2013-26-13: Fatigue failure of an engine rotor part

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): 2013-26-13 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-17722; Docket No. FAA-2012-0945; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-110-AD. (a) Applicability This AD applies to Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C (M), and S- 70C (M1) helicopters with General Electric (GE) T700-GE-401C or T700-GE-701C part-numbered engines, certificated in any category. (b) Unsafe Condition This AD defines the unsafe condition as a critical engine part remaining in service beyond its fatigue life because the current life limit is based on hours time-in-service (TIS) instead of fatigue cycles. This condition could result in fatigue failure of an engine rotor part, engine failure, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. (c) Effective Date This AD becomes effective February 10, 2014. (d) Compliance You are responsible for performing each action required by this AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been accomplished prior to that time. (e) Required Actions (1) Before further flight, insert into the airworthiness limitations section of the maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness the low cycle fatigue (LCF) limit diagrams shown in Figures 2 through 7 (pages 9 through 14) of GE T700 Turboshaft Engine Service Bulletin T700 S/B 72-0041, Revision 1, dated March 12, 2010, for helicopters with the GE T700-GE-401C engine, or Figures 2 through 4 (pages 10 through 12) of GE T700 Turboshaft Engine Service Bulletin T700 S/B 72-0038, dated October 1, 2008, for helicopters with the GE T700-GE-701C engine. The diagonal line on each diagram represents the new cycle life limit (a combination of full low cycle fatigue events (LCF1) and partial low cycle fatigue events (LCF2) as those terms are defined in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 3.A.(1) and 3.A.(2) of each service bulletin) for each gas generator turbine (GGT) rotor part. A combination of LCF1 and LCF2, which results in a number below the diagonal line of the applicable diagram for each engine, indicates that the part has not reached its fatigue life limit. (2) Before further flight: (i) Obtain the actual LCF1 and LCF2 count from the engine ``history recorder'' (HR); (ii) Calculate the LCF1 and LCF2 fatigue retirement life for each GGT rotor part as follows: (A) Determine the actual LCF ratio by dividing the total actual LCF2 cycle count obtained from the HR by the total actual LCF1 cycle count obtained from the HR. Add to the actual counts from the HR any actual additional fatigue cycle incurred during any period in which the HR was inoperative. (B) Determine the LCF1 retirement life by dividing the maximum number of LCF2 events obtained from the applicable diagram for each engine by the sum of the actual LCF ratio obtained by following paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(A) of this AD plus the quotient of the maximum number of LCF2 events from the applicable diagram for each engine divided by the maximum number of LCF1 events from the applicable diagram for each engine. (C) Determine the LCF2 retirement life by multiplying the actual LCF ratio obtained by following paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(A) of this AD times the LCF1 retirement life determined by following paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(B) of this AD. (iii) Replace each GGT rotor part that has reached the new fatigue cycle life limit with an airworthy rotor part. (3) For helicopters with the GE T700-GE-401C engine, if you cannot determine the number of low cycle fatigue events manually from the HR or by combining both manual and HR counts, then the life limit for the GGT rotor part is the hours TIS for the part as shown in Table 1 of GE T700 Turboshaft Engine Service Bulletin T700 S/B 72-0041, dated August 21, 2009. (4) Before further flight, begin or continue to count the full and partial low fatigue cycle events and record on the component card or equivalent record that count at the end of each day for which the HR is inoperative. (f) Special Flight Permit Special flight permits will not be issued to allow flight in excess of life limits. (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Michael Davison, Flight Test Engineer, New England Regional Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7156; fax: (781) 238-7170; email: michael.davison@faa.gov. (2) For operations conducted under 14 CFR part 119 operating certificateor under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office or certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft complying with this AD through an AMOC. (h) Subject Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 7250: Turbine Section. (i) 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) General Electric (GE) T700 Turboshaft Engine Service Bulletin T700 S/B 72-0038, dated October 1, 2008. (ii) GE T700 Turboshaft Engine Service Bulletin T700 S/B 72- 0041, dated August 21, 2009. [[Page 551]] (iii) GE T700 TurboshaftEngine Service Bulletin T700 S/B 72- 0041, Revision 1, dated March 12, 2010. (3) For GE service information identified in this AD, contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, Commercial Technical Support, mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, Stratford, CT, telephone (800) 562-4409, email address tsslibrary@sikorsky.com, or at http://www.sikorsky.com. (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. (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, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.