Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. (Formerly AlliedSignal Inc.) ALF502R and LF507 Series Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 108 (Monday, June 5, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35566-35568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13873]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-NE-36-AD; Amendment 39-11763; AD 2000-11-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. (Formerly 
AlliedSignal Inc.) ALF502R and LF507 Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), that 
requires revisions to Chapter 5, Airworthiness Limitations section, of 
the Honeywell International Inc. ALF502R and LF507 series Engine 
Manuals to include required enhanced inspection of selected critical 
life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. This action requires an 
air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to 
incorporate these inspection procedures. This action is prompted by a 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) study of in-service events 
involving uncontained failures of critical rotating engine parts that 
indicated the need for improved inspections. The improved inspections 
are needed to identify those critical rotating parts with conditions, 
which if allowed to continue in service, could result in uncontained 
failures. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent 
critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, which could result 
in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

DATES: Effective July 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The rules docket may be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), New England Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Baitoo, Aerospace Engineer Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; telephone 
(562) 627-5245, fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to AlliedSignal Inc. ALF502R and 
LF507 series turbofan engines was published in the Federal Register on 
August 5, 1999 (64 FR 42619). That action proposed to require revisions 
to Chapter 5, Airworthiness Limitations section, of the Honeywell 
International Inc. ALF502R and LF507 engine manual, and, for air 
carriers, their approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program. 
Honeywell International Inc. (formerly AlliedSignal Inc.), the 
manufacturer of ALF502R and LF507 series turbofan engines, has provided 
the FAA with a detailed proposal that identifies and prioritizes the 
critical rotating engine parts with the highest potential to hazard the 
airplane in the event of failure, along with instructions for enhanced, 
focused inspection methods. These enhanced inspections will be 
conducted at piece-part opportunity, as defined in this AD, rather than 
at specific inspection intervals.

Comment Received

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the comment received.
    The commenter supports the rule as proposed.
    The FAA notes that several different companies have held the type 
certificate for these engine models. In order to make certain that all 
manuals are revised to include the enhanced inspection program, not 
just the manuals that bear the name of the current holder of the type 
certificate, the FAA has added the names of the former type certificate 
holders to paragraph (a). After careful review of the available data, 
including the comments noted above, the FAA has determined that air 
safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule with 
this change. The FAA has determined that this change will neither 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Economic Analysis

    The FAA estimates that 200 engines installed on airplanes of US 
registry would be affected by this AD, that it would take approximately 
56 work hours per engine to accomplish the required actions. The 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the AD on US operators is estimated to be 
$672,000.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this regulation (1) 
IS not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for 
this action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be 
obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under 
the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

[[Page 35567]]

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

2000-11-15 Honeywell International Inc.: Amendment 39-11763. Docket 
99-NE-36-AD.

    Applicability: Honeywell International Inc. (formerly 
AlliedSignal, Textron Lycoming and Avco Lycoming) ALF502R and LF507 
series turbofan engines, installed on but not limited to British 
Aerospace BAe 146-100A, BAe 146-200A, BAe 146-300A, AVRO 146-RJ70A, 
AVRO 146-RJ85A, and AVRO 146-100A series airplanes.

    Note 1: This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to each engine 
identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of 
whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area 
subject to the requirements of this AD. For engines that have been 
modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the 
requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request 
approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with 
paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment 
of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the 
unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition 
has not been eliminated, the request should include specific 
proposed actions to address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, 
which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to 
the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 60 days after the effective date of this AD, revise 
Chapter 5, Airworthiness Limitations section, of the Honeywell 
International Inc. ALF502R and LF507 Engine Manuals, and the 
appropriate manuals of former type certificate holders of the engine 
design including: Allied Signal Inc.; Textron Lycoming, Stratford 
Division; Avco Lycoming, Stratford Division and Avco Lycoming Engine 
Group, Stratford Division, Connecticut, and for air carrier 
operations revise the approved continuous airworthiness maintenance 
program, by adding the following:
    ``Chapter 5, Airworthiness Limitations Section, Mandatory 
Inspections:
    (1) Perform inspections of the following parts at each piece-
part opportunity in accordance with the instructions provided in the 
applicable manual provisions:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Part nomenclature            Part number  (P/N)              Inspect per engine manual chapter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For ALF502R series turbofan
 engines:
    Fan Disc....................  All....................  72-31-07 Inspection/Check.
    First Turbine Disc..........  All....................  72-51-12 Inspection/Check.
    Second Turbine Disc.........  All....................  72-51-21 Inspection/Check.
    Impeller....................  All....................  72-34-38 Inspection/Check.
    LPT Shaft/3rd Turbine.......  All....................  72-52-03 Inspection/Check.
    Fourth Turbine Disc.........  All....................  72-52-06 Inspection/Check.
For LF507 series turbofan
 engines:
    Fan Disc....................  All....................  72-31-08 Inspection/Check.
    First Turbine Disc..........  All....................  72-51-11 Inspection/Check.
    Second Turbine Disc.........  All....................  72-51-20 Inspection/Check.
    Impeller....................  All....................  72-34-20 Inspection/Check.
    LPT Shaft/3rd Turbine.......  All....................  72-52-24 Inspection/Check.
    Fourth Turbine Disc.........  All....................  72-52-03 Inspection/Check.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) For the purposes of these mandatory inspections, piece-part 
opportunity means:
    (i) The part is completely disassembled when done in accordance 
with the disassembly instructions in the engine manufacturer's 
Engine Manual; and
    (ii) The part has accumulated more than 100 cycles in service 
since the last piece-part opportunity inspection, provided that the 
part was not damaged or related to the cause for its removal from 
the engine.''
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this AD, and 
notwithstanding contrary provisions in section 43.16 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.16), these mandatory inspections 
shall be performed only in accordance with Chapter 5, Airworthiness 
Limitations section, of the Honeywell International Inc. ALF502R and 
LF507 Engine Manuals.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate 
FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI), who may add comments and 
then send it to the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this airworthiness directive, 
if any, may be obtained from the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office.

    (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (e) FAA-certificated air carriers that have an approved 
continuous airworthiness maintenance program in accordance with the 
record keeping requirement of Sec. 121.369(c) of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations [14 CFR 121.369(c)] must maintain records of 
the mandatory inspections that result from revising the Engine 
Manual's Chapter 5, Airworthiness Limitations section, and the air 
carrier's continuous airworthiness program. Alternately, 
certificated air carriers may establish an approved system of record 
retention that provides a method for preservation and retrieval of 
the maintenance records that include the inspections resulting from 
this AD, and include the policy and procedures for implementing this 
alternate method in the air carrier's maintenance manual required by 
Sec. 121.369 (c) of the Federal Aviation Regulations [14 CFR 
121.369(c)]; however, the alternate system must be accepted by the 
appropriate PMI and require the maintenance records be maintained 
either indefinitely or until the work is repeated. Records of the 
piece-part inspections are not required under Sec. 121.380(a)(2)(vi) 
of the Federal Aviation Regulations [14 CFR 121.380 (a) (2) (vi)]. 
All other operators must maintain the records of mandatory 
inspections required by the applicable regulations governing their 
operations.

    Note 3: The requirements of this AD have been met when the 
engine manual changes are made and air carriers have modified their

[[Page 35568]]

continuous airworthiness maintenance plans to reflect the 
requirements in the Engine Manuals.

    (f) This amendment becomes effective on July 10, 2000.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 26, 2000.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-13873 Filed 6-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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