[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 7188]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2812]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RP11-1566-000]

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company; Notice Postponing Technical
Conference

February 1, 2011.
    In a prior notice, the Commission scheduled a technical conference
to discuss the non-rate issues in Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company's rate
case filing for February 2 and February 3, 2011 in the above-captioned
docket. Due to forecasted inclement weather and hazardous travel
conditions, both days of the conference are postponed until further
notice.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-2812 Filed 2-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 217 (Thursday, November 8, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66936-66937]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25214]

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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 217 / Thursday, November 8, 2012 /
Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 33

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1085; Notice No. 33-12-02-SC1]

Special Conditions: Turbomeca Ardiden 3K Turboshaft Engine

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed special conditions.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes special conditions for the Turbomeca
Ardiden 3K model engines. This engine model will have a novel or
unusual design feature which is a 30-minute all engines operating (AEO)
power rating for hovering at increased power (HIP). This rating is
primarily intended for high-power hovering operations that are normal
mission functions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not
contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design
feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional
safety standards that the FAA considers necessary to establish a level
of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness
standards.

DATES: Send your comments on or before December 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2012-1085
using any of the following methods:
      Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC, 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery of Courier: Take comments to Docket
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m., and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Privacy: Docket Operations will post all comments it receives,
without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: You may read background documents or comments received at
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m., and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Fitzgerald, ANE-111, Engine and
Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803-5299; telephone (781)
238-7130; facsimile<PHONE_NUMBER>; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>For
legal questions concerning this proposed rule, contact Vincent Bennett,
ANE-7 Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service,
12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803-5299;
telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; facsimile<PHONE_NUMBER>; email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by
sending written comments, data, or views to the docket. The most
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the special
conditions, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include
supporting data.
    We will consider all comments received in the docket on or before
the closing date for comments. We will consider comments filed late if
it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. We may
change these special conditions based on the comments we receive.

Background

    On September 15, 2010, Turbomeca S.A. (Turbomeca) applied for a
type certificate for their new Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine. The
Ardiden 3K engine is the first variant in the new Ardiden 3 series.
This engine incorporates a two-stage centrifugal compressor that is
driven by a single-stage high-pressure turbine. A two-stage power
turbine drives the engine output shaft. The control system includes a
dual-channel full-authority digital-electronic control.
    The engine will incorporate a novel or unusual design feature,
which is a 30-minute hovering at increased power (HIP) rating. The
applicant requested this rating to support extended hover operations at
high power.
    A special condition is necessary to apply additional requirements
for rating definition, instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA),
instrumentation, and endurance testing because the applicable
airworthiness standards do not contain adequate or appropriate
airworthiness standards to address this design feature. The ICA
requirement addresses the unknown nature of actual rating usage and
associated engine deterioration. The applicant is expected to make an
assessment of the expected usage, and publish ICAs and Airworthiness
Limitations Section limits in accordance with those assumptions, such
that engine deterioration is not excessive. The instrumentation
requirement is to ensure that operators use this high-power rating
within its limits, and that engine integrity is maintained. The
endurance test requirement of 25 hours operation at 30-minutes HIP is
similar to other special conditions recently issued. Because the
Ardiden 3K model has a continuous one-engine inoperative (OEI) rating
with limits equal to or higher than the proposed 30-minute HIP rating,
the applicant may credit the test time performed at the continuous OEI
rating toward the 25-hour requirement. However, test time spent at
other rating elements of the test, such as takeoff or other OEI ratings
(that are equal to or higher than HIP rating values), cannot

be counted toward the 25 hours of required running.
    These special conditions contain the additional airworthiness
standards necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to the
level intended by the applicable standards of airworthiness in effect
on the date of application.

Type Certification Basis

    Under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.17 and 21.101(a), Turbomeca must
show that the model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine meets the provisions
of the applicable regulations in effect on the date of application, or
later amendment if so elected. Accordingly, the certification basis for
the Ardiden model turboshaft engine is determined to be part 33,
effective February 1, 1965, as amended by Amendments 33-1 through 33-
31.
    If the FAA finds that the applicable airworthiness regulations in
part 33, as amended, do not contain adequate or appropriate safety
standards for the Turbomeca model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine, because
of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed
under the provisions of Sec.  21.16.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined by 14 CFR 11.19,
under 14 CFR 11.38, which become part of the type certification basis
as specified in Sec.  21.17(a)(2).
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which
they are issued. If the type certificate for that model is amended
later to include another related model that incorporates the same or
similar novel or unusual design feature, or if any other model already
included on the same type certificate is modified to incorporate the
same or similar novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions
would also apply to the other model.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Turbomeca model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine will incorporate a
30-minute HIP rating, for use up to 30 minutes at any time between
take-off and landing. The 30 minute time limit applies to each instance
the rating is used; however there is no limit to the number of times
the rating can be used during any one flight, and there is no
cumulative time limitation. Special conditions for a 30-minute HIP
rating are proposed to address this novel and unusual design feature.
The special conditions are discussed below.

Discussion

    The Turbomeca model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine is a free turbine
turboshaft designed for a transport category twin-engine helicopter.
The helicopter manufacturer anticipates that extended hovering
maneuvers may require more than maximum continuous power for up to 30
minutes. Turbomeca has requested a 30-minute HIP rating for use up to
30 minutes at any time between the take-off and landing phases of a
flight. Turbomeca has indicated that the number of times this rating
can be accessed in one flight is not limited, and there is no
cumulative time limitation.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to TM
model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engines. If TM applies later for a change
to the type certificate to include another closely related model
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special
conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
on the Turbomeca Model Ardiden 3K turboshaft engine. It is not a rule
of general applicability, and it affects only Turbomeca, who applied to
the FAA for approval of these features on the engine.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 33

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

    The authority citation for these special conditions continues to
read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701-44702, 44704.

The Proposed Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the FAA proposes the following special conditions as
part of the type certification basis for the Turbomeca model Ardiden 3K
turboshaft engine.

1. PART 1 DEFINITIONS

    Unless otherwise approved by the Administrator and documented in
the appropriate manuals and certification documents, the following
definition applies to this special condition: ``Rated 30-Minute Hover
at Increased Power (HIP),'' means the approved shaft horsepower
developed under static conditions at the specified altitude and
temperature, and within the operating limitations established under
part 33, and limited in use to periods not exceeding 30 minutes.

2. PART 33 REQUIREMENTS

    (a) Sec. Sec.  33.1 Applicability and 33.3 General. As applicable,
all documentation, testing and analysis required to comply with the
part 33 certification basis must account for the 30-minute HIP rating,
limits and usage.
    (b) Sec.  33.4, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). In
addition to the requirements of Sec.  33.4, the ICA must:
    (1) Include instructions to ensure that in-service engine
deterioration due to rated 30-minute HIP usage will not be excessive,
meaning that all approved ratings, including One Engine Inoperative
(OEI), are available (within associated limits and assumed usage) for
each flight; and that deterioration will not exceed that assumed for
declaring a Time Between Overhaul period.
    (2) Validate the adequacy of the maintenance actions required under
paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (3) Include in the Airworthiness Limitations section, any mandatory
inspections and serviceability limits related to the use of the 30-
minute HIP rating.
    (c) Sec.  33.29, Instrument Connection. The engine must have a
means or a provision for a means, which alerts the pilot when the 30-
minute HIP rating time limit has expired.
    (d) Sec.  33.87, Endurance Test. In addition to the applicable
requirements of Sec. Sec.  33.87(a), 33.87(d) and 33.87(e) (for engines
that combine 2.5 minute and continuous OEI ratings):
    (1) The overall test run must include a minimum of 25 hours of
operation at 30-minute HIP rating and limits, divided into periods of
not less than 30 minutes but not more than 60 minutes, with alternate
periods at maximum continuous power or less.
    (2) Each Sec.  33.87(d)(3) continuous OEI rating test period of 60
minutes duration run at power and limits equal to or higher than the
30-minute HIP rating, may be credited toward this requirement. Note
that the test time required for the takeoff or other OEI ratings may
not be counted toward the 25 hours of testing required at the 30-minute
HIP rating.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on September 17, 2012.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-25214 Filed 11-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M