Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop Engines

Published date02 July 2020
Citation85 FR 39829
Record Number2020-14259
SectionRules and Regulations
CourtFederal Aviation Administration
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 128 (Thursday, July 2, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 128 (Thursday, July 2, 2020)]
                [Rules and Regulations]
                [Pages 39829-39831]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2020-14259]
                ========================================================================
                Rules and Regulations
                 Federal Register
                ________________________________________________________________________
                This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
                having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
                to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
                under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
                The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
                ========================================================================
                Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 128 / Thursday, July 2, 2020 / Rules
                and Regulations
                [[Page 39829]]
                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                Federal Aviation Administration
                14 CFR Part 39
                [Docket No. FAA-2019-0395; Project Identifier 2019-NE-11-AD; Amendment
                39-21151; AD 2020-13-06]
                RIN 2120-AA64
                Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Turboprop
                Engines
                AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
                ACTION: Final rule.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
                certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW150A model turboprop
                engines. This AD was prompted by a determination by the manufacturer
                that certain PW150A engine high-pressure (HP) centrifugal impellers may
                exhibit a material microstructure anomaly that has a potential to
                adversely affect the low cycle fatigue characteristics of the part.
                This AD requires replacement of the affected HP centrifugal impellers.
                The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
                products.
                DATES: This AD is effective August 6, 2020.
                 The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
                reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 6,
                2020.
                ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
                contact Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil,
                Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888;
                internet: https://www.pwc.ca. You may view this service information at
                the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch,
                1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
                availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759. It is also
                available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching
                for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0395.
                Examining the AD Docket
                 You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
                0395; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
                Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
                this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information
                (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for
                Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
                Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
                Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Caufield, Aerospace Engineer,
                ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone:
                781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                Discussion
                 The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
                CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain P&WC PW150A
                turboprop engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June
                24, 2019 (84 FR 29419). The NPRM was prompted by a determination by the
                manufacturer that certain PW150A engine HP centrifugal impellers may
                exhibit a material microstructure anomaly that has a potential to
                adversely affect the low cycle fatigue characteristics of the part. The
                NPRM proposed to require replacement of the affected HP centrifugal
                impellers. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
                on these products.
                 Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
                authority for Canada, has issued AD CF-2018-12, dated April 27, 2018
                (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe
                condition on these products. The MCAI states:
                 Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has determined that certain PW150A
                engine HP centrifugal impellers, part number (P/N) 3049127-01, may
                exhibit a material microstructure anomaly which has a potential to
                adversely affect the low cycle fatigue (LCF) characteristics of the
                part, resulting in a lower LCF life than currently published in the
                engine model's Airworthiness Limitations. The identified discrepancy
                was related to specific parts having been exposed to inappropriate
                temperature levels during the manufacturing process.
                 To address the subject potential material microstructure
                problem, P&WC issued SB 35331 Initial Issue, dated 16 March 2016,
                and then subsequently Revision 1, dated 3 May 2016, to recommend
                replacement of specific impeller serial numbers prior to the parts
                reaching the determined thresholds. Subsequent to the release of the
                SB, P&WC voluntarily initiated a fleet campaign to achieve this
                objective.
                 The actions specified by this [TCCA] AD are to ensure that HP
                centrifugal impellers with this potential material anomaly condition
                are contained in order to prevent severe engine damage and possible
                aeroplane damage caused by an impeller failure.
                 You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
                docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
                and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0395.
                Comments
                 The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
                developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or
                on the determination of the cost to the public.
                Conclusion
                 The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
                and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed
                except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these
                minor changes:
                 Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
                NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
                 Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
                already proposed in the NPRM.
                Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
                 The FAA reviewed P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) PW150-72-35331,
                Revision No. 1, dated May 3, 2016. The SB describes procedures for the
                replacement of the affected HP centrifugal impeller. This service
                information is reasonably available because the interested parties have
                access to it through their normal course
                [[Page 39830]]
                of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
                Costs of Compliance
                 The FAA estimates that this AD affects 20 engines installed on
                airplanes of U.S. registry.
                 The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
                 Estimated Costs
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Cost per Cost on U.S.
                 Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Replace HP centrifugal impeller....... 100 work-hours x $85 per $201,921 $210,421 $4,208,420
                 hour = $8,500.
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                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.
                 The FAA is 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
                 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
                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 airworthiness
                directive (AD):
                2020-13-06 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.: Amendment 39-21151; Docket
                No. FAA-2019-0395; Project Identifier 2019-NE-11-AD.
                (a) Effective Date
                 This AD is effective August 6, 2020.
                (b) Affected ADs
                 None.
                (c) Applicability
                 This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW150A
                model turboprop engines with a high-pressure (HP) centrifugal
                impeller, part number (P/N) 3049127-01, installed.
                (d) Subject
                 Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 7230, Turbine Engine
                Compressor Section.
                (e) Unsafe Condition
                 This AD was prompted by a determination by the manufacturer that
                certain HP centrifugal impellers installed on P&WC PW150A model
                turboprop engines may exhibit a material microstructure anomaly that
                has a potential to adversely affect the low cycle fatigue
                characteristics of the part. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
                failure of a certain HP centrifugal impeller. The unsafe condition,
                if not addressed, could result in uncontained release of the HP
                centrifugal impeller, damage to the engine, and damage to the
                airplane.
                (f) Compliance
                 Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
                unless already done.
                (g) Required Actions
                 Remove HP centrifugal impeller, P/N 3049127-01, with any serial
                number (S/N) listed in Table 2 of P&WC Service Bulletin (SB) No.
                PW150-72-35331, Revision No. 1, dated May 3, 2016, prior to
                accumulating 8,000 flight cycles since new or within 150 flight
                cycles after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later,
                and replace with a part eligible for installation.
                (h) Installation Prohibition
                 After the effective date of this AD, do not install an HP
                centrifugal impeller, P/N 3049127-01, with any S/N listed in Table 1
                or 2 of P&WC SB No. PW150-72-35331, Revision No. 1, dated May 3,
                2016, onto any engine.
                (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
                 (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve
                AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR
                39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your
                principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as
                appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the
                ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in
                paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. You may email your request to: [email protected].
                 (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
                principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
                of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
                district office.
                (j) Related Information
                 (1) For more information about this AD, contact Barbara
                Caufield, Aerospace Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
                Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7146; fax: 781-238-7199; email:
                [email protected].
                 (2) Refer to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD CF-2018-
                12, dated April 27, 2018, for more information. You may examine the
                TCCA AD in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
                2019-0395.
                (k) Material Incorporated by Reference
                 (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
                incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
                in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
                 (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
                the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
                 (i) Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Service Bulletin PW150-
                72-35331, Revision No. 1, dated May 3, 2016.
                 (ii) [Reserved]
                 (3) For P&WC service information identified in this AD, contact
                Pratt & Whitney
                [[Page 39831]]
                Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, J4G
                1A1; phone: 800-268-8000; fax: 450-647-2888; internet: https://www.pwc.ca.
                 (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness
                Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue,
                Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this
                material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.
                 (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
                by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
                (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
                NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
                 Issued on June 17, 2020.
                Lance T. Gant,
                Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
                Service.
                [FR Doc. 2020-14259 Filed 7-1-20; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
                

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