Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company (GE) CT7-9C and -9C3 Turboprop Engines

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70096-70098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28449]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0732; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-04-AD; 
Amendment 39-16509; AD 2010-23-20]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company (GE) CT7-9C 
and -9C3 Turboprop Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD requires inspecting certain serial 
number (S/N) gas generator turbine (GGT) shafts for nonconforming land 
balance-cuts, and if found, removing the shaft from service. This AD 
was prompted by reports of a manufacturing quality problem. We are 
issuing this AD to detect nonconforming GGT shaft land balance-cuts, 
which could result in the shaft failing before its published life 
limit, and which could result in an uncontained engine failure and 
damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective December 22, 2010.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of December 22, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, 
Cincinnati, Ohio 45215; e-mail [email protected]; telephone (513) 552-
3272; fax (513) 552-3329. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Meibaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-
7119; fax (781) 238-7199; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to 
the specified products. That NPRM published in the Federal Register on 
July 23, 2010 (75 FR 43099). That NPRM proposed to require inspecting 
certain S/N GGT shafts, P/N 6068T44P02, for nonconforming land balance-
cuts, and if found, replacing the shaft.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

[[Page 70097]]

Conclusion

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

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects five engines installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Cost on U.S.
             Action                    Labor cost            Parts cost      Cost per product      operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect........................  1 work-hour x $85 per   .................                $85               $425
                                  hour = $85..
Replace shaft..................  1.5 work-hour x $85               $28,633          28,760.50            143,802
                                  per hour = $127.50.
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total......................  ......................  .................  .................            144,227
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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 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):

2010-23-20 General Electric Company (GE): Amendment 39-16509; Docket 
No. FAA-2010-0732; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-04-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD is effective December 22, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to GE CT7-9C and -9C3 turboprop engines with 
gas generator turbine (GGT) shafts, part number (P/N) 6068T44P02, that 
have a serial number (S/N) listed in Table 1 of this AD, installed. 
These engines are installed on, but not limited to, EADS CASA (formerly 
Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) CN-235 series airplanes.

                    Table 1--Affected GGT Shaft S/Ns
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Affected Shaft S/Ns
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GATHHCPC           GATHHJR7           GATHHJR9          GATHHKG6
GATHHM9R           GATHHWM3           GATHJ4ED          GATHJ9FL
GATHJ19J           GATHJE8P           GATHJWWR          GATHK0KM
GATHK2N1           GATHK3M3           GATHK90K          GATHK96D
GATHKF9R           GATHKH36           GATHKMP7          GATHKRKN
NCE715DA
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of a manufacturing quality 
problem. We are issuing this AD to detect nonconforming GGT shaft land 
balance-cuts, which could result in the shaft failing before its 
published life limit, and which could result in an uncontained engine 
failure and damage to the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD 
performed at the first shop visit after the effective date of this AD, 
or within 5,000 cycles-

[[Page 70098]]

since-new, whichever occurs first, unless the actions have already been 
done.

Inspection for Nonconforming Land Balance-Cuts

    (f) For CT7-9C and -9C3 engines with a GGT shaft, P/N 6068T44P02, 
that has a S/N listed in Table 1 of this AD, installed, inspect the 
shaft for nonconforming land balance-cuts. Use the Accomplishment 
Instructions 3.A.(1) through 3.A.(4) of GE CT7-TP Alert Service 
Bulletin 72-A0501, Revision 01, dated March 3, 2010, to perform the 
inspection.
    (g) If you find any nonconforming land balance-cuts, remove the 
shaft from service.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (h) 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.

Related Information

    (i) For more information about this AD, contact Walter Meibaum, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; telephone (781) 238-7119; fax (781) 238-7199; e-mail: 
[email protected].

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use GE CT7-TP Alert Service Bulletin 72-A0501, 
Revision 01, dated March 3, 2010, to do the actions required by this 
AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation 
by reference of GE CT7-TP Alert Service Bulletin 72-A0501, Revision 01, 
dated March 3, 2010, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact General 
Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, 
Ohio 45215; e-mail [email protected]; telephone (513) 552-3272; fax (513) 
552-3329.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7125.
    (4) You may also review copies of the service information that is 
incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 29, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-28449 Filed 11-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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