Airworthiness Directives; AlliedSignal, Inc. TPE331 Series Turboprop and TSE331 Series Turboshaft Engines

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-ANE-10]

Airworthiness Directives; AlliedSignal, Inc. TPE331 Series

Turboprop and TSE331 Series Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to AlliedSignal, Inc. (formerly

Allied-Signal, Inc., Garrett Engine Division, Garrett Turbine Engine

Company, and AiResearch Manufacturing Co. of Arizona) TPE331 series

turboprop and TSE331 series turboshaft engines. This proposal would

require a record check of engine records to determine if any repair,

assembly, modification, or installation work was performed by Fliteline

Maintenance, or Mr. Eugene E. Shanks, or Mr. Carl Ramirez. In addition,

for engines determined to have repair, assembly, modification, or

installation work performed by Fliteline Maintenance, or Mr. Eugene E.

Shanks, or Mr. Carl Ramirez, this action would require verification of

all life-limited components, inspection of affected components, and

verification of compliance with all applicable AD's. This proposal is

prompted by the results of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

investigation involving engines repaired, assembled, modified, or

installed by Fliteline Maintenance. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to prevent uncontained failure of turbine

rotors, fire, or loss of aircraft control.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 6, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-ANE-10, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299. Comments may be inspected at

this location between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,

except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Costa, Aerospace Engineer, Los

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 3229 East Spring Street, Long Beach, CA 90806-2425;

telephone (310) 988-5246; fax (310) 988-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number

and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All

communications received on or before the closing date for comments,

specified above, will be considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in

light of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All

comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing

date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested

persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with

the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket Number 94-ANE-10.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request

to the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-ANE-10, 12 New England Executive Park,

Burlington, MA 01803-5299.

Discussion

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received a report of an

aircraft accident involving an Ayres S2R-600 aircraft, with a modified

AlliedSignal, Inc. (formerly Allied-Signal, Inc., Garrett Engine

Division, Garrett Turbine Engine Company, and AiResearch Manufacturing

Co. of Arizona) Model TPE331-1-151A turboprop engine installed. The FAA

has determined that the engine installed on the accident aircraft was a

model not approved for that aircraft and was improperly configured.

Maintenance on that engine was performed by Mr. Eugene E. Shanks,

mechanic certificate number 1914482, the owner of Fliteline

Maintenance, domestic repair station certificate number GR2R856K. Since

this accident, the FAA conducted further investigation of other

AlliedSignal, Inc. TPE331 series engines repaired or maintained by Mr.

Eugene E. Shanks under the name of Fliteline Maintenance. On these

engines, the FAA found that the requirements of some applicable

airworthiness directives (AD's) had not been performed when the engine

records indicated that the work had been performed, the records for

life-limited turbine components indicated more useful life than the

components actually had remaining, parts were installed that are not

approved for aircraft use, and modifications that had been performed

without approved data. In addition, the FAA has determined that the

records maintained by Fliteline Maintenance on the engines it repaired,

assembled, modified, or installed do not identify all of the suspect

engine models and serial numbers. These conditions, if not corrected,

could result in uncontained failure of turbine rotors, fire, or loss of

aircraft control.

Since unsafe conditions have been identified that are likely to

exist or develop on other AlliedSignal, Inc. TPE331 series turboprop

and TSE331 series turboshaft engines of the same type design, the

proposed AD would require a check of engine records to determine if any

repair, assembly, modification, or installation work was performed by

Fliteline Maintenance, or Mr. Eugene E. Shanks, or his associate, Mr.

Carl Ramirez, mechanic certificate number 466432551. In addition, this

proposed AD would require operators to accomplish a verification

procedure for life-limited turbine components and to verify that the

requirements of all applicable AD's have actually been accomplished.

The FAA estimates that 500 engines installed on aircraft of U.S.

registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 80 work hours per engine to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate is $55 per work hour. Based on

these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $2,200,200.

The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct

effects 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. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant

the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the

Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules

Docket at the location provided under the caption ``ADDRESSES.''

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend

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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.

106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new

airworthiness directive:

AlliedSignal, Inc.: Docket No. 94-ANE-10.

Applicability: AlliedSignal, Inc. (formerly Allied-Signal, Inc.,

Garrett Engine Division, Garrett Turbine Engine Company, and

AiResearch Manufacturing Co. of Arizona), TPE331-25, -43, -1, -2, -

3, -5, -6, -8, -10, -11, and -12 series, and -55B and -61A Model

turboprop engines; and TSE331-3U Model turboshaft engines. These

engines are installed on but not limited to Mitsubishi MU-2B series

(MU-2 series) Solitaire/Marquise; Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.

(CASA) C-212 series; British Aerospace (BAe) Jetstream 3101 and 3201

(31 and 32) series; Fairchild SA226 and SA227 series (Swearingen

Merlin and Metro series); Prop-Jets, Inc. Model 400; Cessna Model

441 (Conquest); Twin Commander 680, 690, 695 (Jetprop Commander);

Rockwell Commander or Ayres Corp. S-2R; Shorts Brothers and Harland,

Ltd. SC7 (Skyvan); Dornier 228 Series; Beech 18 and 45 series and

Models JRB-6, 3N, 3NM, 3TM, and B100; Pilatus PC-6 series (Fairchild

Porter, Peacemaker); DeHavilland DH 104 Dove series; Grumman Model

TS-2A; Grumman American Model G-164C; and Schweitzer Model G-164

series aircraft.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished

previously.

To prevent uncontained failure of turbine rotors, fire, or loss

of aircraft control, accomplish the following:

(a) Within the next 20 hours time in service (TIS) after the

effective date of this airworthiness directive (AD), review engine

records and other pertinent information to identify any repair,

assembly, modification, or installation work that was performed by

Fliteline Maintenance, domestic repair station certificate number

GR2R856K; or Mr. Eugene E. Shanks, mechanic certificate number

1914482; or Mr. Carl Ramirez, mechanic certificate number 466432551.

(b) For engines with repair, assembly, modification, or

installation work identified in accordance with paragraph (a) of

this AD, within the next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of

this AD, accomplish the following:

(1) If records or other pertinent information indicate that the

engine was disassembled beyond shaft nut removal from the tie bolt,

by Fliteline Maintenance, or Mr. Eugene E. Shanks, or Mr. Carl

Ramirez, verify life-limited turbine components and take appropriate

action by the following methods:

(i) Remove, disassemble the engine, compare, and match each

component's part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N) against that

engine's issued life-limit log cards.

(ii) Validate all life-limit log card entries by utilizing the

component's hourly and cyclic life as determined by records of the

engine manufacturer or FAA-certified repair stations other than

Fliteline Maintenance, or Mr. Eugene E. Shanks, or Mr. Carl Ramirez.

Photocopied life-limit log cards may be used provided component

history can be established.

(iii) If the P/N, S/N, hourly and cyclic lives or the life-limit

log card of each life-limited turbine component do not match or can

not be validated, remove the component from service prior to further

flight and replace with a serviceable component.

(2) Verify that any requirements of AD's signed off by Fliteline

Maintenance, or Mr. Eugene E. Shanks, or Mr. Carl Ramirez were

actually accomplished by visual examination or reinspection of the

affected components in accordance with the applicable AD.

(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the

compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification

Office. The request should be forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send

it to the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office.

Note: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive,

if any, may be obtained from the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification

Office.

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with

sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14

CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the aircraft to a location where

the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 29, 1994.

Jay J. Pardee,

Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-19126 Filed 8-4-94; 8:45 am]

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