Rule2024-27641
Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Turbomeca S.A.)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 25, 2024
Effective
December 10, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran) Model ARRIUS 2F engines. This AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shut-down (IFSD) of a Safran Model ARRIUS 2F engine, followed by an investigation that revealed the IFSD was due to a missing lubricating and balancing groove on one of the bearings of the fuel control unit (FCU) fuel pump related to a non-conforming manufacturing process. This AD requires removal of the affected fuel pump from service and replacement with a serviceable part, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 92789-92792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27641]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2537; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00631-E;
Amendment 39-22892; AD 2024-24-02]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Turbomeca S.A.)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran) Model ARRIUS 2F engines. This
AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shut-down
(IFSD) of a Safran Model ARRIUS 2F engine, followed by an investigation
that revealed the IFSD was due to a missing lubricating and balancing
groove on one of the bearings of the fuel control unit (FCU) fuel pump
related to a non-conforming manufacturing process. This AD requires
removal of the affected fuel pump from service and replacement with a
serviceable part, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective December 10, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 10,
2024.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by January 9, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2537; 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
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999
000; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5e4e1d6e5c0c4d6c48bc0d0d7cad5c48bc0d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1e0e5d2e1c4c0d2c08fc4d4d3ced1c08fc4d4">[email protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find
this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
<bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Operational Safety
Branch, 1200
[[Page 92790]]
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is
also available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2024-2537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Bergeron, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (860) 386-1805; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec888d9a8588c286c28e899e8b899e8382ac8a8d8dc28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="751114031c115b1f5b1710071210071a1b351314145b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-2537; Project Identifier MCAI-
2024-00631-E'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this final rule.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to David
Bergeron, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA Emergency AD 2024-0202-E, dated October
22, 2024 (EASA AD 2024-0202-E) (also referred to as the MCAI), to
correct an unsafe condition on all Safran Model ARRIUS 2F engines. The
MCAI states that an occurrence was reported of an uncommanded IFSD of
an ARRIUS 2F engine, followed by a hard landing, and that the following
investigation revealed that the IFSD was caused by a missing
lubricating and balancing groove on one of the bearings of the FCU fuel
pump due to a non-conforming manufacturing process. A subsequent
quality analysis identified a population of FCUs possibly affected by
the non-conforming manufacturing process. This condition, if not
corrected, could result in a significant reduction of the control of a
single engine helicopter.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2024-2537.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2024-0202-E, which specifies procedures
for replacement of the affected parts with serviceable parts. The MCAI
also specifies prohibiting installation of affected parts on an engine.
This material is reasonably available because the interested parties
have access to it through their normal course of business or by the
means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining
that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the
material already described, except for any differences identified as
exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has since
coordinated with other manufacturers and CAAs to use this process. As a
result, EASA AD 2024-0202-E will be incorporated by reference in this
final rule. This AD, therefore, requires compliance with EASA AD 2024-
0202-E in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any
differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD.
Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular
section in the EASA AD does not mean that operators need comply only
with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to
``all required actions and compliance times,'' compliance with this AD
requirement is not limited to the section titled ``Required Action(s)
and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 2024-0202-E. Service information
required by the EASA AD for compliance is available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
under Docket No. FAA-2024-2537.
Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date
Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because missing lubricating and balancing grooves on the bearings of
the FCU fuel pump, if not corrected, could result in an uncommanded
IFSD, and a significant reduction of the control of a single engine
helicopter. The FAA has determined that because this condition can
occur without warning, these FCUs need to be removed from service
within 15 flight hours or 30 days, whichever occurs first after the
effective date of this AD. These compliance times are shorter than the
time necessary for the public to comment and for publication
[[Page 92791]]
of the final rule. Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public
comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days,
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and
comment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 5 engines installed on
helicopters 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
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Replace the FCU....................... 1 work-hour x $85 per $20,650 $20,735 $103,675
hour = $85.
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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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
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:
2024-24-02 Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Turbomeca S.A.): Amendment 39-22892; Docket No.
FAA-2024-2537; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00631-E.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 10,
2024.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (type
certificate previously held by Turbomeca S.A.) Model ARRIUS 2F
engines, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) Emergency AD 2024-0202-E, dated October 22, 2024 (EASA AD
2024-0202-E).
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7314, Engine Fuel
Pump.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight
shut-down (IFSD) of a Safran Model ARRIUS 2F engine, followed by an
investigation that revealed the IFSD was due to a missing
lubricating and balancing groove on one of the bearings of the fuel
control unit (FCU) fuel pump related to a non-conforming
manufacturing process. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and
correct missing lubricating and balancing grooves on the bearings of
the FCU fuel pump. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could
result in an uncommanded IFSD and a significant reduction of the
control of a single engine helicopter.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Do all
required actions within the compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with EASA AD 2024-0202-E.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2024-0202-E
(1) Where EASA AD 2024-0202-E requires compliance from its
effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this
AD.
(2) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2024-0202-E.
(3) Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2024-
0202-E specifies to return the FCU to a Repair Center approved by
Safran Helicopter Engines, this AD requires removing those parts
from service.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2024-
0202-E specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer,
this AD does not include that requirement.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation 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 International Validation Branch, send
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of
this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#13525e5c50537572723d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0f1fdfff3f0d6d1d19ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>.
(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.
[[Page 92792]]
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact David Bergeron,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (860) 386-1805; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#84e0e5f2ede0aaeeaae6e1f6e3e1f6ebeac4e2e5e5aae3ebf2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="781c190e111c5612561a1d0a1f1d0a1716381e1919561f170e">[email protected]</span></a>.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD
2024-0202-E, dated October 22, 2024.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999
000; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0d4c497e4d686c7e6c2368787f627d6c236878"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1e0e5d2e1c4c0d2c08fc4d4d3ced1c08fc4d4">[email protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu. You may
find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Operational Safety
Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-
5110.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f495d0146415c5f4a4c5b4640416f414e5d4e01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eb8d99c58285989b8e889f828485ab858a998ac58c849d">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on November 20, 2024.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-27641 Filed 11-21-24; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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