Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -7AH, -7H, -7F, -7J, -20, and -20J Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26018-26020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10428]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NE-34-AD; Amendment 39-13631; AD 2004-10-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -7AH, 
-7H, -7F, -7J, -20, and -20J Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 26019]]


ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -7AH, -7H, -7F, -7J, -20, and -
20J turbofan engines. This AD clarifies a life limit for certain part 
numbers of 6th stage low pressure turbine (LPT) air seals, and requires 
their removal from service before accumulating 15,000 cycles-since-new 
(CSN). This AD results from reports of certain 6th stage LPT air seals 
possibly not being life tracked due to confusion from updates to the 
engine manuals. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 6th 
stage LPT air seal, which could cause LPT damage resulting in an 
uncontained engine failure.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 15, 2004. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of June 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; telephone 
(860) 565-8770; fax (860) 565-4503.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Donovan, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 
238-7743; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to PW JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -
7AH, -7H, -7F, -7J, -20, and -20J turbofan engines. We published the 
proposed AD in the Federal Register on September 5, 2003 (68 FR 52720). 
That action proposed to clarify a life limit for certain part numbers 
of 6th stage LPT air seals, and require their removal from service 
before accumulating 15,000 CSN.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on 
the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    There are about 1,024 engines of the affected design in the 
worldwide fleet. We estimate that 367 engines installed on airplanes of 
U.S. registry will be affected by this AD. We also estimate that it 
will take approximately 0.5 work hour per engine to calculate the 6th 
stage LPT air seal part life, and that the average labor rate is $65 
per work hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of 
the AD to U.S. operators to be $11,928.

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. 2003-NE-34-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration 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):

2004-10-01 Pratt & Whitney: Amendment 39-13631. Docket No. 2003-NE-
34-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective June 15, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -
7AH, -7H, -7F, -7J, -20, and -20J turbofan engines. These engines 
are installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 747-100, 747-200, 
747SR, 747SP, and DC10-40 series airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of certain 6th stage low 
pressure turbine (LPT) air seals possibly not being life tracked due 
to confusion from updates to the engine manuals. Chapter 5 of Engine 
Manuals, part numbers (P/Ns) 646028, 770407, and 770408 will be 
revised to show a life limit of 15,000 cycles-since-new (CSN) for 
6th stage LPT air seals P/Ns 808846, 809171, 811260 and 811261. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 6th stage LPT air seal 
which could cause LPT damage, resulting in an uncontained engine 
failure.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

Determine Service Life

    (f) For 6th stage LPT air seals, P/Ns 808846, 809171, 811260, 
and 811261, with an unknown number of cycles since installed, 
calculate the service life within 60 days after the effective date 
of this AD.
    (1) Use Method 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of PW 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. JT9D 6448, dated June 10, 2003, for when 
all service records are available for the specific air seal, to 
calculate the service life.
    (2) Use Method 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions of PW SB No. 
JT9D 6448, dated June 10, 2003, for when any or all service records 
are not available for a specific air seal, to calculate the service 
life. If the worst-case daily utilization rate is unknown, use the 
fleet worst-case daily utilization rate of 2.9 cycles/day.

Removal From Service

    (g) Remove 6th stage LPT air seals, P/Ns 808846, 809171, 811260, 
and 811261, from service at or before accumulating the CSN in the 
following Table 1.

[[Page 26020]]



             Table 1.--Part Number and Engine Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Life limit
           Part number               Engine applicability        CSN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
808846 (old).....................  JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -7AH, -      15,000
                                    7H, -7F, -7J, -20, -20J.
811260 (new).....................  JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -7AH, -      15,000
                                    7H, -7F, -7J, -20, -20J.
809171 (old).....................  JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -7AH, -      15,000
                                    7H, -7F, -20.
811261 (new).....................  JT9D-3A, -7, -7A, -7AH, -      15,000
                                    7H, -7F, -20.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (h) If the service life cannot be determined as specified in 
paragraph (f) of this AD, remove the 6th stage LPT air seal before 
accumulating 2,500 cycles-in-service after the effective date of 
this AD.
    (i) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 6th 
stage LPT air seal, P/N 808846, 809171, 811260, or 811261, that 
exceeds 15,000 CSN, or that was removed to comply with paragraph (h) 
of this AD because its service life could not be determined.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (j) The Manager, Engine 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use Pratt & Whitney Service Bulletin No. JT9D 6448, 
dated June 10, 2003, to perform the service life calculations 
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 Pratt & Whitney, 400 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06108; 
telephone (860) 565-8770; fax (860) 565-4503. 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

    (l) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on April 30, 2004.
Jay J. Pardee,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-10428 Filed 5-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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