of crankshafts that could be affected.
These crankshafts have been installed on a limited number of
engines, but some crankshaft sets have also been shipped as spare
parts.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
crack propagation on the power take off side of the crankshaft
journal, possibly resulting in failure of the crankshaft support
bearing, in-flight engine shutdown and forced landing, damage to the
aeroplane and injury to occupants.
To correct this potential unsafe condition, EASA issued
Emergency AD 2011-022-E to require the identification and inspection
for cracks of all affected crankshafts, and depending on findings,
corrective action.
Since that AD was issued, it has been determined that there are
additional affected crankshafts, currently known to be installed in
the `UL' (i.e. non-certified) versions of the affected engines.
For the reason described above, this AD retains the requirements
of EASA AD 2011-0222-E, which is superseded, and expands the group
of s/n of affected crankshafts, listed in Table 1 of this AD. A
records check can be acceptable to determine the s/n of the
crankshaft installed on the engine. This AD also prohibits
installation of any affected crankshaft on an engine, or
installation of an aeroplane of an engine with an affected
crankshaft installed, unless the crankshaft has passed the
inspection as required by this AD.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
Rotax Aircraft Engines BRP has issued Alert Service Bulletin ASB-
912-059 and ASB-914-042 (single document), dated November 15, 2011. The
actions described in this service information are intended to correct
the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we
evaluated all information provided by the State of Design Authority and
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because of
the short compliance time of 4 hours time-in-service, and the risk to
single-engine airplanes affected. Therefore, we determined that notice
and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD are
impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendment
effective in fewer than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0001; Directorate
Identifier 2011-CE-041-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of
those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 112 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 31 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $5,400 per
product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S.
operators to be $899,920, or $8,035 per product.
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 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),
(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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2012-01-01 Various Aircraft: Amendment 39-16912; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0001; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-041-AD.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 26,
2012.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
[[Page 1628]]
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all serial numbers of the airplanes listed in
table 1 of this AD, that are:
(1) Equipped with a Rotax Aircraft Engines 912 A series engine,
with a part number (P/N) 888164 crankshaft installed, serial numbers
40232 through 40267, 40293 through 40374, 40408 through 40433, and
40435 through 40507; and
(2) Certificated in any category.
Table 1--Affected Airplanes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type certificate holder Aircraft model Engine model
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aeromot-Ind[uacute]stria AMT-200................ 912 A2
Mec[acirc]nico-
Metal[uacute]rgica Ltda.
Diamond Aircraft Industries..... HK 36 R ``SUPER 912 A
DIMONA''.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES GmbH HK 36 TS and HK 36 TC.. 912 A3
Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. DA20-A1................ 912 A3
HOAC-Austria.................... DV 20 KATANA........... 912 A3
Iniziative Industriali Italiane Sky Arrow 650 TC....... 912 A2
S.p.A.
SCHEIBE-Flugzeugbau GmbH........ SF 25C................. 912 A2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 72: Engine.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a deviation
(double side straightening) in the manufacturing process of certain
P/N 888164 crankshafts that may cause cracks on the surface of the
crankshaft on the power take off side, which could lead to failure
of the crankshaft support bearing. We are issuing this AD to prevent
failure of the crankshaft support bearing, which could result in
engine failure and forced landing.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) Within 4 hours time-in-service after January 26, 2012 (the
effective date of this AD), inspect the crankshaft for cracks. Do
the inspection following the Accomplishment Instructions in Rotax
Aircraft Engines BRP Alert Service Bulletin ASB-912-059 and ASB-914-
042 (single document), dated November 15, 2011.
(2) If any crack is found during the inspection required in
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, remove the
crankshaft from service.
(3) As of January 26, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), do
not install on any airplane an engine equipped with an affected P/N
888164 crankshaft listed in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, unless the
crankshaft is inspected as specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD
and is found to be crack free.
(4) As of January 26, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), do
not install in any engine an affected P/N 888164 crankshaft listed
in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD, unless the crankshaft is inspected
as specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD and is found to be crack
free.
(g) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send
information to ATTN: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 329-4090;
email: sarjapur.nagarajan@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC on
any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office
(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the
collection of information. All responses to this collection of
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn:
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.
(h) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2011-
0224-E, dated November 24, 2011, and Rotax Aircraft Engines BRP
Alert Service Bulletin ASB-912-059 and ASB-914-042 (single
document), dated November 15, 2011, for related information.
(i) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) You must use Rotax Aircraft Engines BRP Alert Service
Bulletin ASB-912-059 and ASB-914-042 (single document), dated
November 15, 2011, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the
AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)
and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact BRP-
Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG, Welser Strasse 32, A-4623 Gunskirchen,
Austria; phone: +43 7246 601 0; fax: +43 7246 601 9130; Internet:
https://www.rotax-aircraft-engines.com.
(3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (816) 329-4148.
(4) You may also review copies of the service information that
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at an NARA facility, call (202) 741-6030, or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 3, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-202 Filed 1-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P