Ad 041014
Ad 041014
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
RIN 2120-AA64
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone
(516) 228-7337; fax (516) 794-5531.
1
Also in the third column, in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, in the seventh
and eighth lines, ''O-320H, O-360E, LO-360E, LTO-360E'' is corrected to read ''O-320-H, O-360-E,
LO-360-E, LTO-360-E, TO-360-E''.
On page 29211, in the second column, after the second paragraph, add the following paragraph:
Other Corrections
The TO-360-E engine model was inadvertently omitted from the list of exceptions of engines.
That engine model has been added to the list of exceptions of engines not affected by this AD. Also,
some of the engine model numbers were missing dashes and are corrected in this AD. Also, the
phrase of after the effective date of this AD, was inadvertently omitted from paragraph (e). This
phrase is added to paragraph (e) to cover engines that experience a propeller strike after the effective
date of the AD.
Also, on page 29211, in the third column, eighth paragraph, fourth and fifth lines, ''O-320H, O-360E,
LO-360E, LTO-360E'' is corrected to read ''O-320-H, O-360-E, LO-360-E, LTO-360-E, TO-360-E''.
Also, on page 29211, in the third column, paragraph (e), which reads ''Compliance with this AD is
required as indicated before further flight if the engine has experienced a propeller strike as defined
in paragraphs (i) and (j) of this AD, unless already done.'' is corrected to read ''Compliance with this
AD is required as indicated before further flight if the engine experiences a propeller strike after the
effective date of this AD, as defined in paragraphs (i) and (j) of this AD.''.
2
[Federal Register: May 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 99)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29210-29212]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21my04-7]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
RIN 2120-AA64
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that supersedes an existing
AD, for Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming), direct-drive reciprocating engines (except
O-145, O-320H, O-360E, LO-360E, LTO-360E, TO-360-E, O-435, and TIO-541 series engines).
That AD currently requires inspection of the crankshaft gear installation and rework or replacement
of the gears where necessary after a propeller strike, sudden stoppage, at overhaul, or whenever gear
train repair is required. This AD requires the same actions but makes the correction that the existing
gear retaining bolt and lockplate be removed from service and new hardware installed, and revises
the definitions for sudden stoppage and propeller strike. This AD removes the requirement to perform
inspections at overhaul and during repair of the gear train, because Lycoming has incorporated those
procedures from their Service Bulletin into their Overhaul Manual.This AD results from a change to
the definition of a propeller strike or sudden stoppage. We are issuing this AD to prevent loosening or
failure of the crankshaft gear retaining bolt, which may cause sudden engine failure.
DATES: This AD becomes effective June 25, 2004. The Director of the Federal Register approved
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of June 25, 2004.
ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD from Lycoming Engines,
652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, U.S.A.; telephone (570) 323-6181; fax (570) 327-7101 or
from the Lycoming Web site: http://www.lycoming.textron.com.main.jsp.
You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional
Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. You may examine the service
information at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to:
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
3
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norm Perenson, Aerospace Engineer, New York
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone
(516) 228-7337; fax (516) 794-5531.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We have
considered the comments received.
One commenter requests that the proposed AD should provide a trigger level to alert
maintenance personnel of the need for action. The commenter states that this is required to avoid
having maintenance personnel determine the need for action. Also, this would avoid
miscommunication between the pilot and the maintenance personnel. The commenter also states that
the proposed AD is too general for proper action in the field.
The FAA does not agree. Section 91.7(b) of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 91.7(b))
states: ''The pilot in command of a civil aircraft is responsible for determining whether that aircraft is
in condition for safe flight.'' The pilot must advise the maintenance technician and inspector of the
need to perform maintenance. It is also the responsibility of the maintenance technician and or
inspector to advise the pilot when an unsafe condition is found during routine maintenance. The
actions required by this AD, like many other situations in aviation, may require some judgment on
the part of the pilot, maintenance technician, and or inspector, as well as good communication among
all parties. Adding additional conditions will only require more judgment and more decisions by all
parties involved.
One commenter states that the proposed AD would require unneeded inspections by ''tying the
hands'' of knowledgeable mechanics. The commenter also states that the final determination
regarding needed inspections should be made by the maintenance personnel in the field. The
commenter further states that the mechanics are in the best position to evaluate the factors
surrounding each incident, and to determine which engine components should be inspected.
The FAA does not agree. The wording in this AD is designed to assist the mechanics when
deciding on what action to take in a given situation. Based on Lycoming's engine design knowledge
and worldwide service experience, certain situations are known to have caused engine problems. This
AD is not designed to ''tie the hands of the mechanic''. The AD is intended to help the pilot in
command and maintenance personnel make the best possible maintenance decision.
4
Correction to the Compliance
As a correction to the compliance, we added paragraphs to require the existing gear retaining bolt
and lockplate be removed from service and a new bolt and lockplate be installed, and to prohibit
installation of the removed hardware into any engine. This correction places the AD in agreement
with the referenced SB.
Other Corrections
The TO-360-E engine model was inadvertently omitted from the list of exceptions of engines.
That engine model has been added to the list of exceptions of engines not affected by this AD. Also,
some of the engine model numbers were missing dashes and are corrected in this AD. Also, the
phrase of after the effective date of this AD, was inadvertently omitted from paragraph (e). This
phrase is added to paragraph (e) to cover engines that experience a propeller strike after the effective
date of the AD.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the comments received, and determined
that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.
We have determined that these changes will neither increase the economic burden on any operator
nor increase the scope of the AD. The assigned paragraph letters in the regulatory section have been
changed from what appeared in the proposal, as we are continuing our introduction of plain language
into our documents.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the
national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ''significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ''significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034,
February 26, 1979); and
(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of
small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.
You may get a copy of this summary by sending a request to us at the address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ''AD Docket No. 89-ANE-10-AD'' in your request.
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation
Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
5
PART 39–AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
§ 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-6916 (56 FR 33205, July 19, 1991), and by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
6
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
CORRECTION: [Federal Register: June 28, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 123); Page 36007;
www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html]
2004-10-14 Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming): Amendment 39-13644. Docket No.
89-ANE-10-AD. Supersedes AD 91-14-22, Amendment 39-6916.
Effective Date
Affected ADs
Applicability
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a change to the definition of a propeller strike or sudden stoppage. The
actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent loosening or failure of the crankshaft gear
retaining bolt, which may cause sudden engine failure.
Compliance
(e) Compliance with this AD is required as indicated before further flight if the engine
experiences a propeller strike after the effective date of this AD, as defined in paragraphs (i) and (j)
of this AD.
(f) Inspect, and if necessary repair, the crankshaft counter bored recess, the alignment dowel, the
bolt hole threads, and the crankshaft gear for wear, galling, corrosion, and fretting in accordance with
steps 1 through 5 of Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 475C, dated January 30,
2003.
(g) Remove the existing gear retaining bolt and lockplate from service, and install a new bolt and
lockplate, in accordance with steps 6 and 7 of Lycoming MSB No. 475C, dated January 30, 2003.
7
Prohibition of Retaining Bolt and Lockplate
(h) Do not install the gear retaining bolt and lockplate that were removed in paragraph (g) of this
AD, into any engine.
(i) For the purposes of this AD, a propeller strike is defined as follows:
(1) Any incident, whether or not the engine is operating, that requires repair to the propeller other
than minor dressing of the blades.
(2) Any incident during engine operation in which the propeller impacts a solid object that
causes a drop in revolutions per minute (RPM) and also requires structural repair of the propeller
(incidents requiring only paint touch-up are not included). This is not restricted to propeller strikes
against the ground.
(3) A sudden RPM drop while impacting water, tall grass, or similar yielding medium, where
propeller damage is not normally incurred.
(j) The preceding definitions include situations where an aircraft is stationary and the landing
gear collapses causing one or more blades to be substantially bent, or where a hanger door (or other
object) strikes the propeller blade. These cases should be handled as sudden stoppages because of
potentially severe side loading on the crankshaft flange, front bearing, and seal.
(k) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, has the authority to approve
alternative methods of compliance for this AD if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR
39.19.
(l) You must use Lycoming MSB No. 475C, dated January 30, 2003, to perform the inspections
and repairs required by this AD. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of this service bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get
a copy from Lycoming Engines, 652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, U.S.A; telephone (570)
323-6181; fax (570) 327-7101. You can review copies at the FAA, New England Region, Office of
the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA,
call 202-741-6030, or go to:
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Related Information
(m) None.