# HAZMAT and Dangerous Goods Program — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 98-0051
- **title:** HAZMAT and Dangerous Goods Program — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1998-06-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 98-0051 response to HAZMAT and Dangerous Goods Program concerning 173.220.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0051.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0051.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-98-0051
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1998/980051.pdf
**body:**

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Memorandum
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
Date:
JN - 8 1998
Reply 10 Aten. of:
Subjecti
ACTION: Chain of Requires or rema Contusion Engines
From:
Edward T. Mazzullo, Dire
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
To:
Charles Lovinski, Manager
HAZMAT and Dangerous Goods Program
This is in response to your memo requesting clarification of whether aircraft engines, such as
jet engines, turbine engines, and turbo props being shipped by aircraft are subject to the
follows:
Hazardous Matenals Regulations (HMIR). Your questions are paraphrased and answered as
Question 1. Are aircraft engines which are being transported by air that have been
drained and purged of all fuel subject to the HMR?
Aircraft engines, whether piston-powered, rotary-powered, or turbine-powered, derive their
power by hear and pressure produced by the compression and combustion of a fuel-air
mixture. Therefore, aircraft engines are properly classified as "Engines, internal combustion,
9, UN 3166", and regulated by the provisions of the HMR. An aircraft engine that does not
ontain a hazardous matenal such as flammable liquid, however, is not regulated under the
provisions of the HMR. Any method that renders the engine sufficiently cleaned of residue
and purged of vapors to remove any potential hazard is acceptable.
Question 2. Are aircraft engines which are being transported by air, that have not been
purged of residual fuel, subject to the HMR? If so, how must the engine be described
and prepared for shipment?
A jet engine which contains a hazardous matenai, such as a flammable liquid, is subject to
ine requirements of the HMiR. Section 173.220 (b) provides for the transportation by aircraft
of an internal combustion engine utilizing flammable liquid fuel with up to 500 ml (17 oz) of
fuel in engine components provided the lines are securely closed to prevent leakage. Section
173.220 (g) excepts shipments made under the provisions of this section from part 172,
subparts D, E, and F, (marking, labeling, and placarding, respectively) and $ 172.604
(emerger, cy response telephone number) for transportation by aircraft. All other
requirements of the HMR would apply.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. If this office can be of further assistance, please contact us.
#

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•A=g
•
Nelson
§173.220
Memorandum
U.S. Department
Usemame
of Transportation
ACS_FAA
Federal Avlation
Administration
Subject: ACTION: Engines, internal combustion
Dare: MAY 121998
From: Dangerous Goods and Cargo Security Program, Atta
B. Romo
ACO-800
202-267-3207
to: Edward T. Mazzullo, Director,
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards/RSPA
ACO-800 is requesting a letter of clarification on the applicability of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to aircraft engines. Our agents are
encountering numerous situations involving improperly declared or undeclared
aircraft engines, such as jet engines, turbine engines, and turbo-props. Many
air carriers are offering and transporting these engines as non-regulated,
whether or not the engines have been drained and purged. These carriers
claim the shipping description "Engines, internal combustion, 9, UN 3166" does
not apply to aircraft engines.
Attached is a memo from our Chicago field office, which describes two ways in
which an aircraft engine can be drained and purged of all fuel. We are
requesting your opinion as to whether aircraft engines which have been drained
and purged in the described manner would be subject to the HMR. In addition,
do you consider an aircraft engine which has not been purged (i.e., residual fuel
remains in the fuel lines, manifolds and fuel controls) to be subject to the HMR
and, if so, how would this engine be described and prepared for shipment?
I appreciate your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or need
additional assistance, please contact Beth Romo of my staff.
Chat ahe
Marles N. Lovinsk
Attachment

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Subject: ACTION: Letter of Interpretation,
Daro: May 1, 1998
UN3166 Engines, Internal Combustion
From: Manager, Chicago Civil Aviation
Reply to James Berk
Security Field Office
Aten. of;
(847) 928-8050
FAX (847) 928-8090
To: Regulations Development Office of
Hazardous Materials Standards
THRU:Beth Romo, Dangerous
Goods Staff, ACO-800
lassification and transportation of aircraft engines (i.e. jet engines, turbine
he Chicago CASFO has encountered several problems involving the imprope
engines, turbo-prop).
In general, industry believes aircraft engines are NOT considered Engines,
Internal Combustion. Most airlines are accepting and shipping these items as
non-regulated. This is being accomplished without consideration of whether or
not the engine has been drained and PURGED.
Some common responses received from the carriers are: "we have been
shipping aircraft engines the same way for 20 years", or "the manufacturer (GE,
Pratt & Whitney) has told us this is NOT UN3166", or "173.220 applies to
vehicles not jet engines.
The Chicago CASFO has been advised that aircraft engines are property
classified as UN3166 , Engine, Internal Combustion, Class 9.
An aircraft engine can be purged or preserved in two ways. A Hot Preservation
is accomplished at the end of an engine test. Testing facilities will shut of the
fuel supply and introduce lightweight (1010) oil. The engine continues to run
burning this oil instead of the fuel. Fuel has now been replaced with oil and the
flammable liquid has been completely removed. After the engine is shut down, it
can be drained of excess oil and preservation should be documented in engine
records.

<<<PAGE 4>>>

-
2
Engines removed to be sent back to the repair facility could be cold
purged/preserved if equipment is available. A hand operated pump filled with the
same 1010 oil or preservative will be attached to a specific location on the fuel
control or tuel pump (directed by manufacturer technical instructions). A fuel line
or valve will be opened down stream of the manual pump location. Oil will be
pumped through the fuel system until all the fuel has been pushed out and
replaced with oil. The excess oil can then be drained and lines resealed.
Documentation should once again be noted in the engine records.
If an aircraft engine has been drained and PURGED of all fuel (and properly
documented on the engine records), is the shipper required to label, mark, ship
the matenal as a hazardous material?
If an aircraft engine has not been PURGED (residual fuel remaining in lines,
hazardous material?
manifolds and fuel controls...), is the shipper required to ship the equipment as a
Based on the ongoing misunderstanding within the aviation industry, please
provide a written letter of clarification relative to the proper classification of
aircraft engines for air transportation.
Joyce B. Scott
File:
WP: C: Wy DocumentsIRequest Letter of Interpretation.doc
ORD CASFO,JBerk,JEB, (847) 928-8010,4/29/98
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